NMR based metabolomics workshop 8 September | Applications of NMR in metabolomics
Metabolomics South Africa (MSA) in partnership with the University of South Africa and DIPLOMICS, is hosted a virtual Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics training from 7-9th September 2021. The training session was specifically focused on an introduction to NMR-based metabolomics, the experimental layout, data analysis and interpretation.
NMR is an alternative technique to mass spectrometry in metabolomics studies. It has several advantages including its quantitative and non-destructive nature, minimal sample preparation and provision of relevant structural information for compound identification. NMR in plant metabolomics is an attractive technique for the analysis of aromatic compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids as well as a wide variety of sugars.
The Facilitator
Professor Gerhard Prinsloo from the University of South Africa specialises in plant physiology. Prof Prinsloo is active in the field of structure and function relationships of biologically active molecules using bio-analytical and bioinformatics approaches especially plant metabolomics. His research focuses on indigenous plants with medicinal, food and cosmeceutical applications. Plants produce many primary and secondary molecules that can have health-related effects but are often affected by the external environment resulting in differences in the chemical profile and associated health or medicinal benefits. New developments in bioanalytical chemistry and bioinformatics make it easier to identify these molecules and to understand the metabolic changes in plants. With the identification of these biologically important molecules, new insights into the mechanism of these molecules can be obtained.