What is isotopic labelling?

Isotopic labeling is a technique used in various fields, including chemistry, biology, and medicine, to track the movement of atoms in molecules. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses. One or more of the atoms in a molecule can be replaced with an isotope to create an isotopically labeled molecule.

Isotopic labeling can be used to study the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and other macro-molecules in living organisms. It can also be used in drug development, environmental studies, and forensic analysis. Isotopic labeling is commonly done using isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.

The labeled molecule is typically introduced into a system, such as a cell culture or animal model, and then tracked using various techniques such as mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The labeled molecule can provide valuable information about the movement and fate of the molecule in the system.

Isotopic labeling can also be used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and complex organic molecules. The labeled molecules can be used to study chemical reaction mechanisms, optimize synthetic routes, and improve the efficiency of chemical processes.

Overall, isotopic labeling is a powerful tool for understanding the behavior of molecules in biological systems and in chemical reactions.