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Stable Isotope Enrichment Used in Metabolic Research
Stable isotopes can be utilized to investigate and quantify the kinetics of specific metabolic pathways. An endogenous molecule can be labeled with a stable isotope such as Carbon-13 or Deuterium. The labeled molecule (the tracer) has identical chemical and physical properties to the naturally occurring molecule, but can be differentiated from the natural molecule (the tracee) using a mass spectrometer. The labeled molecule can then be infused into a test subject at a known rate and concentration, during some type of physiological perturbation such as exercise or a restricted diet. Blood or urine samples can be taken at regular prescribed intervals during the tracer infusion, and the samples can be extracted and measured on a mass spectrometer to determine the isotopic enrichment. The data can then be utilized to calculate the kinetics of the tracee during the period of physiological perturbation.
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