Stable Isotope Labeling of Carbohydrates

BOC Sciences is equipped with a strong team of technical personnel and advanced equipment, and we have rich experience in the development of stable isotope compounds, always ensuring high-quality and efficient service. As a specialized provider of services, BOC Sciences can customize the labeled carbohydrates to contain different stable isotope atoms, such as ²H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, etc.

What is Stable Isotope Labeling of Carbohydrates?

Stable isotope-labeled carbohydrates retain their original physical/chemical properties and interact consistently with unlabeled carbohydrates in biochemical pathways. Based on the nature of stable isotopes, labeled carbohydrates can be used in a wide range of metabolic pathways and metabolic kinetics studies.

Fig. 1 Isotope labeling of glycans for MS analysis. (Yun, 2021)

Glycosylation is one of the most prevalent post-translational modification processes of proteins expressed in eukaryotic cells. Glycans and glycoconjugates play important roles in many biological phenomena, such as cell signaling and molecular recognition. The discovery of potential biomarkers of disease-associated glycosylation has driven the development of quantitative glycan assays. The introduction of stable isotopes into biomolecules can be accomplished in three main ways, namely through metabolic, enzymatic, and chemical labeling of the sample. Quantitative glycomics methods based on stable isotope labeling enable high-precision, high-sensitivity, and high-throughput analysis of carbohydrates from different biological matrices.

Strategies for Stable Isotope Labeling of Carbohydrates

Stable isotope labeling of carbohydrates by BOC Sciences begins with the design of a custom labeling protocol based on the client's specific research needs and goals. The protocol involves the choice of labeling compounds, the location of labeling, and the extent of labeling.

Carbohydrate Stable Isotope Labeling Services

BOC Sciences offers labeling of carbohydrates such as glucose, fructose, galactose, hexose compounds, fatty acids, and more. In addition to these carbohydrates, we can also label metabolites involved in metabolic pathways in other organisms or cells.

Sample Requirements:

• The sample to be labeled should be more than 90% pure, the sample does not contain components that interfere with the binding of the marker.
• The minimum labeling amount of the sample to be labeled is 1mg, preferably dry powder, if liquid, the concentration should be more than 1mg/mL.
• Carbohydrates should provide molecular weight, molecular structure formula and other information.

Stable Isotope Labeling Positions

• Uniform Labeling - All carbon atoms are isotopically labeled.
• Partial Labeling- A portion of the carbon atoms are replaced by an isotopic label.
• Position-Specific Labeling - In position-specific labeling, only specific carbon atom positions are isotopically labeled.
• End-Labeling - End-labeling refers to the substitution of carbon atoms at the End of a carbohydrate by isotopic labeling.

Tests for Degree of Stable Isotope Labeling

BOC Sciences typically uses the Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) technique to test the degree of labeling of stable isotope-labeled carbohydrates. After pretreatment of the sample, combustion is performed to obtain a gas (e.g. CO₂ or H₂O). Then, the collected gas samples were analyzed using stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The degree of labeling can be calculated by comparing the isotope ratios of the samples with those of unlabeled control samples or known standards.