Isotope Labeled Amino Acids
Product List
Isotope labeled amino acids represent a cornerstone in modern biological research, leveraging the power of isotopic substitution to elucidate intricate molecular processes within living systems. BOC Sciences is committed to providing customers with the most comprehensive variety of isotope-labeled amino acids available. We provide products such as essential amino acids and derivatives, including lysine, phenylalanine, methionine, etc., as well as non-essential amino acids and derivatives, such as arginine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, lysine, alanine, serine, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, proline, valine, etc. In addition, we also provide custom isotope labeling service for any amino acid and its derivatives, you can directly provide the amino acid to be labeled or make a request such as the type of labeling isotope, the labeling site, and the isotope enrichment.
What are Amino Acids?
Amino acids are fundamental building blocks of proteins, essential for the structure, function, and regulation of virtually all biological processes. Structurally, they comprise an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), and a side chain that confers unique properties to each amino acid. These molecules play critical roles in enzymatic reactions, signal transduction, and cellular transport, underscoring their indispensability in life processes. In addition to being the basic building materials of proteins, amino acids can also be the precursors of many other biomolecules (such as cytosine, adenine, epinephrine, etc).
What are Amino Acids Used for?
Amino acids are widely used in medicine, food, cosmetics, and other fields.
- In the field of medicine: Amino acids are used as the raw materials for proteins, antibodies, and hormones synthesis; amino acids can be used as nutrients and metabolic modifiers and have antibacterial and analgesic effects.
- In the field of food: Amino acids can be used as food preservatives, deodorants, coloring agents, sterilizers, additives, spices, etc.
- In the field of cosmetics: Amino acids can be used as surfactants, hair conditioners, hair dyes, etc.
What are Isotope Labeled Amino Acids?
Isotope-labeled amino acids refer to the replacement of single or multiple atoms of the amino acid with isotopes, which can be radioactive isotopes or stable isotopes. Basically, isotope-labeled amino acids have identical structures and properties as non-labeled amino acids. Isotope labeled amino acids involve the substitution of stable isotopes, such as 13C, 15N, 18O and 2H (deuterium), into the molecular structure of amino acids. Unlike radioactive isotopes, stable isotopes do not decay, ensuring safety and longevity in experimental applications. These labeled amino acids retain identical chemical properties to their natural counterparts but allow for precise tracking and quantification using advanced analytical techniques like mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Therefore, isotope labeled amino acids serve as safe, effective, and convenient tracer tools for scientific research in medicine, biology, pharmacy, chemistry, etc.
Our Isotope Labeling Services for Amino Acids
At BOC Sciences, we offer comprehensive services in the synthesis and customization of isotope labeled amino acids. Firstly, BOC Sciences is a leading global supplier of the best amino acids. Our portfolio includes a wide range of labeled amino acids such as 13C, 15N, 18O and 2H-labeled variants, tailored to meet specific research needs across academic, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological sectors. Utilizing state-of-the-art synthesis techniques and stringent quality control measures, we ensure the highest purity and isotopic enrichment in our products.
Choosing the Type of Amino Acid for Your Need
Essential Amino Acids
| Leucine | Isoleucine | Valine | Tryptophan | Phenylalanine | Lysine | Methionine | Histidine | Threonine |
Non Essential Amino Acids
| Alanine | Aspartic acid | Glutamic acid | Glutamine | Glycine | Arginine | Asparagine | Proline | Serine |
| Cysteine | Tyrosine | | | | | | | |
Choosing the Type of Isotopic Labeling
For more types of amino acids (and their derivatives) and isotopic labeling, please contact us directly.
What are Stable Isotope Labeling by Amino Acids in Cell Culture (SILAC)?
Stable Isotope Labeling by Amino Acids in Cell Culture (SILAC) is a powerful and widely used technique in quantitative proteomics. It allows researchers to study protein expression, dynamics, and interactions with high precision and accuracy. SILAC relies on the metabolic incorporation of non-radioactive, stable isotope-labeled amino acids into the proteins of living cells. This approach enables the direct comparison of different cellular states, providing valuable insights into cellular processes, disease mechanisms, and drug effects.
SILAC involves growing two or more cell populations in culture media that differ only in the type of amino acids provided. One population is cultured with standard amino acids (light), while the other(s) is cultured with amino acids labeled with stable isotopes such as 13C or 15N (heavy). The labeled amino acids are incorporated into newly synthesized proteins, resulting in a distinct mass shift that can be detected and quantified using mass spectrometry.
What are Isotope Labeled Amino Acids Used For?
The applications of isotope labeled amino acids span across diverse fields:
- In the field of medicine: Isotope-labeled amino acids can be used for the preclinical diagnosis of various diseases. Labeled amino acids can be used as tracers to track the metabolic processes of amino acids and proteins in different physiological and pathological conditions, which allows the exploration of disease mechanism and effective ways to prevent and treat diseases.
- In the field of biology: Isotope-labeled amino acids are used as starting materials to study the biosynthetic pathways and mechanisms of natural products in animals, plants, and microorganisms by analyzing the abundance of labeled elements in products.
- In the field of pharmacy: Isotope-labeled amino acids are critical tools for the development of new drugs, and are used to determine the transfer, transformation, efficacy, mechanism of action, toxicity, and side effects of drugs in vivo.
- In the field of chemistry: Isotope-labeled amino acids can be used as tracers to explore chemical reaction mechanisms and as raw materials for the synthesis of other labeled products, such as labeled polypeptides.
These applications highlight the versatility of isotope labeling in unraveling complex biological processes and advancing biomedical research.
Why Choose BOC Sciences for the Synthesis of Your Isotope Labeled Amino Acids?
- Expertise: With over two decades of experience in chemical and biochemical synthesis, BOC Sciences excels in the production of complex molecules, including isotope labeled amino acids.
- Customization: We offer flexible synthesis options to accommodate varying labeling patterns, quantities, and purity requirements, tailored to specific experimental protocols.
- Quality Assurance: Rigorous quality assurance protocols guarantee the accuracy and reliability of our labeled amino acids, supporting reproducible research outcomes.
- Technical Support: Our team of experienced scientists provides comprehensive technical support, from project consultation to post-delivery assistance, ensuring seamless integration of labeled amino acids into your research workflows.
FAQ
1. What are branched chain amino acids?
BCAAs, or branched chain amino acids, include isoleucine, leucine, and valine, so named because they all contain branched carbon frames. Branched-chain amino acids are often seen as a miracle tonic to inhibit muscle breakdown, increase muscle synthesis, and relieve exercise fatigue.
2. What are amino acids made of?
Amino acids are organic compounds composed of four key elements: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N). Some amino acids also contain sulfur (S).
3. What foods have amino acids?
People can get enough amino acids by eating more protein-rich foods. Common foods rich in complete protein include red meat, chicken, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, quinoa, tofu, sage seeds, and more. Foods containing more amino acids in plant foods include whole grains, nuts, plant seeds, beans, fruits, vegetables and so on.
4. What is an essential amino acid?
Essential amino acids are those that cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be ingested through food. The human body needs to consume enough essential amino acids for normal growth, development and maintenance of body functions. There are 9 essential amino acids, including isoleucine, leucine, lysine, tryptophan, threonine, phosphoserine, phenylalanine, methionine and histidine. If the intake of food is lacking in any of the essential amino acids, it will lead to limited protein synthesis, which will affect the health of the body.
5. What is BCAA amino acids good for?
BCAA is mainly used as a fitness supplement in the market, which has the functions of inhibiting muscle breakdown, increasing muscle synthesis, relieving exercise fatigue, etc. Its role and safety have been widely recognized by the nutrition community. Taking BCAA in a proper amount under normal physical conditions has many benefits for the human body. At the same time, apart from the function of fitness supplements that have been widely commercialized, BCAA has also been developed as a potential adjuvant drug for the treatment of liver cancer and cachexia, which has good pharmaceutical development potential.
6. Which amino acids can be phosphorylated?
Amino acids that can be phosphorylated are typically those with hydroxyl (-OH) groups in their side chains. These amino acids include:
- Serine (Ser, S)
- Threonine (Thr, T)
- Tyrosine (Tyr, Y)
7. What type of bonds link individual amino acids together?
Individual amino acids are linked together through peptide bonds to form proteins. Peptide bonds are covalent bonds formed between the carboxyl group (-COOH) of one amino acid and the amino group (-NH2) of another amino acid.
