Perdeuterated Lipids
Using perdeuterated molecules is an extremely useful way to investigate the structure and dynamics of biological systems. These molecules can be used in NMR, infrared spectroscopy, or neutron scattering. Isotopic labeling is particularly useful for neutron scattering where the scattering cross-sections of hydrogen- and deuterium- containing molecules are very different. This enhanced scattering allows the possibility to resolve structural details from the fraction of a nanometer up to several hundred nanometers. Isotopic substitution has been used to study viruses, proteins, DNA/RNA structures, and model membranes.
de Ghellinck A, Schaller H, Laux V, Haertlein M, Sferrazza M, Maréchal E, et al. (2014) Production and Analysis of Perdeuterated Lipids from Pichia pastoris Cells. PLoS ONE 9(4): e92999. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa...