Volume 57, Issue 7 pp. 1758-1784
Review

Deuterium- and Tritium-Labelled Compounds: Applications in the Life Sciences

Dr. Jens Atzrodt

Corresponding Author

Dr. Jens Atzrodt

Isotope Chemistry and Metabolite Synthesis, Integrated Drug Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry, Industriepark Höchst, G876, 65926 Frankfurt, Germany

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Dr. Volker Derdau

Corresponding Author

Dr. Volker Derdau

Isotope Chemistry and Metabolite Synthesis, Integrated Drug Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry, Industriepark Höchst, G876, 65926 Frankfurt, Germany

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Prof. Dr. William J. Kerr

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. William J. Kerr

Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, WestCHEM, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 1XL UK

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Dr. Marc Reid

Corresponding Author

Dr. Marc Reid

Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, WestCHEM, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 1XL UK

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First published: 16 August 2017
Citations: 650

Graphical Abstract

The isotopes of hydrogen are unique tools for identifying and understanding biological and chemical processes. In this Review, advances in the field of hydrogen isotope applications in various areas of the life sciences are described.

Abstract

Hydrogen isotopes are unique tools for identifying and understanding biological and chemical processes. Hydrogen isotope labelling allows for the traceless and direct incorporation of an additional mass or radioactive tag into an organic molecule with almost no changes in its chemical structure, physical properties, or biological activity. Using deuterium-labelled isotopologues to study the unique mass-spectrometric patterns generated from mixtures of biologically relevant molecules drastically simplifies analysis. Such methods are now providing unprecedented levels of insight in a wide and continuously growing range of applications in the life sciences and beyond. Tritium (3H), in particular, has seen an increase in utilization, especially in pharmaceutical drug discovery. The efforts and costs associated with the synthesis of labelled compounds are more than compensated for by the enhanced molecular sensitivity during analysis and the high reliability of the data obtained. In this Review, advances in the application of hydrogen isotopes in the life sciences are described.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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