Isotope Fractionation in the Absorption Chromatography of Doubly-Labeled Compounds

Abstract

Progress in mapping biochemical pathways of metabolism is limited by the rate at which both of two alternative aspects of analysis can be carried out, those of separation and those of identification of the intermediates. Within recent years, separation capabilities, exemplified by gas chromatography, have escalated far more rapidly than the corresponding capabilities for identification of the isolated fractions. The biochemist may be faced with a further difficulty in his task, namely, that the intermediate is present in such low concentrations as to be visible only by virtue of a radioactive label. Identification by the conventional techniques of organic chemistry, such as direct elemental analysis, molecular-weight determination, or mass spectrometry, is precluded by the limited amounts of material available, and alternative methods must be sought.

Work supported by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Presented at the Eighth Symposium on Advances in Tracer Methodology, November, 1963.