Work

Monitoring the synthesis of biomolecules using mass spectrometry

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: The controlled and selective synthesis/clearance of biomolecules is critical for most cellular processes. In most high-throughput 'omics' studies, we measure the static quantities of only one class of biomolecules (e.g. DNA, mRNA, proteins or metabolites). It is, however, important to recognize that biological systems are highly dynamic in which biomolecules are continuously renewed and different classes of biomolecules interact and affect each other's production/clearance. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the turnover of diverse classes of biomolecules to understand the dynamic nature of biological systems. Herein, we explain why the kinetic analysis of a diverse range of biomolecules is important and how such an analysis can be done. We argue that heavy water ((2)H2O) could be a universal tracer for monitoring the synthesis of biomolecules on a global scale.This article is part of the themed issue 'Quantitative mass spectrometry'.

Source: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences

DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0378

Authors: Masaru Miyagi, Takhar Kasumov

Institutions: Case Western Reserve University, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Proteomics Techniques and Applications

Subfield: Spectroscopy

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Award: Novel computational methods for in vivo proteome dynamics estimation using heavy water metabolic labeling and LC-MS