[1-13C]-L-Arginine

[1-13C]-L-Arginine is a stable isotope-labeled amino acid that is commonly used in biochemical research. It is a form of L-arginine, which is a semi-essential amino acid that the body uses to produce proteins, nitric oxide, and other important molecules. The stable carbon-13 isotope is incorporated at position 1 of the arginine molecule, making it useful for tracing metabolic pathways and studying enzyme kinetics. One common use of [1-13C]-L-Arginine is in metabolic labeling experiments to study protein synthesis and turnover. By adding the labeled arginine to cell cultures or animal models, researchers can track the movement of the labeled amino acid through various metabolic pathways and determine the rate of protein synthesis and degradation. This technique has applications in studying diseases such as cancer, where abnormal protein turnover is a hallmark of the disease. In addition to its metabolic applications, [1-13C]-L-Arginine is also used in NMR spectroscopy studies to study protein structure and function. The labeled arginine can be incorporated into specific amino acid residues in proteins, allowing researchers to study the dynamics and interactions of these residues in solution. Chemically, [1-13C]-L-Arginine is a white to off-white crystalline powder that is soluble in water and other polar solvents. It has a molecular weight of 174.2 g/mol and a melting point of 223-227°C. The stable carbon-13 isotope has a natural abundance of 1.1%, which is increased to near 100% in the labeled arginine. The labeled amino acid is stable under normal storage conditions and can be stored at room temperature for several months.