UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose

UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose is an isotopically labeled nucleotide sugar used in various biochemical and metabolic studies. The “UL-¹³C” designation indicates that all carbon atoms in the glucose moiety are uniformly labeled with the carbon-13 (^13C) isotope, making it particularly useful in tracing metabolic pathways and studying enzyme mechanisms.

Structure & Properties:

• Molecular Weight (MW): Approximately 616 g/mol (depending on the specific isotopic enrichment)
• Chemical Formula: ¹³C₆C₉H₂₂N₂Na₂O₁₇P₂ (approximate, considering ^13C substitution)
• Synonyms: UDP-^13C-glucose, UDP-[UL-^13C]Glc
• Functional Groups: UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose retains the same functional groups as natural UDP-glucose, including a uridine diphosphate (UDP) linked to a glucose molecule, with the glucose uniformly labeled with ^13C.

Biological Role:

• Biosynthesis Pathway: UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose is synthesized by enzymatic or chemical means, starting from ^13C-labeled glucose. It serves as a key sugar nucleotide in various biosynthetic pathways.
• Function: This molecule acts as a glycosyl donor in glycosylation reactions and is crucial for the biosynthesis of glycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids.

Applications:

• Metabolic Tracing: The ^13C label allows for the tracking of glucose metabolism through various biochemical pathways using techniques like NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) or mass spectrometry.
• Enzyme Mechanism Studies: UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose is used to investigate the catalytic mechanisms of glycosyltransferases and other enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism.
• Glycan Biosynthesis Research: It is utilized to study glycan assembly in vivo and in vitro, providing insights into how cells regulate glycosylation processes.

Significance in Research:

• Isotope-Enabled Research: The ^13C labeling facilitates detailed studies on the dynamics of carbohydrate metabolism, helping researchers understand how glucose is processed in different biological systems.
• Structural Biology: The use of ^13C-labeled UDP-glucose aids in the determination of the structure and function of glycan-related enzymes and proteins using NMR and other spectroscopic methods.

Storage and Stability:

• Storage: Store at -20°C in a moisture-free environment.
• Stability: The compound is stable under these storage conditions but may degrade if exposed to heat, light, or moisture.

Research Applications:

• Metabolomics: UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose is a valuable tool in metabolomics for tracing metabolic pathways and studying the fate of glucose-derived carbon atoms in cells.
• Biotechnological Applications: It is used in the engineering of metabolic pathways in synthetic biology to produce labeled glycans, glycoproteins, or other carbohydrates with specific isotopic signatures.

Potential Impact:

• Metabolic Engineering: The ability to trace carbon atoms from UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose through metabolic pathways can lead to advances in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
• Disease Research: Understanding the role of glucose metabolism in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and genetic disorders can be enhanced using ^13C-labeled glucose derivatives like UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose.

Key Research Areas:

• Carbohydrate Metabolism: Research into how cells utilize glucose and its derivatives, with a focus on the roles of glycosyltransferases and other enzymes.
• Glycomics: The study of glycan structures and biosynthesis using labeled sugar nucleotides to reveal the complexities of glycosylation in health and disease.

Conclusion:

UDP-[UL-¹³C] Glucose is a powerful research tool that provides detailed insights into the metabolism and function of glucose in biological systems. Its use in isotopic labeling and metabolic tracing is crucial for advancing our understanding of carbohydrate biochemistry and glycosylation processes.