Stable Isotope Labeled Glycosphingolipids
One of the most preferred internal standards for LC-MS and shotgun lipidomic studies are stable isotope labeled standards. These standards can be easily detected by mass spectrometry while demonstrating physical properties nearly identical to natural sphingolipids. This is very important in order to ensure similar extraction properties between the analytes and the internal standards.1 Most commonly deuterium, or 13C atoms are introduced in the acyl chain of the ceramide. However, the label can also be introduced into the sphingosine tail or oligosaccharide head group, which allows for lyso-sphingolipid standards to be produced.
Reference:
- X. Han and X. Jiang, "A review of lipidomic technologies applicable to sphingolipidomics and their relevant applications" Eur J Lipid Sci Technol., Vol. 111:1 pp. 39–52, 2009