Stable Isotope Labeled Sphingomyelins
One of the most preferred internal standards for LC-MS and shotgun lipidomic studies is stable isotope labeled standards. These standards can be easily detected by mass spectrometry while demonstrating nearly identical physical properties compared to natural sphingolipids. This is very important 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 which allows lyso-sphingolipids 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