National Stable Isotope Resource

Facility Description

The National Stable Isotope Resource (NSIR) advances biomedical applications of compounds labeled with the stable isotopes carbon-13, nitrogen-15, oxygen-17, oxygen-18, sulfur-33, sulfur-34, and selenium-77. The NSIR develops new, efficient routes for synthesizing stable isotopically labeled compounds; provides training in the synthesis and applications of labeled compounds; and distributes labeled compounds that are not readily available from commercial sources to accredited investigators.

Technological research and development

Our current research focus is to develop efficient synthetic routes for labeled amino acids and nucleotides. Stable isotopes have properties that make them useful for a variety of spectroscopic techniques including mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron spin resonance, and vibrational methods such as infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Recent developments in these techniques make it possible to use them to study the structure and function of proteins, RNA, and DNA. Our ability to apply these techniques to important problems in biology depends upon the availability of isotopically labeled compounds. The NSIR is developing methods for the site-specific labeling of amino acids and nucleotides that would be useful for mechanistic and dynamic studies of macromolecules. In addition, the NSIR is developing methods for producing uniformly nitrogen-15- and carbon-13-labeled proteins and nucleic acids for NMR structural studies.

Collaborative research, service, and training

The SIR promotes the use of stable, isotopically labeled compounds by

• hosting and advising scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and students in the synthesis and application of stable isotopically labeled compounds;
• developing active research collaborations with the biomedical community;
• synthesizing labeled compounds for accredited investigators;
• providing NMR analysis and data interpretation of isotopically labeled compounds; and
• transferring labeling technologies to the isotope industry.

The NSIR has been supported continually by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Research Resources since 1974 and is available to accredited investigators free of charge.

National Stable Isotope Resource Web Site

Equipment

List Not Available

Facility Access

Access Restricted - Controlled Area

Last update: 25 June 2003

Technical Contact
Clifford Unkefer
B-3
Mail Stop: MS G758
Phone: 505-665-2560
Fax: 505-667-0110
E-mail Address: cju@lanl.gov