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​New Deuterium-Labeled Glycosphingolipids

Article from 2020-07-17

High-purity deuterated glycosphingolipids are ideal for the identification and quantification of gangliosides in samples and biological systems using mass spectrometry techniques. While a variety of d3-labeled glycosphingolipids have long been available in our catalog, we have synthesized a new set of d9-labeled gangliosides and a globotriaosylceramide that enable improved separation of the labeled m/z from the naturally occurring material and its abundant isotopes. With a better means for separation, this improves the quantitation of these compounds in biological samples by LC-MS/MS methods. 

For example, consider the natural isotopic abundance of GM1 in the top of the figure below compared to the d3-labeled (middle spectra) and d9-labeled versions (bottom spectra).

Because this compound has a large molecular weight with multiple carbon atoms, the 13C abundance is quite high—up to the M+5 isotope. Indeed, the M+3 isotope (1519.85 m/z) is very significant at 14.4%. This is the portion of natural GM1 that contains three 13C atoms, and it has approximately the same mass as GM1-d3, which is 1519.86 m/z. This natural M+3 isotope can contribute to variability in the isotopically labeled internal standard response as GM1 levels vary from sample to sample and can negatively impact quantification of GM1. A standard labeled with nine deuterium atoms overcomes this problem because the natural abundance of GM1 with nine 13C atoms is effectively zero. That is, the natural isotopes will not interfere with the GM1-d9 signal.
d9-labeled-gangliosides_article 1 - fig 2.png

Available d9-Labeled Glycosphingolipids

Available d3-Labeled Glycosphingolipids

C16 Ganglioside GM1-d9 (d18:1/16:0-d9) (ammonium salt)
 C18 Ganglioside GM1-d3 (d18:1/18:0-d3) (ammonium salt)
C16 Ganglioside GM2-d9 (d18:1/16:0-d9) (ammonium salt)
 C18 Ganglioside GM2-d3 (d18:1/18:0-d3) (ammonium salt)
C16 Ganglioside GM3-d9 (d18:1/16:0-d9) (ammonium salt)
 C18 Ganglioside GM3-d3 (d18:1/18:0-d3) (ammonium salt)
C16 Globotriaosylceramide-d9 (d18:1/16:0-d9)
 C18 Ganglioside GD3-d3

 C18 Globotriaosylceramide-d3 (d18:1/18:0-d3)

Cayman offers more than 250 isotopically enriched lipid molecules that enable confidence in quantifying analytes of interest. Find the right internal standard using the "Isotopically Labeled Standards" search facet to filter by 13C, 15N, or deuterium labels.

If you cannot find an internal standard fit for the methods you are performing, contact us for a custom synthesis quote.


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