Research

Development of Stable Isotope Analysis Methods for Biological Compounds (Amino Acids and Nucleic Acids)

In recent years, the ability to accurately measure the stable isotope ratios of biological compounds such as amino acids and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) has opened new avenues for understanding biological processes and metabolic pathways. Traditionally, compound-specific isotope analysis of these biomolecules has been limited due to the complexity of sample preparation and instrumentation.

Our laboratory is working to establish high-precision analytical methods for measuring the carbon stable isotope ratios of amino acids and nucleic acids, utilizing both LC/IRMS (liquid chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). For amino acids, we focus on hydrolysates derived from proteins, while for nucleic acids, we aim to analyze isotope ratios at the monomer (nucleotide) level.

We are currently optimizing sample preparation protocols, constructing calibration curves using standard reference materials, and evaluating analytical precision and reproducibility. Through this work, we aim to develop a robust compound-specific stable isotope analysis platform tailored to biological molecules.

In the future, we plan to explore applications in nutrition, medicine, and life sciences, including the investigation of how diet and metabolic environment affect the isotopic composition of biomolecules, and whether such variations could reflect physiological states or health conditions.