Monitoring the synthesis of biomolecules using mass spectrometry

Abstract

The controlled and selective synthesis/clearance of biomolecules is critical for most cellular processes. In most high-throughput 'omics' studies, we measure the static quantities of only one class of biomolecules (e.g. DNA, mRNA, proteins or metabolites). It is, however, important to recognize that biological systems are highly dynamic in which biomolecules are continuously renewed and different classes of biomolecules interact and affect each other's production/clearance. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the turnover of diverse classes of biomolecules to understand the dynamic nature of biological systems. Herein, we explain why the kinetic analysis of a diverse range of biomolecules is important and how such an analysis can be done. We argue that heavy water ((2)H2O) could be a universal tracer for monitoring the synthesis of biomolecules on a global scale.This article is part of the themed issue 'Quantitative mass spectrometry'.

Keywords: biosynthesis; deuterium water; flux analysis; mass spectrometry; metabolomics; proteomics.

Figure 1.

²H₂O as a unique tracer for different classes of biomolecules. The figure illustrates how the deuterium atom(s) from ²H₂O is rapidly incorporated into metabolic precursors of different classes of biomolecules and then slowly incorporated into their products. Note that the use of ²H₂O is not limited to these molecules.