Metallomics analytical techniques

Table 1.4 Research subjects in metallomics and analytical techniques required in metallomics research. 2004 The Royal Society of Chemistry...

Nuclear Analytical Techniques for Metallome and Metalloproteome Distribution... 

Nuclear Analytical Techniques for the Structural Analysis of Metallomes and Metalloproteomes... 

In conclusion, some of the analytical techniques that are discussed above for metallomics studies, especially for high throughput analysis are summarized in Figure 1.13. 

This book is written by experts from disciplines as diverse as analytical chemistry, nuclear chemistry, environmental science, molecular biology, and medicinal chemistry in order to identify potential hot spots of metallomics and metalloproteomics. The scientific fundamentals of new approaches, like isotopic techniques combined with ICP-MS/ESI-MS/MS, the synchrotron radiation-based techniques. X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and neutron scattering, as well as their various applications, with a focus on mercury, selenium, chromium, arsenic, iron and metal-based medicines are critically reviewed, which can help to understand their impacts on human health. The book will be of particular interest to researchers in the fields of environmental and industrial chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, toxicology, and medicine. Basically, the book has two aims. The first deals with the educational point of view. Chapters 2 to 7 provide the basic concept of each of the selected nuclear analytical techniques and should be understandable by Master and PhD students in chemistry, physics, biology and nanotechnology. The... 

Figure 1.13 Selected analytical techniques used for metallomics studies. ICP-OES, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, ICP-MS, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry LA-ICP-MS, laser ablation ICP-MS XRF, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy PIXE, proton induced X-ray emission NAA, neutron activation analysis SIMS, secondary ion mass spectroscopy GE, gel electrophoresis LC, liquid chromatography GC, gas chromatography MS, mass spectrometry, which includes MALDI-TOF-MS, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time of flight mass spectrometry and ESI-MS, electron spray ionization mass spectrometry NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance PX, protein crystallography XAS, X-ray absorption spectroscopy NS, neutron scattering.

X-ray fluorescence is a non-destructive and multielemental analytical technique. Because of its excellent analytical sensitivity and spatial resolution under micro-beam conditions, the technique is capable of microscopic analysis, supplying information about two-dimensional (2D) distributions of trace elements. The technique can, thus, be used for imaging trace elements in biological specimens, and for the direct determination of trace elements in protein bands after slab-gel electrophoresis (GE), which is the benchmark for high-resolution protein separation, particularly in 2D format. Therefore, XRF is a useful technique for metallomics and metalloproteomics studies. 

Taken together, nowadays we are able to study iron metabolism and distribution at the tissue, cellular, subcellular, or even molecular level by NATs independently or by combining NATs with a variety of pre-separation procedures. The improvement and upgrade of the qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques are the challenges for further progress on the species study at molecular level and the promotion for the development of metallo-genomics, metalloproteomics, and metallomics of iron. 

Nuclear analytical techniques include different methods for elemental analysis which are based on nuclear processes or simply employ nuclear instrumentation. The common feature is the use of sophisticated, highly developed equipment which has great versatility and therefore is able to cope with the specific requirements of the field of application. Metallomics is a subject receiving great attention as a new frontier in the investigation of trace elements... 

The progress in metallomics and metalloproteomics is critically dependent on advances in methods for in silico (bioinformatics), in vitro and in vivo analysis bringing information on the identity, concentration, and localisation of elements and their species. Nuclear analytical techniques are a basic instrumental toolbox enabling and facilitating the acquisition of the relevant analytical information. They include, in the broader sense, not only neutron activation. 

The intent of this book is to provide readers with a comprehensive view of application of advanced nuclear and relevant analytical techniques for a new scientific frontier metallomics and metalloproteomics , which are becoming the hot topics in bioanalytical chemistry and life sciences. 

As a key lab of Chinese Academy of Sciences, most of the important nuclear analytical techniques are available and also open to external users from various disciplines. In addition, the synchrotron radiation facility in our institute provides useful beamlines for metallomics and metalloproteomics-related researches. Therefore, based on these convenient conditions, we have developed related methodology and application over the past 20 years. In this book, we outline our main achievements and current progress in the metallomics and metalloproteomics on several important elements (Hg, Se, As, REEs, etc) and nanomaterials made within the last 10 years. 

Yuxi Gao is an associate professor at Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He obtained his PhD degree in environmental sciences in 2000 from Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His current research focuses on the methodology of metallomics and metallo-proteomics based on the nuclear analytical techniques the applications of metallomics and metalloproteomics tourniquets on the environmental and biomedical research the homeostasis of trace elements and their regulatory mechanism the structure, function and structure-function relationship of important metalloproteins. 

In comparison with other ionization sources, ESI represents an even softer ionization technique and causes no fragmentation of analyte ions. A major benefit of the generation of multiply charged ions from polypeptides is that they can be readily analyzed with a less sophisticated instrument with limited mass range, such as a quadrupole. A serious problem is its poor tolerance to matrix, such as mobile-phase buffers, when ESI-MS is used for metallomics and metalloproteomics studies. Since the MS response significantly depends on solvent and sample composition, ion signal intensities of a given analyte do not necessarily correlate with its concentration in samples. Therefore, the internal standards are essential for the quantitative analysis. Another solution is the use of ICP-MS as complement.The detailed methods will be described later. 

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