Radiolabeled compounds, also known as radiotracers, are compounds in which radioactive isotopes are introduced into their molecular structures. Radioactivity is a core property of radiolabeled compounds. Due to the radioactive tags, radiolabeled compounds play an important role in the fields of tracing, molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and medical research. Radioisotopes decay and release particles (such as alpha particles, beta particles) or electromagnetic waves (such as gamma rays), which can be detected by specialized detectors such as scintillation counters, gamma cameras, PET scanners. Different types of radioactive decay emit distinct types of radiation with varying energy levels. Gamma rays, characterized by strong penetrating power, are ideal for external detection and imaging. However, alpha particles and beta particles are more suitable for therapeutic applications due to their short range and concentrated energy deposition.
Common radioactive isotopes include Carbon-14, Tritium, Fluorine-18, Phosphorus-32, Aulfur-35, and Iodine-125. Radioactive isotopes can be chemically incorporated into specific molecules, which may range from simple atoms to complex organic molecules, proteins, or nucleic acids. The introduction of radioactive isotopes aims to harness their radioactivity for detection and quantitative analysis, enabling researchers to study the physical, chemical, or biological processes of labeled compounds. By incorporating radioisotopes into nucleotides, the radioactive nucleotides can be used to track the synthesis, degradation, and movement of genetic material. Radioactively labeled probes are commonly used in techniques such as Southern and Northern blotting to help identify specific sequences in complex samples. Radiolabeled proteins can be used to study protein synthesis, interaction and intracellular localization. By tracking radiolabeled proteins, it is possible to observe how proteins fold, interact with other molecules and participate in cellular processes such as signal transduction and gene regulation. Radiolabeling techniques are widely used in metabolic studies to monitor the movement and transformation of molecules in living organisms. By tagging key metabolites, it is possible to study how nutrients are processed and how metabolic pathways function under different conditions. Radiolabeled compounds are also important for understanding disease states, such as cancer and diabetes, in which metabolism is often perturbed. In drug development, radiolabeled compounds enable tracking of a drug candidate’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) to evaluate its pharmacokinetics and efficacy.
Amerigo Scientific offers a large portfolio of radionuclides and radiolabeled compounds for research purposes, such as 32P and 33P radiolabeled nucleotides, 35S labeled amino acids, 125I labeled peptides, and 14C- or 3H-labeled substances.
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