Acquisition of a Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer Facility for Life Science Studies

华盛顿州立大学的李博士获拨款建立一个稳定同位素比质谱（IRMS）设备，用于生命科学研究。稳定同位素自然存在于所有生物体中。几乎所有的生物活动都涉及含有这些同位素的化合物。测量碳、氮和硫的稳定同位素为确定这些元素的来源及其沉积过程提供了有力的手段。因此，稳定同位素数据提供了一个指纹，揭示了一个有机体的历史和代谢过程发生在内部。华盛顿州立大学的研究人员将应用稳定同位素数据来研究不同学科的问题，包括：野生动物和种群生态学、生理学、植物分子生物学、农业科学和人类营养学。对生物学家来说，这是一项令人兴奋的技术，因为可以从野生种群中获得信息，而不必对它们进行实验操作。微小的样品可以被分析，可以由叶子、羽毛、血液或一根头发组成。此外，可以使用标记有稳定同位素的化合物进行实验研究，这提供了一种可以安全地用于人类和其他生物体的非放射性方法。C. Robbins和L. Shipley将使用稳定同位素来研究在自然界中很难观察到或已经灭绝了数千年的野生动物的饮食（例如灰熊和洞熊）。生理学研究将由R. Lee， G. Edwards， K. Johnson和M. Kahn进行，以确定不寻常的深海喷口生物的代谢适应，植物光合作用的机制，微生物对牛羊消化的贡献，以及促进作物植物固氮的因素。韦伯斯特将把这项技术作为一种追踪鸟类迁徙的新手段。麦圭尔将通过研究母乳中脂肪酸的代谢，使用稳定同位素来确定母乳喂养与配方奶喂养对人类婴儿的好处。虽然稳定同位素在生命科学中的应用越来越多，但由生物学家管理的设施却很少。因此，样品分析是昂贵的，并得到低优先级。新的研究很难开始。这个新资助的设施将通过使分析能够快速和低成本地进行来加强现有的研究项目。在华盛顿州立大学获得仪器还将允许首席研究员、博士后、研究生和本科生在稳定同位素方法方面进行培训。由于华盛顿州立大学目前有大量的生命科学学科，因此可能会扩大使用范围。这些学科以生物科学和分子生物科学，以及农业、兽医学、自然资源科学和制药科学的学术部门为代表。一个面向生物研究的设施的存在可能会刺激稳定同位素技术的新的和创新的应用。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Lee at Washington State University to set up a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) facility for life science research. Stable isotopes occur naturally in all organisms. Virtually all biological activities involve compounds containing these isotopes. Measurements of stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur provide a powerful means of establishing the sources of these elements and the processes involved in their deposition. Therefore stable isotope data provide a fingerprint revealing the history of an organism and the metabolic processes occurring within. Researchers at WSU will apply stable isotope data to investigate questions in diverse disciplines including: wildlife and population ecology, physiology, plant molecular biology, agricultural science, and human nutrition.This is an exciting technology for biologists because information can be gained from wild populations without having to subject them to experimental manipulation. Minute samples can be analyzed, and can consist of leaves, feathers, blood, or a single hair. In addition, experimental investigations can be conducted using compounds labeled with stable isotopes, providing a non-radioactive method that can safely be used in humans and other organisms. C. Robbins and L. Shipley will use stable isotopes to investigate diets of wildlife that are difficult to observe in nature or have been extinct for thousands of years (e.g., grizzly bears and cave bears). Physiological investigations will be conducted by R. Lee, G. Edwards, K. Johnson, and M. Kahn to determine metabolic adaptations in unusual deep-sea vent organisms, mechanisms of photosynthesis in plants, the contribution of microorganisms to digestion in cows and sheep, and factors that promote nitrogen fixation by crop plants. M. Webster will use this technology as a novel means of tracking bird migrations. M. McGuire will use stable isotopes to determine the benefits of breastfeeding vs. formula-feeding in human infants by studying the metabolism of fatty acids found in breastmilk. While stable isotopes are finding increased use in life sciences, very few facilities are run by biologists. Consequently sample analyses are expensive and receive low priority. New studies are difficult to initiate. This newly funded facility will enhance existing research projects by enabling analyses to be performed quickly and at low cost. Acquisition of instrumentation at WSU will also allow principal investigator, postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate training in stable isotope methods. Expansion of use is likely, due to the large number of life science disciplines present at WSU. These disciplines are represented by academic divisions in biological sciences and molecular biosciences, as well as agriculture, veterinary medicine, natural resource science, and pharmaceutical science. The presence of a facility geared towards biological studies will likely stimulate new and innovative applications of stable isotope techniques.