Abstract
The application of tracers to biological research and in particular to problems in plant physiology and biochemistry has received considerable attention during the last decade. The main principles underlying the use of tracers, the methods adopted and the results achieved have been discussed in a series of excellent reviews and books, which are listed at the end of this section. Only a few of these, however, discuss in some detail the equipment and technical procedures employed. The present work mainly attempts to assemble information on the procedures for the assay of the various types of isotopes when prepared in the form of either a solid, liquid or gaseous sample. The radioactive isotopes are used more extensively than the stable variety in tracer research for two main reasons. Firstly, the dilution of the isotope in the tissue which can be tolerated, while still allowing its detection and estimation with reasonable accuracy, is very much greater in the case of the radioactive element: a millionfold compared to only a thousandfold for the stable isotope. Secondly, the cost of the equipment for detecting and analysing test materials labelled with radioactive isotopes is much less and it is also easier to service and maintain. However, when it is necessary to follow the metabolism of the nitrogen and oxygen atoms, the stable isotopes N15 and O18, are the only ones available. Furthermore, it is often of advantage to be able to follow simultaneously the different pathways of metabolism of neighbouring groups or atoms, in a given molecule (e. g., the two carbons of acetic acid, or the β-carbon and nitrogen of an amino group, in an amino acid). This is done most effectively, using doubly-labelled compounds with one atom marked with a stable isotope and the other with a radioactive isotope. It is therefore desirable in tracer research to have access to equipment for the assay of both types of isotopes. The techniques for detecting and assaying radioactive isotopes are described first.
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Glover, J. (1956). Methods Involving Labelled Atoms. In: Paech, K., Tracey, M.V. (eds) Moderne Methoden der Pflanzenanalyse / Modern Methods of Plant Analysis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-25300-7_12
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