Nelson D E
Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CA 94550.
Science. 1991 Feb 1;251(4993):552-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1990430.
The reaction of ninhydrin with amino acids can be used in carbon isotopic studies of protein. The reaction can be applied to extract as carbon dioxide only peptide-bonded carbon in proteinaceous material, thus avoiding most, if not all, contaminants. Test radiocarbon dates on ancient bone indicate that the method provides reliable ages, and stable carbon isotopic data suggest that our understanding of isotopic dietary reconstruction needs detailed examination. The technique should also be useful in biochemical tracing experiments and in global carbon budget studies, and the underlying principle may be applicable to other isotopes and molecules.
茚三酮与氨基酸的反应可用于蛋白质的碳同位素研究。该反应仅适用于提取蛋白质材料中肽键结合的碳作为二氧化碳，从而避免了大部分（如果不是全部）污染物。对古代骨骼的放射性碳测年表明该方法能提供可靠的年代，而稳定碳同位素数据表明我们对同位素饮食重建的理解需要详细审视。该技术在生化示踪实验和全球碳预算研究中也应有用，其基本原理可能适用于其他同位素和分子。
