| Numéro |
J. Phys. IV France
Volume 139, December 2006
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 269 - 294 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:2006139019 | |
C. Boutron
J. Phys. IV France 139 (2006) 269-294
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:2006139019
Elemental speciation analysis, from environmental to biochemical challenge
P. Jitaru1, 2 and C. Barbante2, 31 University "Al. I. Cuza" of Iasi, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, 11 Carol I Blvd., 700506 Iasi, Romania
2 Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes (CNR), Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy
3 University of Venice Ca' Foscari, Department of Environmental Sciences, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy
(Published online: 9 January 2007)
Abstract
Information regarding the distribution of
metallic/metalloid chemical species in biological compartments is required
for understanding their biochemical impact on living organisms. To obtain
such information implies the use of a dedicated measurement approach, namely
speciation analysis. The current trend in (elemental) speciation analysis regards bioinorganic
applications. New analytical methodologies are therefore necessary for
identification, detection and characterization of metal(loids) complexed or
incorporated into biomolecules. The established element-speciation
approaches developed for the determination of low molecular mass metal(loid)
species (e.g. organometallic compounds) in environmental, food,
toxicological and health sciences are presently being adapted for the
determination of high molecular mass metal-species, generally related to
biological processes. This is one of the newest approaches in terms of
element speciation and is called metallomics; this concept refers to the totality of
metal species in a cell and covers the inorganic element content and the
ensemble of its complexes with biomolecules, particularly proteins,
participating in the organisms' response to beneficial or harmful
conditions. Compared to conventional elemental speciation analysis, the
approach applied to bioinorganic analysis is challenging, particularly given
the difficulties in identification/characterization of the organic (e.g.
protein) content of such species. In addition, quantification is not
feasible with the conventional approaches, which led to the exploitation of
the unique feature of (post-column) online isotope dilution-mass
spectrometry for species quantification in metallomics.
© EDP Sciences 2006