D31-palmitate

D31-palmitate is a perdeuterated form of palmitic acid used as a metabolic tracer in deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI). It contains 31 deuterium atoms replacing the hydrogen atoms on the palmitate carbon chain, allowing for the non-invasive monitoring of lipid metabolism via magnetic resonance spectroscopy or imaging. In oncological research, specifically glioblastoma (GBM), D31-palmitate is used to investigate the uptake and oxidation of exogenous fatty acids. Research conducted at Washington University in St. Louis has utilized D31-palmitate to differentiate between de novo lipogenesis (often tracked with deuterium oxide) and the utilization of dietary or systemic lipids within the tumor microenvironment. Unlike radioactive tracers, D31-palmitate utilizes stable isotopes, making it a safer alternative for dynamic interrogation of fatty acid distribution in both neoplastic and normal tissues.

Other names

perdeuterated palmitatepalmitic acid-d31hexadecanoic-d31 acidhexadecanoic-d-31 acidhexadecanoic-d 31 acid