Phosphorus NMR and Its Application to Metabolomics.

Stable isotopes are routinely employed by NMR metabolomics to highlight specific metabolic processes and to monitor pathway flux. C-carbon and N-nitrogen labeled nutrients are convenient sources of isotope tracers and are commonly added as supplements to a variety of biological systems ranging from cell cultures to animal models. Unlike C and N, P-phosphorus is a naturally abundant and NMR active isotope that does not require an external supplemental source.