Tracer Lipidomics

In contrast to standard lipidomics approaches which measure steady-state levels of lipids and provide a momentary, static snapshot of lipid composition, tracer lipidomics analyzes fluxes through pathways and can therefore be used to pinpoint enzymes and pathways that are affected in studied models. In this chapter, we introduce the reader to the use of stable isotope tracers in lipidomics. We discuss theoretical concepts and highlight practical considerations in designing experimental conditions and in selecting the right tracer. We cover the technical requirements for targeted tracer analysis in free fatty acids and complex lipids and comment on the challenges of untargeted lipidome-wide tracer analysis.