Fmol

Unit system	SI derived unit
Unit of	Amount of substance
Symbol	fmol
Named after

The femtomole (symbol: fmol) is a unit of amount of substance in the International System of Units (SI). It is equal to 10^-15 moles. The femtomole is used in various scientific fields, including biochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology, to measure very small quantities of molecules, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and small molecules.

Definition

The femtomole is defined as one quadrillionth (10^-15) of a mole. The mole is the SI base unit for the amount of substance, which is defined as the amount of substance that contains as many elementary entities (such as atoms, molecules, ions, or other particles) as there are atoms in 0.012 kilograms of carbon-12.

Applications

Biochemistry

In biochemistry, the femtomole is often used to quantify the amount of nucleic acids or proteins in a sample. Techniques such as mass spectrometry and chromatography can detect and measure substances in the femtomole range, allowing researchers to study metabolites and biomarkers at very low concentrations.

Molecular Biology

In molecular biology, the femtomole is a common unit for measuring the concentration of oligonucleotides and primers used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and other nucleic acid amplification techniques. The sensitivity of these techniques allows for the detection of DNA and RNA at femtomole levels, which is crucial for applications such as genetic testing and forensic analysis.

Pharmacology

In pharmacology, the femtomole is used to express the concentration of drugs and ligands in receptor binding assays. These assays are used to study the interaction between drugs and their target receptors, which is important for understanding the mechanism of action of drugs and for drug development.

Measurement Techniques

Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It is capable of detecting and quantifying molecules in the femtomole range, making it an essential tool in proteomics and metabolomics.

Chromatography

Chromatography techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC), are used to separate and analyze compounds in complex mixtures. These techniques can be coupled with mass spectrometry to enhance sensitivity and allow for the detection of substances at femtomole concentrations.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is another technique that can be used to study molecules at low concentrations. Although less sensitive than mass spectrometry, NMR provides detailed information about the structure and dynamics of molecules.

Significance

The ability to measure substances at the femtomole level has revolutionized many areas of biomedical research. It allows scientists to study biological processes at the molecular level, leading to a better understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

See Also

• Mole (unit)
• Picomole
• Nanomole
• Biochemistry
• Molecular biology
• Pharmacology