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. 1985 Oct;50(4):996-1001.
doi: 10.1128/aem.50.4.996-1001.1985.

Carbon isotopic fractionation in heterotrophic microbial metabolism

N Blair, A Leu, E Muñoz, J Olsen, E Kwong, D Des Marais

Carbon isotopic fractionation in heterotrophic microbial metabolism

N Blair et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 Oct.

Abstract

Differences in the natural-abundance carbon stable isotopic compositions between products from aerobic cultures of Escherichia coli K-12 were measured. Respired CO2 was 3.4% depleted in 13C relative to the glucose used as the carbon source, whereas the acetate was 12.3% enriched in 13C. The acetate 13C enrichment was solely in the carboxyl group. Even though the total cellular carbon was only 0.6% depleted in 13C, intracellular components exhibited a significant isotopic heterogeneity. The protein and lipid fractions were -1.1 and -2.7%, respectively. Aspartic and glutamic acids were -1.6 and +2.7%, respectively, yet citrate was isotopically identical to the glucose. Probable sites of carbon isotopic fractionation include the enzyme, phosphotransacetylase, and the Krebs cycle.

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