A roadmap for interpreting 13C metabolite labeling patterns from cells

JM Buescher, MR Antoniewicz, LG Boros… - Current opinion in …, 2015 - Elsevier
JM Buescher, MR Antoniewicz, LG Boros, SC Burgess, H Brunengraber, CB Clish
Current opinion in biotechnology, 2015Elsevier
Highlights•13 C tracer analysis can be used to probe intracellular metabolism in
cells.•Steady state labeling patterns can quantify nutrient contributions.•Steady state labeling
patterns can inform about pathway activities.•Dynamic labeling patterns combined with
metabolite levels can quantify some fluxes.•Analysis of multiple metabolites and various
tracers enhances information output.Measuring intracellular metabolism has increasingly
led to important insights in biomedical research. 13 C tracer analysis, although less …
Highlights
  • 13 C tracer analysis can be used to probe intracellular metabolism in cells.
  • Steady state labeling patterns can quantify nutrient contributions.
  • Steady state labeling patterns can inform about pathway activities.
  • Dynamic labeling patterns combined with metabolite levels can quantify some fluxes.
  • Analysis of multiple metabolites and various tracers enhances information output.
Measuring intracellular metabolism has increasingly led to important insights in biomedical research. 13 C tracer analysis, although less information-rich than quantitative 13 C flux analysis that requires computational data integration, has been established as a time-efficient method to unravel relative pathway activities, qualitative changes in pathway contributions, and nutrient contributions. Here, we review selected key issues in interpreting 13 C metabolite labeling patterns, with the goal of drawing accurate conclusions from steady state and dynamic stable isotopic tracer experiments.
Elsevier