Network flux analysis: Impact of 13C-substrates on metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension cultures

Cell suspension cultures of Arabidopsis thaliana grown in media differing in 13C-enrichment are metabolically indistinguishable. There was no significant difference in the pattern of metabolism of either specific 14C-labelled or [U-14C]glucose between the cultures. Principal component analysis of 13C-decoupled 1H NMR metabolite fingerprints of cell extracts failed to discriminate between the different culture conditions. It is concluded that 13C-enrichment of the growth substrate has no effect on flux through the network of central carbon metabolism.