Analysis of tricarboxylic acid cycle using [14C]citrate specific activity ratios

Abstract

The information content of citrate carbon specific radioactivity ratios in steady-state 14C isotopic studies has been analyzed. Sixteen steady-state equations resulted containing five unknowns, 14 equations in terms of citrate carbon specific radioactivity ratios, and two modified forms of the “CO2 ratio” equation. Although each of the 16 equations is not independent, there is more than one independent equation for each variable. These additional equations may be used to test the assumptions on which the model is based. Each of the five unknowns is defined as the probability of flux around a complete cycle, either the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle or a futile cycle such as pyruvate--oxaloacetate--pyruvate. To solve these equations for the five unknowns, an investigator need only measure the specific radioactivity of various citrate carbons and the 14CO2 production rate. The study did not yield a direct expression for net flux between pyruvate and 4-carbon TCA cycle intermediates. However, these equations do place certain constraints on the net flux through this important pathway.