Isotope biology of 13C extensive incorporation of highly enriched 13C in the alga Chlorella vulgaris

Abstract

In contribution of previous work on the consequences of isotopic replacement in living organisms 1, the green alga Chlorella vulgaris has been grown on 13CO 2 (95% 13C) in 1H 2O and 2H 2O media. Cell size distribution was determined and the organisms subjected to cytochemical investigation for nucleic acids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and proteins. Some of the abnormalities noted in 13C 2H organisms are diminished in 13C 2H algae, indicating that the consequences of multiple isotope replacement in living organisms do not necessarily follow a simple additive relationship.