13C Flux Analysis Research Articles

Glucose-methanol co-utilization in Pichia pastoris studied by metabolomics and instationary 13C flux analysis

BackgroundSeveral studies have shown that the utilization of mixed carbon feeds instead of methanol as sole carbon source is beneficial for protein production with the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. In particular, growth under mixed feed conditions appears to alleviate the metabolic burden related to stress responses triggered by protein overproduction and secretion. Yet, detailed analysis of the metabolome and fluxome under mixed carbon source metabolizing conditions are missing. To obtain a detailed flux distribution of central carbon metabolism, including the pentose phosphate pathway under methanol-glucose conditions, we have applied metabolomics and instationary 13C flux analysis in chemostat cultivations.ResultsInstationary 13C-based metabolic flux analysis using GC-MS and LC-MS measurements in time allowed for an accurate mapping of metabolic fluxes of glycolysis, pentose phosphate and methanol assimilation pathways. Compared to previous results from NMR-derived stationary state labelling data (proteinogenic amino acids, METAFoR) more fluxes could be determined with higher accuracy. Furthermore, using a thermodynamic metabolic network analysis the metabolite measurements and metabolic flux directions were validated. Notably, the concentration of several metabolites of the upper glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway increased under glucose-methanol feeding compared to the reference glucose conditions, indicating a shift in the thermodynamic driving forces. Conversely, the extracellular concentrations of all measured metabolites were lower compared with the corresponding exometabolome of glucose-grown P. pastoris cells.The instationary 13C flux analysis resulted in fluxes comparable to previously obtained from NMR datasets of proteinogenic amino acids, but allowed several additional insights. Specifically, i) in vivo metabolic flux estimations were expanded to a larger metabolic network e.g. by including trehalose recycling, which accounted for about 1.5% of the glucose uptake rate; ii) the reversibility of glycolytic/gluconeogenesis, TCA cycle and pentose phosphate pathways reactions was estimated, revealing a significant gluconeogenic flux from the dihydroxyacetone phosphate/glyceraldehydes phosphate pool to glucose-6P. The origin of this finding could be carbon recycling from the methanol assimilatory pathway to the pentose phosphate pool. Additionally, high exchange fluxes of oxaloacetate with aspartate as well as malate indicated amino acid pool buffering and the activity of the malate/Asp shuttle; iii) the ratio of methanol oxidation vs utilization appeared to be lower (54 vs 79% assimilated methanol directly oxidized to CO2).ConclusionsIn summary, the application of instationary 13C-based metabolic flux analysis to P. pastoris provides an experimental framework with improved capabilities to explore the regulation of the carbon and energy metabolism of this yeast, particularly for the case of methanol and multicarbon source metabolism.

Isotopically nonstationary 13C flux analysis of Myc-induced metabolic reprogramming in B-cells

We assessed several methods of 13C metabolic flux analysis (MFA) and found that isotopically nonstationary MFA achieved maximum flux resolution in cultured P493-6 B-cells, which have been engineered to provide tunable expression of the Myc oncoprotein. Comparison of metabolic flux maps obtained under oncogenic (High) and endogenous (Low) Myc expression levels revealed network-wide reprogramming in response to ectopic Myc expression. High Myc cells relied more heavily on mitochondrial oxidative metabolism than Low Myc cells and globally upregulated their consumption of amino acids relative to glucose. TCA cycle and amphibolic mitochondrial pathways exhibited 2- to 4-fold flux increases in High Myc cells, in contrast to modest increases in glucose uptake and lactate excretion. Because our MFA approach relied exclusively upon isotopic measurements of protein-bound amino acids and RNA-bound ribose, it is readily applicable to more complex tumor models that are not amenable to direct extraction and isotopic analysis of free intracellular metabolites.

13C-flux Analysis Reveals NADPH-balancing Transhydrogenation Cycles in Stationary Phase of Nitrogen-starving Bacillus subtilis

In their natural habitat, microorganisms are typically confronted with nutritional limitations that restrict growth and force them to persevere in a stationary phase. Despite the importance of this phase, little is known about the metabolic state(s) that sustains it. Here, we investigate metabolically active but non-growing Bacillus subtilis during nitrogen starvation. In the absence of biomass formation as the major NADPH sink, the intracellular flux distribution in these resting B. subtilis reveals a large apparent catabolic NADPH overproduction of 5.0 ± 0.6 mmol g(-1)h(-1) that was partly caused by high pentose phosphate pathway fluxes. Combining transcriptome analysis, stationary (13)C-flux analysis in metabolic deletion mutants, (2)H-labeling experiments, and kinetic flux profiling, we demonstrate that about half of the catabolic excess NADPH is oxidized by two transhydrogenation cycles, i.e. isoenzyme pairs of dehydrogenases with different cofactor specificities that operate in reverse directions. These transhydrogenation cycles were constituted by the combined activities of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenases GapA/GapB and the malic enzymes MalS/YtsJ. At least an additional 6% of the overproduced NADPH is reoxidized by continuous cycling between ana- and catabolism of glutamate. Furthermore, in vitro enzyme data show that a not yet identified transhydrogenase could potentially reoxidize ∼20% of the overproduced NADPH. Overall, we demonstrate the interplay between several metabolic mechanisms that concertedly enable network-wide NADPH homeostasis under conditions of high catabolic NADPH production in the absence of cell growth in B. subtilis.

A comparative transcriptomic, fluxomic and metabolomic analysis of the response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to increases in NADPH oxidation

BackgroundRedox homeostasis is essential to sustain metabolism and growth. We recently reported that yeast cells meet a gradual increase in imposed NADPH demand by progressively increasing flux through the pentose phosphate (PP) and acetate pathways and by exchanging NADH for NADPH in the cytosol, via a transhydrogenase-like cycle. Here, we studied the mechanisms underlying this metabolic response, through a combination of gene expression profiling and analyses of extracellular and intracellular metabolites and 13 C-flux analysis.ResultsNADPH oxidation was increased by reducing acetoin to 2,3-butanediol in a strain overexpressing an engineered NADPH-dependent butanediol dehydrogenase cultured in the presence of acetoin. An increase in NADPH demand to 22 times the anabolic requirement for NADPH was accompanied by the intracellular accumulation of PP pathway metabolites consistent with an increase in flux through this pathway. Increases in NADPH demand were accompanied by the successive induction of several genes of the PP pathway. NADPH-consuming pathways, such as amino-acid biosynthesis, were upregulated as an indirect effect of the decrease in NADPH availability. Metabolomic analysis showed that the most extreme modification of NADPH demand resulted in an energetic problem. Our results also highlight the influence of redox status on aroma production.ConclusionsCombined 13 C-flux, intracellular metabolite levels and microarrays analyses revealed that NADPH homeostasis, in response to a progressive increase in NADPH demand, was achieved by the regulation, at several levels, of the PP pathway. This pathway is principally under metabolic control, but regulation of the transcription of PP pathway genes can exert a stronger effect, by redirecting larger amounts of carbon to this pathway to satisfy the demand for NADPH. No coordinated response of genes involved in NADPH metabolism was observed, suggesting that yeast has no system for sensing NADPH/NADP+ ratio. Instead, the induction of NADPH-consuming amino-acid pathways in conditions of NADPH limitation may indirectly trigger the transcription of a set of PP pathway genes.

Abstract 3234: Metformin shifts prostate cancer metabolism towards a less malignant phenotype

Abstract Introduction Excess nutrient metabolic states such as obesity and hyperinsulinemia are associated with prostate cancer progression. Metformin is the most widely prescribed oral antidiabetic agent and has recently been shown to reduce the risk and mortality of multiple cancer types. Current evidence suggests that on a cellular level, this effect is achieved by an inhibition of mitochondrial Complex I with subsequent activation of AMPK, a central regulator of energy homeostasis. As cancer energetics are adapted to the metabolic requirements of rapidly growing cells, we aimed to assess whether metformin is able to induce a less malignant phenotype in prostate cancer cell lines. Methods Experiments were performed in 3 prostate cancer cell lines (PC3, LNCaP, DU145) treated with 0.5-2.5mM metformin. 13C flux analysis allowed to assess of glucose and glutamine utilization and metabolic pathway activity. Extracellular fluxes were performed to determine O2 consumption, glucose uptake and lactate secretion. Proliferation was assessed with cell counts and protein expression with Western blots. Results Metformin increased glucose uptake and lactate secretion while reducing oxygen consumption in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a shift form respiratory energy production to fermentation. Accordingly, cell lines that strongly relied on respiration were most sensitive to metformin. Flux analysis revealed that in untreated cells, glucose was directed towards the TCA cycle and constituted the major carbon source for fatty acid synthesis. Metformin inhibited glucose fueling of the TCA cycle, and glutamine was funneled into the TCA cycle and used for fatty acid synthesis instead. Flux analysis showed that this switch was achieved by a partial reversal of the TCA cycle from the usual oxidative metabolism to a reductive flux. In order to further elucidate the effect of metformin on glutamine catabolism, we determined the expression of Sirtuin 4, which in known to downregulate glutamate dehydrogenase, thereby inhibiting the diversion of glutamine into the TCA cycle. Sirtuin 4 expression was decreased under metformin, whereas LNCAP cells in which Sirtuin 4 was knocked down were less sensitive to Metformin and showed a decreased secretion of glutamate. Finally, allosteric inhibition of glutaminase, an enzyme required for mitochondrial glutamine usage, showed a synergistic, anti-proliferative effect with metformin. Conclusion Metformin induced a profound rearrangement of central metabolism in prostate cancer cell lines. Cells shifted ATP synthesis from respiration to less efficient fermentation and resorted to a reductive TCA cycle to uphold biosynthetic processes. Inhibition of this secondary bioenergetic pathway with a glutaminase inhibitor achieved a synergistic anti-tumor effect with metformin. These observed alterations of metabolic fluxes may ultimately provide new targets for cancer therapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3234. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3234

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with chemometric analysis for determining 12C and 13C labeled contributions in metabolomics and 13C flux analysis

A novel method for the analysis of nearly co-eluting 12C and 13C isotopically labeled metabolites has been developed and evaluated for gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) data. The method utilizes parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) with two-dimensional GC–MS data when sample replicates are aligned and stacked in series to create a three-dimensional data cube for mathematical peak deconvolution and 12C and 13C contribution isolation, with the intent of increasing the accuracy and precision of quantitative metabolomics and 13C flux analysis. The platform is demonstrated with 13C-labeled metabolite extracts, generated via biosynthesis, added as an internal standard to unlabeled 12C metabolites extracted from the methanol-utilizing bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. Eleven representative metabolites that are common targets for flux analysis were chosen for validation. Good quantitative accuracy and precision were acquired for a 5.00μM known metabolite concentration (for the 11 metabolites), with an average predicted concentration of 5.07μM, and a RSD range of 1.2–13.0%. This study demonstrates the ability to reliably deconvolute 12C-unlabeled and 13C-labeled contributions for a given metabolite. Additionally, using this chemical analysis platform, a dynamic flux experiment is presented in which the incorporation of 13C-labeled cell extract can be detected in the methane-utilizing bacterium Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b and measured temporally.

Mapping photoautotrophic metabolism with isotopically nonstationary 13C flux analysis

Understanding in vivo regulation of photoautotrophic metabolism is important for identifying strategies to improve photosynthetic efficiency or re-route carbon fluxes to desirable end products. We have developed an approach to reconstruct comprehensive flux maps of photoautotrophic metabolism by computational analysis of dynamic isotope labeling measurements and have applied it to determine metabolic pathway fluxes in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Comparison to a theoretically predicted flux map revealed inefficiencies in photosynthesis due to oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and malic enzyme activity, despite negligible photorespiration. This approach has potential to fill important gaps in our understanding of how carbon and energy flows are systemically regulated in cyanobacteria, plants, and algae.

Catabolic regulation analysis of Escherichia coli and its crp, mlc, mgsA, pgi and ptsG mutants

BackgroundMost bacteria can use various compounds as carbon sources. These carbon sources can be either co-metabolized or sequentially metabolized, where the latter phenomenon typically occurs as catabolite repression. From the practical application point of view of utilizing lignocellulose for the production of biofuels etc., it is strongly desirable to ferment all sugars obtained by hydrolysis from lignocellulosic materials, where simultaneous consumption of sugars would benefit the formation of bioproducts. However, most organisms consume glucose prior to consumption of other carbon sources, and exhibit diauxic growth. It has been shown by fermentation experiments that simultaneous consumption of sugars can be attained by ptsG, mgsA mutants etc., but its mechanism has not been well understood. It is strongly desirable to understand the mechanism of metabolic regulation for catabolite regulation to improve the performance of fermentation.ResultsIn order to make clear the catabolic regulation mechanism, several continuous cultures were conducted at different dilution rates of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.7 h-1 using wild type Escherichia coli. The result indicates that the transcript levels of global regulators such as crp, cra, mlc and rpoS decreased, while those of fadR, iclR, soxR/S increased as the dilution rate increased. These affected the metabolic pathway genes, which in turn affected fermentation result where the specific glucose uptake rate, the specific acetate formation rate, and the specific CO2 evolution rate (CER) were increased as the dilution rate was increased. This was confirmed by the 13C-flux analysis. In order to make clear the catabolite regulation, the effect of crp gene knockout (Δcrp) and crp enhancement (crp+) as well as mlc, mgsA, pgi and ptsG gene knockout on the metabolism was then investigated by the continuous culture at the dilution rate of 0.2 h-1 and by some batch cultures. In the case of Δcrp (and also Δmlc) mutant, TCA cycle and glyoxylate were repressed, which caused acetate accumulation. In the case of crp+ mutant, glycolysis, TCA cycle, and gluconeogenesis were activated, and simultaneous consumption of multiple carbon sources can be attained, but the glucose consumption rate became less due to repression of ptsG and ptsH by the activation of Mlc. Simultaneous consumption of multiple carbon sources could be attained by mgsA, pgi, and ptsG mutants due to increase in crp as well as cyaA, while glucose consumption rate became lower.ConclusionsThe transcriptional catabolite regulation mechanism was made clear for the wild type E. coli, and its crp, mlc, ptsG, pgi, and mgsA gene knockout mutants. The results indicate that catabolite repression can be relaxed and crp as well as cyaA can be increased by crp+, mgsA, pgi, and ptsG mutants, and thus simultaneous consumption of multiple carbon sources including glucose can be made, whereas the glucose uptake rate became lower as compared to wild type due to inactivation of ptsG in all the mutants considered.

The benefits of being transient: isotope-based metabolic flux analysis at the short time scale

Metabolic fluxes are the manifestations of the co-operating actions in a complex network of genes, transcripts, proteins, and metabolites. As a final quantitative endpoint of all cellular interactions, the intracellular fluxes are of immense interest in fundamental as well as applied research. Unlike the quantities of interest in most omics levels, in vivo fluxes are, however, not directly measureable. In the last decade, ¹³C-based metabolic flux analysis emerged as the state-of-the-art technique to infer steady-state fluxes by data from labeling experiments and the use of mathematical models. A very promising new area in systems metabolic engineering research is non-stationary ¹³C-metabolic flux analysis at metabolic steady-state conditions. Several studies have demonstrated an information surplus contained in transient labeling data compared to those taken at the isotopic equilibrium, as it is classically done. Enabled by recent, fairly multi-disciplinary progress, the new method opens several attractive options to (1) generate new insights, e.g., in cellular storage metabolism or the dilution of tracer by endogenous pools and (2) shift limits, inherent in the classical approach, towards enhanced applicability with respect to cultivation conditions and biological systems. We review the new developments in metabolome-based non-stationary ¹³C flux analysis and outline future prospects for accurate in vivo flux measurement.

Identification of Genes in the Phenylalanine Metabolic Pathway by Ectopic Expression of a MYB Transcription Factor in Tomato Fruit

Altering expression of transcription factors can be an effective means to coordinately modulate entire metabolic pathways in plants. It can also provide useful information concerning the identities of genes that constitute metabolic networks. Here, we used ectopic expression of a MYB transcription factor, Petunia hybrida ODORANT1, to alter Phe and phenylpropanoid metabolism in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits. Despite the importance of Phe and phenylpropanoids to plant and human health, the pathway for Phe synthesis has not been unambiguously determined. Microarray analysis of ripening fruits from transgenic and control plants permitted identification of a suite of coregulated genes involved in synthesis and further metabolism of Phe. The pattern of coregulated gene expression facilitated discovery of the tomato gene encoding prephenate aminotransferase, which converts prephenate to arogenate. The expression and biochemical data establish an arogenate pathway for Phe synthesis in tomato fruits. Metabolic profiling and ¹³C flux analysis of ripe fruits further revealed large increases in the levels of a specific subset of phenylpropanoid compounds. However, while increased levels of these human nutrition-related phenylpropanoids may be desirable, there were no increases in levels of Phe-derived flavor volatiles.

Abstract 2802: Evaluation of metabolic changes induced by loss of extracellular matrix attachment using 13C Flux analysis

Abstract Recent studies from our laboratory revealed the importance of extracellular matrix in regulating cellular metabolism. Briefly, detachment of mammary epithelial cells from extracellular matrix (ECM) causes a significant reduction in ATP levels due to reduced glucose uptake. ErbB2 overexpression restores ATP levels by maintaining glucose uptake in ECM detached cells. The loss of glucose uptake also increases ROS levels, and unexpectedly, antioxidants rescue the metabolic defect, by relieving an ROS-mediated inhibition of ATP generation by fatty acid oxidation. These findings suggest that ECM contact is an important regulator of cellular metabolism, and that tumor cells may be able to circumvent the requirement for ECM-attachment via overexpression of certain oncogenes. We used 13C metabolic flux analysis to more thoroughly investigate the metabolic changes induced by ECM detachment and ErbB2 overexpression in the immortalized, non-transformed human mammary epithelial cell-line, MCF10A. Our results show that matrix-detachment leads to a dramatic decrease in nutrient uptake, including glucose, glutamine and pyruvate. Interestingly, we found that there is a substantial decrease in glucose flux to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle; this is due both to the decreased glucose uptake, as well as an increased diversion of glucose towards lactate production (aerobic glycolysis). ErbB2 overexpression partially reverses these defects in the ECM-detached cells. Glucose entrance to the TCA cycle is regulated by pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), which are in turn negatively regulated by PDH kinases (PDK1-4). Interesting, we find a dramatic increase in PDK4 levels in ECM-detached cells, which is partially prevented by ErbB2 overexpression. While PI3K signaling has previously been shown to negatively regulate PDK4 expression, we find that Mek, but not PI3K, regulates PDK4 levels in our system. Ongoing studies will further examine the regulation of glucose and pyruvate metabolism by ErbB2 and ECM. These analyses will allow us to identify unpredictable nodes of metabolic regulation by ErbB2 and ECM and may provide rational treatment approaches for targeting tumor metabolism. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2802. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2802

Intracellular characterization of aerobic glucose metabolism in seven yeast species by 13C flux analysis and metabolomics

Key distinguishing characteristics of yeast glucose metabolism are the relative proportions of fermentation and respiration. Crabtree-positive yeast species exhibit a respirofermentative metabolism, whereas aerobic species respire fully without secretion of fermentation byproducts. Physiological data suggest a gradual transition in different species between these two states. Here, we investigate whether this gradual transition also occurs at the intracellular level by quantifying the intracellular metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces exiguus, Kluyveromyces thermotolerans, Yarrowia lipolytica, Pichia angusta and Candida rugosa by (13)C-flux analysis and metabolomics. Different from the extracellular physiology, the intracellular fluxes through the tricarboxylic acid cycle fall into two classes where the aerobic species exhibit much higher respiratory fluxes at otherwise similar glycolytic fluxes. More generally, we found the intracellular metabolite concentrations to be primarily species-specific. The sole exception of a metabolite-flux correlation in a species-overarching manner was found for fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and dihydroxyacetone-phosphate, indicating a conservation of the functional properties around these two metabolites.

Large‐scale 13 C‐flux analysis reveals distinct transcriptional control of respiratory and fermentative metabolism in Escherichia coli

Despite our increasing topological knowledge on regulation networks in model bacteria, it is largely unknown which of the many co-occurring regulatory events actually control metabolic function and the distribution of intracellular fluxes. Here, we unravel condition-dependent transcriptional control of Escherichia coli metabolism by large-scale (13)C-flux analysis in 91 transcriptional regulator mutants on glucose and galactose. In contrast to the canonical respiro-fermentative glucose metabolism, fully respiratory galactose metabolism depends exclusively on the phosphoenol-pyruvate (PEP)-glyoxylate cycle. While 2/3 of the regulators directly or indirectly affected absolute flux rates, the partitioning between different pathways remained largely stable with transcriptional control focusing primarily on the acetyl-CoA branch point. Flux distribution control was achieved by nine transcription factors on glucose, including ArcA, Fur, PdhR, IHF A and IHF B, but was exclusively mediated by the cAMP-dependent Crp regulation of the PEP-glyoxylate cycle flux on galactose. Five further transcription factors affected this flux only indirectly through cAMP and Crp by increasing the galactose uptake rate. Thus, E. coli actively limits its galactose catabolism at the expense of otherwise possible faster growth.

Cytosolic NADPH balancing in Penicillium chrysogenum cultivated on mixtures of glucose and ethanol.

The in vivo flux through the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (oxPPP) in Penicillium chrysogenum was determined during growth in glucose/ethanol carbon-limited chemostat cultures, at the same growth rate. Non-stationary 13C flux analysis was used to measure the oxPPP flux. A nearly constant oxPPP flux was found for all glucose/ethanol ratios studied. This indicates that the cytosolic NADPH supply is independent of the amount of assimilated ethanol. The cofactor assignment in the model of van Gulik et al. (Biotechnol Bioeng 68(6):602–618, 2000) was supported using the published genome annotation of P. chrysogenum. Metabolic flux analysis showed that NADPH requirements in the cytosol remain nearly the same in these experiments due to constant biomass growth. Based on the cytosolic NADPH balance, it is known that the cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase in P. chrysogenum is NAD + dependent. Metabolic modeling shows that changing the NAD + -aldehyde dehydrogenase to NADP + -aldehyde dehydrogenase can increase the penicillin yield on substrate.

Dynamic modeling of Escherichia coli metabolic and regulatory systems for amino-acid production

Our aim is to construct a practical dynamic-simulation system that can model the metabolic and regulatory processes involved in the production of primary metabolites, such as amino acids. We have simulated the production of glutamate by transient batch-cultivation using a model of Escherichia coli central metabolism. Kinetic data were used to produce both the metabolic parts of the model, including the phosphotransferase system, glycolysis, the pentose-phosphate pathway, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the glyoxylate shunt, and the anaplerotic pathways, and the regulatory parts of the model, including regulation by transcription factors, cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP), making large colonies protein (Mlc), catabolite repressor/activator (Cra), pyruvate dehydrogenase complex repressor (PdhR), and acetate operon repressor (IclR). RNA polymerase and ribosome concentrations were expressed as a function of the specific growth rate, μ, corresponding to the changes in the growth rate during batch cultivation. Parameter fitting was performed using both extracellular concentration measurements and in vivo enzyme activities determined by 13C flux analysis. By manual adjustment of the parameters, we simulated the batch fermentation of glucose or fructose by a wild-type strain (MG1655) and a glutamate-producing strain (MG1655 Δ sucA). The differences caused by the carbon source, and by wild-type and glutamate-producing strains, were clearly shown by the simulation. A sensitivity analysis revealed the factors that could be altered to improve the production process. Furthermore, an in silico deletion experiments could suggested the existence of uncharacterized regulation. We concluded that our simulation model could function as a new tool for the rational improvement and design of metabolic and regulatory networks.

Transcriptional regulation of respiration in yeast metabolizing differently repressive carbon substrates

BackgroundDepending on the carbon source, Saccharomyces cerevisiae displays various degrees of respiration. These range from complete respiration as in the case of ethanol, to almost complete fermentation, and thus very low degrees of respiration on glucose. While many key regulators are known for these extreme cases, we focus here on regulators that are relevant at intermediate levels of respiration.ResultsWe address this question by linking the functional degree of respiration to transcriptional regulation via enzyme abundances. Specifically, we investigated aerobic batch cultures with the differently repressive carbon sources glucose, mannose, galactose and pyruvate. Based on 13C flux analysis, we found that the respiratory contribution to cellular energy production was largely absent on glucose and mannose, intermediate on galactose and highest on pyruvate. In vivo abundances of 40 respiratory enzymes were quantified by GFP-fusions under each condition. During growth on the partly and fully respired substrates galactose and pyruvate, several TCA cycle and respiratory chain enzymes were significantly up-regulated. From these enzyme levels and the known regulatory network structure, we determined the probability for a given transcription factor to cause the coordinated expression changes. The most probable transcription factors to regulate the different degrees of respiration were Gcr1p, Cat8p, the Rtg-proteins and the Hap-complex. For the latter three ones we confirmed their importance for respiration by quantifying the degree of respiration and biomass yields in the corresponding deletion strains.ConclusionsCat8p is required for wild-type like respiration, independent of its known activation of gluconeogenic genes. The Rtg-proteins and the Hap-complex are essential for wild-type like respiration under partially respiratory conditions. Under fully respiratory conditions, the Hap-complex, but not the Rtg-proteins are essential for respiration.

Quantification of statin effects on hepatic cholesterol synthesis by transient 13C-flux analysis

The present work is the first to deal with the determination of cholesterol synthesis rates in primary rat hepatocytes using transient 13C-flux analysis. The effects of statins on cholesterol biosynthesis and central carbon fluxes were quantified at a therapeutic concentration of 50 nM atorvastatin using carbon-labeled glutamine. The flux through the cholesterol pathway decreased from 0.27 to 0.08 mmol/l cv h in response to the administration of the hypolipidemic drug. Isotopic steady state was reached within 4 h in the central carbon metabolism but not in the cholesterol pathway, regardless of whether atorvastatin was administered or not. Marked channeling was observed for the symmetrical tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, succinate and fumarate. Non-stationary 13C-based flux identification delivers both intracellular fluxes and intermediate levels, which was for the first time utilized for investigating systems-level effects of the administered drug by quantifying the flux control of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase.

Advances in analysis of microbial metabolic fluxes via 13C isotopic labeling

Metabolic flux analysis via (13)C labeling ((13)C MFA) quantitatively tracks metabolic pathway activity and determines overall enzymatic function in cells. Three core techniques are necessary for (13)C MFA: (1) a steady state cell culture in a defined medium with labeled-carbon substrates; (2) precise measurements of the labeling pattern of targeted metabolites; and (3) evaluation of the data sets obtained from mass spectrometry measurements with a computer model to calculate the metabolic fluxes. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the (13)C-flux analysis technologies, including mini-bioreactor usage for tracer experiments, isotopomer analysis of metabolites via high resolution mass spectrometry (such as GC-MS, LC-MS, or FT-ICR), high performance and large-scale isotopomer modeling programs for flux analysis, and the integration of fluxomics with other functional genomics studies. It will be shown that there is a significant value for (13)C-based metabolic flux analysis in many biological research fields.

Leakage-free rapid quenching technique for yeast metabolomics

Accurate determination of intracellular metabolite levels requires reliable, reproducible techniques for sampling and sample treatment. Quenching in 60% (v/v) methanol at −40°C is currently the standard method for sub-second arrest of metabolic activity in microbial metabolomics but there have been contradictory reports in the literature on whether leakage of metabolites from the cells occurs. We have re-evaluated this method in S. cerevisiae using a comprehensive, strictly quantitative approach. By determining the levels of a large range of metabolites in different sample fractions and establishing mass balances we could trace their fate during the quenching procedure and confirm that leakage of metabolites from yeast cells does occur during conventional cold methanol quenching, to such an extent that the levels of most metabolites have been previously underestimated by at least twofold. In addition, we found that the extent of leakage depends on the time of exposure, the temperature and the properties of the methanol solutions. Using the mass balance approach we could study the effect of different quenching conditions and demonstrate that leakage can be entirely prevented by quenching in pure methanol at ≤−40°C, which we propose as a new improved method. Making use of improved data on intracellular metabolite levels we also re-evaluated the need of sub-second quenching of metabolic activity and of removing the extracellular medium. Our findings have serious implications for quantitative metabolomics-based fields such as non-stationary 13C flux analysis, in vivo kinetic modeling and thermodynamic network analysis.

Identification of metabolic fluxes in hepatic cells from transient 13C‐labeling experiments: Part II. Flux estimation

This contribution addresses the identification of metabolic fluxes and metabolite concentrations in mammalian cells from transient (13)C-labeling experiments. Whilst part I describes experimental set-up and acquisition of required metabolite and (13)C-labeling data, part II focuses on setting up network models and the estimation of intracellular fluxes. Metabolic fluxes were determined in glycolysis, pentose-phosphate pathway (PPP), and citric acid cycle (TCA) in a hepatoma cell line grown in aerobic batch cultures. In glycolytic and PPP metabolite pools isotopic stationarity was observed within 30 min, whereas in the TCA cycle the labeling redistribution did not reach isotopic steady state even within 180 min. In silico labeling dynamics were in accordance with in vivo (13)C-labeling data. Split ratio between glycolysis and PPP was 57%:43%; intracellular glucose concentration was estimated at 101.6 nmol per 10(6) cells. In contrast to isotopic stationary (13)C-flux analysis, transient (13)C-flux analysis can also be applied to industrially relevant mammalian cell fed-batch and batch cultures.