Combined continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry techniques for tracing the metabolism of 13C-labelled fatty acids

Compound-specific isotope analysis. Application to archaeology, biomedical sciences, biosynthesis, environment, extraterrestrial chemistry, food science, forensic science, humic substances, microbiology, organic geochemistry, soil science and sport

The isotopic composition, for example, (14)C/(12)C, (13)C/(12)C, (2)H/(1)H, (15)N/(14)N and (18)O/(16)O, of the elements of matter is heterogeneous. It is ruled by physical, chemical and biological mechanisms. Isotopes can be employed to follow the fate of mineral and organic compounds during biogeochemical transformations. The determination of the isotopic composition of organic substances occurring at trace level in very complex mixtures such as sediments, soils and blood, has been made possible during the last 20 years due to the rapid development of molecular level isotopic techniques. After a brief glance at pioneering studies revealing isotopic breakthroughs at the molecular and intramolecular levels, this paper reviews selected applications of compound-specific isotope analysis in various scientific fields.

Probing the role of the ATP-operated clamp in the strand-passage reaction of DNA gyrase

The high-resolution structure of the 43 kDa N-terminal fragment of the DNA gyrase B protein shows a large cavity within the protein dimer. The approximate size of this cavity is 20 A, suggesting it could accommodate a DNA helix. Computer-modelling studies of this cavity suggest that it contains a constriction, reducing the width to approximately 13 A, principally caused by the side chain of Arg286. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to alter this residue to Gln. Gyrase bearing this mutation shows virtually no supercoiling activity and near-normal relaxation and DNA cleavage activities. The mutated protein has ATPase activity which cannot be stimulated by DNA. These data support the proposed role of the 43 kDa domain as an ATP-operated clamp which binds DNA during the supercoiling cycle. The lack of DNA-dependent ATPase of the mutant may indicate that binding of DNA within the clamp is a prerequisite for stimulation of the ATPase activity.