Reference no: EM132423391

Problem: Radioactive isotopes of various elements can be used to label molecules for use in studies of metabolic pathways. For example, 14C is a radioactive isotope of carbon and naturally occurs at much lower rates than non-radioactive 12C (i.e. most molecules contain 12C carbon atoms). A cell can be fed a nutrient molecule labeled with the radioactive isotope and scientists can detect where the radioactive isotope ends up.

Required:

Question 1: In a laboratory experiment, a culture of E. coli is fed 14C -labeled glucose and grown under aerobic conditions. What pathways would the radioactive isotope travel through? What is the final end product that the radioactive carbon would end up in?

Question 2: In a second experiment E. coli is fed 14C-labeled acetyl CoA and grown under conditions that promote biosynthetic pathways. What molecules would be radioactively labeled at the end of the experiment?