Fingerprinting eukaryotic metabolism across the animal kingdom using position-specific isotope analysis (PSIA) C-13/C-12 measurements

Despite differences in their overall metabolism, eukaryotes share a common mitochondrial biochemistry. We investigated how this fundamental biochemistry supports overall metabolism using a high-resolution carbon isotope approach, position-specific isotope analysis. We measured carbon isotope C-13/C-12 cycling in animals, focusing on amino acids that are formed in mitochondrial reactions and are most metabolically active. Carboxyl isotope determinations for amino acids showed strong signals related to common biochemical pathways. Contrasting isotope patterns were measured for metabolism associated with major life history patterns, including growth and reproduction. Turnover of proteins and lipids as well as gluoconeogensis dynamics could be estimated for these metabolic life histories. The high-resolution isotomics measurements fingerprinted metabolism and metabolic strategies across the eukaryotic animal kingdom, yielding results for humans, ungulates, whales, and diverse fish and invertebrates in a nearshore marine food web.

Automated summary

Despite differences in metabolism, eukaryotes have a common mitochondrial biochemistry. A high-resolution carbon isotope approach was used to investigate how this biochemistry supports overall metabolism. The study focused on carbon isotope cycling in animals and found contrasting patterns related to different metabolic life histories. The results provide insights into metabolism and metabolic strategies across the eukaryotic animal kingdom.