Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Something fun: Picking a random atom in a biomolecule and tracing it back to CO2

Cou - 20-9-2020 at 00:25

https://i.imgur.com/LYqai57.png

vmelkon - 22-10-2020 at 20:50

I'm not sure.
Perhaps use CO2 where the carbon atom is a different isotope. Perhaps use C14.
When you end up with the final molecule where it is written Urine and 5-HIAA, take the 5-HIAA and break it into components somehow. Separate the components and check to see which component has the C14.

Another way to do this is to use software I suppose and simulate the entire chemiacl pathway.

Tsjerk - 23-10-2020 at 04:14

When a biosynthesis pathway is known, as in it is known which enzymes are involved, it is quite straightforward to determine where every carbon is incorporated and how this relates to photosynthesis.

To determine pathways, often isotopes are used indeed.