Comprehensive assessment of measurement uncertainty in C-based metabolic flux experiments.

In the field of metabolic engineering C-based metabolic flux analysis experiments have proven successful in indicating points of action. As every step of this approach is affected by an inherent error, the aim of the present work is the comprehensive evaluation of factors contributing to the uncertainty of nonnaturally distributed C-isotopologue abundances as well as to the absolute flux value calculation. For this purpose, a previously published data set, analyzed in the course of a C labeling experiment studying glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway in a yeast cell factory, was used.