Abstract
Methylcitric acid cycle, discovered by Tabuchi, as a propionate metabolism pathway in Yarrowia lipolytica has been reported to exist widely in many microorganisms including fungi and bacteria. The distribution of this cycle was investigated by metabolomic study using CE-MS and by enzymatic assay as well. 2-methylcitric acid was detected by anionic mode CE-TOFMS analysis in the culture of 12 out of 14 microbial species, when they were grown in the media containing propionate and acetate. These results were consistent with the distribution of methylcitrate synthase activity in microorganisms and the feasibility of this metabolomic approach is demonstrated.
