Metabolic fractionation of C13 & C12 in plants

Abstract
C13/C12 ratio analyses of chemical fractions from several plant phyla show that in all cases the lipid fraction is enriched in C12 compared to the whole plant. The C13/C12 ratio of the plant lipids corresponds roughly to the C13/C12 ratio of petroleums. The C12 enrichment in petroleums as compared to present day plants can be explained if selective preservation of plant lipids occurred during the sedimentation process. The degree of C12 enrichment in the plant lipid fraction is inversely related to the amount of lipid in the plant. The C12 enrichment which occurs in plant lipids may be balanced by the C13 enrichment which occurs in respired CO2.

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