Limitations of the [3H]thymidine method for estimating bacterial productivity due to thymidine metabolism

Abstract

Thymidine (TdR) was extensively metabolized by bacterioplankton from South San Francisco Bay and Elkhorn Slough, California, USA. Total 3H incorporation rate was linear for 2 to 4 h , but macromolecular 3~ distributions differed depending on whether TdR was supplied as methyl-or 6-