FIG. 2.

The utilization of fluoroacetate involves the enzymatic cleavage of the carbon-fluorine bond with the production of glycolate. The specific utilization rate of glycolate, q_g, is a combination of q_an where carbon is incorporated into cell (anabolism), q_en, where carbon is used to provide energy for growth, and q_m, where carbon is used to provide energy for the maintenance of cellular function not associated with growth (maintenance of intracellular osmotic potential) but excludes any glycolate that is produced but not utilized (overflow metabolism [O_m]) and represents the total carbon utilized. The specific fluoroacetate utilization rate includes q_an, q_e, q_m, and O_m and represents the total fluoroacetate degraded.