The overall goal of this project is to develop a metabolic map in four targeted organisms using 13C-labeled versions of the lignin-derived model compounds known to be capable of supporting microbial growth by analyzing a time series of growth using these compounds as the sole carbon source. Time courses of 13C uptake and conversion of model lignin-derived compounds will be measured by metabolomics (HRMAC), proteomics (Orbitrap), and transcriptomics (RNASeq) in four microbes known to be capable of growing on non-labeled versions of the same lignin intermediates to build and compare the lignin metabolic map in each. Maps of lignin degradation metabolism for the four microbes will be built using BNICE framework based on the results. These metabolic maps will be the first step in developing a synthetic biology toolbox for the engineering of organisms capable of producing biofuels from lignin.