Spatial patterns of extracellular enzymes: Combining X-ray computed micro-tomography and 2D zymography

Kravchenko, A. N.; Guber, A. K.; Razavi, B. S.; Koestel, J.; Blagodatskaya, E. V.; Kuzyakov, Y.

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.06.002

Spatial patterns of extracellular enzymes: Combining X-ray computed micro-tomography and 2D zymography

Journal Article · Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Soil Biology and Biochemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.06.002· OSTI ID:1600954

Kravchenko, A. N. ^[1]; Guber, A. K. ^[2]; Razavi, B. S. ^[3]; Koestel, J. ^[4]; ^[5]; Kuzyakov, Y. ^[6]

Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
Univ. of Kiel (Germany)
Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala (Sweden)
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Halle Saale (Germany)Germany; RUDN Univ., Moscow (Russia)
RUDN Univ., Moscow (Russia); Univ. of Göttingen (Germany); Inst. of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Pushchino (Russia)

We report that linking the distribution of enzyme activity to the size and properties of soil pores is a necessary prerequisite for mechanistic understanding of soil biochemical processes. In this study we used soil 2D zymography and X-ray computed tomography (μCT) to assess the relationship between enzymes and pores. The objectives of the study were (i) to assess spatial distribution patterns in the activity of six enzymes contributing to C, N and P cycles, namely, cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase, xylanase acid phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, and N-acetylglucosaminidase, in soils from five long-term land use and management practices, (ii) to study the correlation between enzyme activities and μCT information, i.e., pore characteristics and image grayscale values, and (iii) to explore the potential use of soil 2D zymography in predicting enzyme activities within 3D soil cores. 3D pore-size distributions were obtained from μCT images of 13 intact soil cores and then 8–15 2D zymography maps were taken from each core. Spatial distributions in the activities of all studied enzymes were auto-correlated; the spatial correlation ranges were equal to ~7–8 mm. The relative activity of all enzymes was positively associated within 60–180 μm Ø pores. Combining 3D μCT information with 2D zymography maps visualized the overall patterns of enzyme activity distributions with respect to soil pores and particulate organic matter locations. Based on the findings we propose a conceptual scheme relating localization of microorganisms, enzymes and substrates to pores of different size ranges. Specifically, we suggest that pores in the tens of microns size range represent optimal microbial habitats, and as such are associated with greater microbial abundance, leading to high enzyme production and activity.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDA; USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0018409

OSTI ID:: 1600954

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1776199

Journal Information:: Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Journal Name: Soil Biology and Biochemistry Journal Issue: C Vol. 135; ISSN 0038-0717

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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