Carbon Limitation Leads to Thermodynamic Regulation of Aerobic Metabolism

Garayburu-Caruso, Vanessa A.; Stegen, James C.; Song, Hyun-Seob; Renteria, Lupita; Wells, Jacqueline R.; Garcia, Whitney L.; Resch, Charles T.; Goldman, Amy E.; Chu, Rosalie K.; Toyoda, Jason G.; Graham, Emily B.

doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00258

Carbon Limitation Leads to Thermodynamic Regulation of Aerobic Metabolism

Journal Article · Fri May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Environmental Science & Technology Letters (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00258· OSTI ID:1642345

^[1]; ^[1]; Song, Hyun-Seob ^[2]; Renteria, Lupita ^[1]; Wells, Jacqueline R. ^[1]; Garcia, Whitney L. ^[1]; Resch, Charles T. ^[1]; Goldman, Amy E. ^[1]; Chu, Rosalie K. ^[3]; Toyoda, Jason G. ^[3]; ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)

Organic matter (OM) metabolism in freshwater ecosystems is a critical source of uncertainty in global biogeochemical cycles, yet the processes regulating aerobic respiration in aquatic environments remain poorly understood. Aerobic respiration is typically predicted through kinetic controls such as organic carbon and oxygen concentrations, while assuming thermodynamic regulation has no influence. The role of OM thermodynamics has been mainly explored under anaerobic conditions; however, recent observations have suggested that thermodynamic properties of OM may influence aerobic respiration rates. Here, we explicitly test OM thermodynamics as a key regulator of aerobic respiration. We pair controlled microcosm experiments with ultrahigh-resolution OM characterization to show that aerobic respiration increases with OM thermodynamic favorability under carbon limitation. We also demonstrate a shift in the regulation of aerobic respiration from OM thermodynamics to nitrogen content when carbon is in excess, highlighting a central role for OM thermodynamics particularly in carbon-limited ecosystems. This illuminates a structural gap in aquatic biogeochemical models by demonstrating that both kinetic and thermodynamic constraints can modulate aerobic respiration. Our work therefore proposes a new conceptual model in which thermodynamic and nutrient limitations dually control aerobic respiration.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1642345

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--150146

Journal Information:: Environmental Science & Technology Letters (Online), Journal Name: Environmental Science & Technology Letters (Online) Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 7; ISSN 2328-8930

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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