Adenosine triphosphate concentration in relation to microbial biomass in aquatic systems

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7218601· OSTI ID:7218601

Cunningham, Jr, H W

Analyses of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) extracted from a sediment community of an aquatic ecosystem by the sulfuric acid method are complicated by inhibitions from inorganic and organic compounds. Inhibitions by inorganic compounds are reversible while those by organic compounds are irreversible. The primary inhibition by organic compounds results by complexing with acid-soluble fulvic acids which will prevent the detection of as much as 80% of the ATP present in a sample by the luciferin-luciferase reaction. Analytical techniques were developed to partially circumvent such interferences. Biomass interpretations from ATP concentrations in aquatic systems are complicated by the diversity of the microbiota and by the variability in the carbon to ATP ratio caused by environmental conditions. However, when levels of ATP are considered as a physiological condition of a sedimentary community, this data provides a means to interpret community metabolism not available hitherto.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing (USA). Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-S-02-1599
• OSTI ID: 7218601
• Report Number(s): COO-1599-125(Pt.3)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550200 -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATP
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOMASS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
KINETICS
MEASURING METHODS
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEDIMENTS