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Enzyme assay with fluoresceinamine labeled biopolymers

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Polysaccharide hydrolysis
Approach: enzyme assay
Context: incubation, lab
Spatial scale: low
Temporal scale: low; hours to days
Units: mol monomer L-1 h-1
Community captured: heterotrophs
Co-measurements: cell abundance

Method Overview

This enzyme assay measures polysaccharide hydrolysis by time course incubations with fluorescently labeled substrate (fluoresceinamine labeled biopolymers)[1].

The assay is performed in discrete mode on bulk, size-fract, single cell samples.

Scale of measurement

Typically performed on replicate samples collected at a sampling station at one point in time. Sampling effort is relatively high impairing resolution in space or time. Time course incubations last hours to days, further restricting temporal resolution.

Data generated

These measurements can provide hydrolysis rates per unit time.

Units & currency

Units are mol monomer L-1 h-1. The currency is carbon.

Sample size

Typical samples are < 1 L in volume.

Limitations

Rate measurements to estimate Vmax, yielding potential rates. Bottle effects are likely to occur.

Example Applications & Protocols

Classic examples

  • Arnosti (1996) A new method for measuring polysaccharide hydrolysis rates in marine environments [1]

Recent applications

  • Martinez-Garcia et al. (2012) Capturing Single Cell Genomes of Active Polysaccharide Degraders: An Unexpected Contribution of Verrucomicrobia [2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Arnosti (1996). A new method for measuring polysaccharide hydrolysis rates in marine environments. Organic Geochemistry, 25(1-2), 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(96)00112-X
  2. Martinez-Garcia et al. (2012). Capturing Single Cell Genomes of Active Polysaccharide Degraders: An Unexpected Contribution of Verrucomicrobia. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e35314. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035314