On Single-Cell Enzyme Assays in Marine Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry

Public Deposited
Analytics

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
Request Version for Screen Reader
Creator
  • Traving, S.J.
    • Other Affiliation: University of Southern Denmark
  • Balmonte, J.P.
    • Other Affiliation: University of Southern Denmark
  • Seale, D.
    • Other Affiliation: University of British Columbia
  • Arnosti, C.
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences
  • Glud, R.N.
    • Other Affiliation: University of Southern Denmark
  • Hallam, S.J.
    • Other Affiliation: University of British Columbia
  • Middelboe, M.
    • Other Affiliation: University of Southern Denmark
Abstract
  • Extracellular enzyme activity is a well-established parameter for evaluating microbial biogeochemical roles in marine ecosystems. The presence and activity of extracellular enzymes in seawater provide insights into the quality and quantity of organic matter being processed by the present microorganisms. A key challenge in our understanding of these processes is to decode the extracellular enzyme repertoire and activities of natural communities at the single-cell level. Current measurements are carried out on bulk or size-fractionated samples capturing activities of mixed populations. This approach – even with size-fractionation – cannot be used to trace enzymes back to their producers, nor distinguish the active microbial members, leading to a disconnect between measured activities and the producer cells. By targeting extracellular enzymes and resolving their activities at the single-cell level, we can investigate underlying phenotypic heterogeneity among clonal or closely related organisms, characterize enzyme kinetics under varying environmental conditions, and resolve spatio-temporal distribution of individual enzyme producers within natural communities. In this perspective piece, we discuss state-of-the-art technologies in the fields of microfluidic droplets and functional screening of prokaryotic cells for measuring enzyme activity in marine seawater samples, one cell at a time. We further elaborate on how this single-cell approach can be used to address research questions that cannot be answered with current methods, as pertinent to the enzymatic degradation of organic matter by marine microorganisms.
Date of publication
Keyword
DOI
Identifier
Resource type
  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
License
  • Attribution 4.0 International
Journal title
  • Frontiers in Marine Science
Journal volume
  • 9
Language
  • English
Version
  • Publisher
ISSN
  • 2296-7745
Publisher
  • Frontiers Media S.A.

Relations

Parents:

This work has no parents.

In Collection:

Items

Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Visibility Actions
file details fmars_09_846656.pdf 2022-09-15 Public Download