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Controls on the Temperature Sensitivity of Soil Enzymes: A Key Driver of In Situ Enzyme Activity Rates

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Soil Enzymology

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 22))

Abstract

Enzyme activities are commonly measured in lab assays at a single standard temperature, which does not provide any information on their temperature sensitivity. Temperature is one of the primary controls on enzyme activities, yet few studies have explored how temperature drives enzyme activities in the environment. The temperature sensitivity of enzyme activity is controlled by the structure and conformation of the isoenzymes that constitute an environmental enzyme pool as well as physical and chemical interactions with soil minerals, clays, and organic matter. Yet, these complex relationships are typically represented by a simple Q 10 of 2. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that even for the same enzyme class, temperature sensitivities vary between soils, and even seasonally in a single site. We will explore the controls on enzyme temperature sensitivity and their importance for understanding seasonal patterns in soil processes and their potential responses to global change.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Matthew Wallenstein, Jessica Ernakovich & J. Megan Steinweg

  2. University of California, Irvine, 321 Steinhaus, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA

    Matthew Wallenstein & Steven D. Allison

  3. Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Jessica Ernakovich & J. Megan Steinweg

  4. Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Aluquerque, NM, 87131, USA

    Robert Sinsabaugh

Authors
  1. Matthew Wallenstein
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  2. Steven D. Allison
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  3. Jessica Ernakovich
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  4. J. Megan Steinweg
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  5. Robert Sinsabaugh
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Correspondence to Matthew Wallenstein .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Biological, Geological &, Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Euclid Ave. 2121, Cleveland, 44115-2214, Ohio, USA

    Girish Shukla

  2. Amity Institute of Microbial Sciences, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, 201303, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

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Wallenstein, M., Allison, S.D., Ernakovich, J., Steinweg, J.M., Sinsabaugh, R. (2010). Controls on the Temperature Sensitivity of Soil Enzymes: A Key Driver of In Situ Enzyme Activity Rates. In: Shukla, G., Varma, A. (eds) Soil Enzymology. Soil Biology, vol 22. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14225-3_13

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