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Extracellular enzyme activity: Indications for high short-term variability in a coastal marine ecosystem

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Abstract

Extracellular α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, and aminopeptidase activity variations (measured by use of fluorogenic substrate analogs) at a coastal station in the Mediterranean Sea were investigated over a 1-year period. A 27-h cycle and daily measurements were made in a summer situation. We observed strong relative diurnal variations, compared to seasonal variations, in α- and β-glucosidase. Within 24 h, 0–100% of both α- and β-glucosidase were found in the dissolved phase. The aminopeptidase activities did not show a strong diurnal variation, but day to day variations were similar in magnitude to seasonal changes. Consistently, high proportions of all three enzymes were found in the dissolved phase on a seasonal scale. Seasonal measurements at 50- and 100-m depths showed a weak negative dependency on depth for extracellular enzyme activity. The potential importance of both hourly and daily changes in extracellular enzyme activity and of free enzymes is considered.

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Author notes

  1. M. Kamer

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Allan Hancock Foundation, University of Southern California, Building 107, 90089-0371, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS-URA 716, Station Zoologique, B.P. 28, F-06230, Villefranche-sur-mer, France

    M. Kamer & F. Rassoulzadegan

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  1. M. Kamer
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  2. F. Rassoulzadegan
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Correspondence to: M. Karner

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Kamer, M., Rassoulzadegan, F. Extracellular enzyme activity: Indications for high short-term variability in a coastal marine ecosystem. Microb Ecol 30, 143–156 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172570

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00172570

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