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Title: Temperature sensitivities of extracellular enzyme V max and K m across thermal environments
Abstract

The magnitude and direction of carbon cycle feedbacks under climate warming remain uncertain due to insufficient knowledge about the temperature sensitivities of soil microbial processes. Enzymatic rates could increase at higher temperatures, but this response could change over time if soil microbes adapt to warming. We used the Arrhenius relationship, biochemical transition state theory, and thermal physiology theory to predict the responses of extracellular enzymeVmaxandKmto temperature. Based on these concepts, we hypothesized thatVmaxandKmwould correlate positively with each other and show positive temperature sensitivities. For enzymes from warmer environments, we expected to find lowerVmax,Km, andKmtemperature sensitivity but higherVmaxtemperature sensitivity. We tested these hypotheses with isolates of the filamentous fungusNeurospora discretacollected from around the globe and with decomposing leaf litter from a warming experiment in Alaskan boreal forest. ForNeurosporaextracellular enzymes,VmaxQ10ranged from 1.48 to 2.25, andKmQ10ranged from 0.71 to 2.80. In agreement with theory,VmaxandKmwere positively correlated for some enzymes, andVmaxdeclined under experimental warming in Alaskan litter. However, the temperature sensitivities ofVmaxandKmdid not vary as expected with warming. We also found no relationship between temperature sensitivity ofVmaxorKmand mean annual temperature of the isolation site forNeurosporastrains. DecliningVmaxin the Alaskan warming treatment implies a short‐term negative feedback to climate change, but theNeurosporaresults suggest that climate‐driven changes in plant inputs and soil properties are important controls on enzyme kinetics in the long term. Our empirical data on enzymeVmax,Km, and temperature sensitivities should be useful for parameterizing existing biogeochemical models, but they reveal a need to develop new theory on thermal adaptation mechanisms.

 
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NSF-PAR ID:
10051122
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Global Change Biology
Volume:
24
Issue:
7
ISSN:
1354-1013
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 2884-2897
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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