Application of the ³H-Leucine incorporation technique for quantifying rates of bacterial secondary production associated with decaying wetland plant litter

Author

Jane E. Gillies

Date Approved

2006

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Biology

Committee Member

Kevin A. Kuehn, PhD, Chair

Committee Member

Steven N. Francoeur, PhD

Committee Member

Glenn Walker, PhD,

Abstract

The ³H-leucine incorporation technique for quantifying rates of bacterial production has increased in popularity since its original description for bacterioplankton communities. Previous studies examining ³H-leucine-incorporation conditions for bacterial communities in other habitats have reported a wide range of final leucine concentrations to achieve saturation-level uptake. This study assessed the application of the ³H-leucine-incorporation procedure for measuring bacterial production associated with decaying wetland plant litter. Substrate saturation experiments were conducted on three dates for bacteria colonizing decaying litter of Typha angustifolia, Schoenoplectus validus, and Phragmites australis. Incorporation of 3H-leucine into protein exhibited a biphasic saturation curve, with lower apparent K_m values ranging from 400 nM to 4.2 μM. Upper apparent K_m values ranged from 1.3 to 21.7 μM. These results suggest differential uptake by litter-associated microorganisms, with lower K_m values possibly representing bacterial uptake and higher K_m values representing a combination of both bacterial and nonbacterial uptake.

Recommended Citation

Gillies, Jane E., "Application of the ³H-Leucine incorporation technique for quantifying rates of bacterial secondary production associated with decaying wetland plant litter" (2006). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 75.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/75