Comparison and standardization of soil enzyme assay for meaningful data interpretation

Shiping Deng; Richard Dick; Christopher Freeman; Ellen Kandeler; Michael N Weintraub

doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2016.12.013

Comparison and standardization of soil enzyme assay for meaningful data interpretation

J Microbiol Methods. 2017 Feb:133:32-34. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2016.12.013. Epub 2016 Dec 18.

Authors

Shiping Deng¹, Richard Dick², Christopher Freeman³, Ellen Kandeler⁴, Michael N Weintraub⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. Electronic address: shiping.deng@okstate.edu.
² School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
³ School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom.
⁴ Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart D-70593, Germany.
⁵ Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA.

PMID: 28003129
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2016.12.013

Abstract

Data interpretation and comparison in enzyme assays can be challenging because of the complex nature of the environment and variations in methods employed. This letter provides an overview of common enzyme assays, the need for methods standardization, and solutions addressing some of the concerns in microplate fluorimetric assay approaches.

Keywords: 4-Methylumbelliferone; Bench-scale chromogenic assay; Method standardization; Microplate fluorometric assay; Soil enzyme; p-Nitrophenol.

Published by Elsevier B.V.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Enzyme Assays / standards*
Fluorometry
Sensitivity and Specificity
Soil / chemistry*

Substances

Soil