Differential Responses of the Catalytic Efficiency of Ammonia and Nitrite Oxidation to Changes in Temperature

Abstract

Microbially mediated nitrification plays an important role in the nitrogen (N) cycle, and rates of activity have been shown to change significantly with temperature. Despite this, the substrate affinities of nitrifying bacteria and archaea have not been comprehensively measured and are often assumed to be static in mathematical models of environmental systems. In this study, we measured the oxidation kinetics of ammonia- (NH3) oxidizing archaea (AOA), NH3-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and two distinct groups of nitrite (NO2–)-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), of the genera Nitrobacter and Nitrospira, by measuring the maximum rates of apparent activity (Vmax(app)), the apparent half-saturation constant (Km(app)), and the overall catalytic efficiency (Vmax(app)/Km(app)) over a range of temperatures. Changes in Vmax(app) and Km(app) with temperature were different between groups, with Vmax(app) and catalytic efficiency increasing with temperature in AOA, while Vmax(app), Km(app), and catalytic efficiency increased in AOB. In Nitrobacter NOB, Vmax(app) and Km(app) increased, but catalytic efficiency decreased significantly with temperature. Nitrospira NOB were variable, but Vmax(app) increased while catalytic efficiency and Km(app) remained relatively unchanged. Michaelis–Menten (MM) and Haldane (H) kinetic models of NH3 oxidation and NO2– oxidation based on the collected data correctly predict nitrification potential in some soil incubation experiments, but not others. Despite previous observations of coupled nitrification in many natural systems, our results demonstrate significant differences in response to temperature strategies between the different groups of nitrifiers; and indicate the need to further investigate the response of nitrifiers to environmental changes.