New publication in Biogeosciences explores mechanistic insights into biological O2 consumption to improve quantification of O2 dynamics in aqueous environments
Stable isotope analysis of O2 has emerged as a valuable tool to study O2 dynamics at various environmental scales, from molecular mechanisms to ecosystem processes. Despite its utility, there is a lack of fundamental understanding of the large variability observed in O2 isotopic fractionation at the environmental and even enzymatic levels.
This study sheds new light on the variability of oxygen isotopic fractionation across different O2-consuming enzyme classes by analyzing enzyme kinetics and isotope effects. Comparison of this data with previous studies revealed distinct patterns of O2 isotopic fractionation within and between enzyme groups, reflecting differences in active-site structures and O2-reduction mechanisms. These findings have significant implications for interpreting stable O2 isotope data in aqueous environments.
