氨基糖单体碳氮同位素的分析及其应用

氨基糖(AS)作为有机质中在分子水平识别的重要组分,研究其来源与转化能更好地认知微生物对有机质的调控作用。作为一种新兴技术,氨基糖单体同位素分析(CSIA-AS)为研究氨基糖各组分在自然环境中的变化特征提供了更详细的信息。本文系统总结了CSIA-AS技术的测定方法及其在氨基糖循环转化研究中的应用,气相色谱-同位素比值质谱法(GC-IRMS)和离子色谱-同位素比值质谱法(IC-IRMS)作为2种主要的氨基糖同位素测定方法,各有利弊,但进行相应的校正后均可实现可靠的测定结果。氨基糖各组分在土壤有机质中具有相对较低的周转时间,细菌来源的胞壁酸相对葡萄糖胺、半乳糖胺和甘露糖胺具有更高的矿化速率。氨基糖在环境中的来源和代谢转化受底物的影响,这与微生物群落对不同碳、氮源的特异性响应有关。CSIA-AS技术的推广需要进一步的方法优化并将其与微生物甄别等其他手段相结合,以此来更好地阐释有机质的来源、转化和归宿及其调控机制。

Compound-specific carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of amino sugars and their applications

Amino sugars (AS) are one of the important biochemical components in the natural organic matter pool. Clarifying the sources and transformations of AS would facilitate our understan-ding of the microbial regulation of organic matter. As an emerging technology, compound-specific isotope analysis of amino sugars (CSIA-AS) provides more detailed dynamic information of indivi-dual AS in natural environment. Here, we systematically summarized the determination methods of CSIA-AS and gave an overview on innovative applications in the cycling of AS. CSIA-AS can be performed by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) and ion chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IC-IRMS). Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, but reliable results can be achieved after calibration. The mean residence time of AS is relatively low in soil organic matter, and the bacterial-derived muramic acid possesses a higher minera-lization rate than glucosamine, galactosamine, and mannosamine. The source and metabolic transformation of AS are affected by the substrate, which is related to the specific response of microbial community to different carbon and nitrogen sources. The promotion of CSIA-AS technology requires further optimization of method and integration with other approaches such as microbial screening to decipher the source, transformation, fate and regulatory mechanisms of organic matter.