A simple, economical method for measuring bacterial protein synthesis rates in seawater using 3H-leucine

A simplified method is presented for using 3H-leucine (3H-leu) incorporation to measure bacterial protein synthesis rates in seawater. This method uses small volumes (< 2.0 ml) of seawater and centrifugation instead of filtration. Using high specific activity 3H-leu (5 TBq mmol-1), this method is sensitive enough for measurements in open ocean and mesopelagic samples. The centrifugation method provides substantial savings in cost per sample as well as a reduction in the amount of radioactive waste generated. This method is preferable to the filtration method especially for large scale oceanographic programs involving extensive measurements of bacterial carbon production. This centrifugation method should also allow the investigation of small scale patchiness of bacterial carbon production.

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