RCN: Enzymes in the Environment

细菌和真菌产生的细胞酶参与了无数的生物地球化学过程，是为陆地和水生生态系统提供服务的核心。一个非常重要的过程是土壤和沉积物中有机物的生物分解，这是全球碳循环的关键组成部分。此外，污染土壤和水体的自然衰减取决于细胞外酶的活性。然而，我们理解和管理生物地球化学过程以获得有益结果的能力，如碳封存，优化生态系统生产力和生物修复，受到我们对细胞外酶的多样性和功能能力的有限知识的限制。这个研究协调网络的总体目标是通过改善交流、合作和刺激新的举措来推进我们对环境中酶的理解。该网络将通过组织讲习班、数据综合、标准化方法和维护一个项目网站来实现这一目标。这个研究协调网络解决了我们对不同微生物对酶生产的控制、它们的稳定和周转以及它们的原位活性的理解的需要。目前，我们的理解受到以下因素的限制：(1)测量各种环境中实际酶活性的方法有限；(2)跨学科和生态系统边界的讨论有限；(3)将当前研究综合为一个集成的概念框架以提供生态系统模型的有限。基因组学和其他分子方法的新进展将使这一领域取得快速进展。这个网络将加强参与这项研究各个方面的国际科学家之间的合作和交流。通过积极招聘、参与实验室交换计划以获得研究经验以及促进不同研究人员群体参与各种网络活动，将促进代表性不足的群体扩大对科学的参与。

Enzyme RCN AbstractExtracellular enzymes produced by bacteria and fungi are involved in innumerable biogeochemical processes and are central to providing services to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. One very important process is the biological decomposition of organic matter in soils and sediments, which is a critical component of the global carbon cycle. Furthermore, the natural attenuation of polluted soils and waters depends on the activities of extracellular enzymes. However, our ability to understand and manage biogeochemical processes for beneficial outcomes such as carbon sequestration, optimizing ecosystem productivity, and bioremediation is constrained by our limited knowledge of the diversity and functional capabilities of extracellular enzymes. The overall goal of this Research Coordination Network is to advance our understanding of enzymes in the environment through improved communication, collaboration, and spurring new initiatives. The network will accomplish this goal by organizing workshops, data synthesizing, standardizing methods, and through maintaining a project website.This Research Coordination Network addresses a need to advance our understanding of the controls on the production of enzymes by different microbes, their stabilization and turnover, and their in-situ activity. Currently, our understanding is constrained by (1) limited methods for measuring actual enzyme activities in various environments, (2) limited discourse across disciplinary and ecosystem boundaries, and (3) limited synthesis of current research into an integrated conceptual framework that feeds into ecosystem models. New advances in genomics and other molecular approaches will allow for rapid advances in this field. This network will enhance collaboration and communication between the international community of scientists involved in various aspects of this research. Broadening participation of underrepresented groups in science will be promoted by active recruitment, participation in a lab exchange program to gain research experience, and by promoting participation of a diverse group of researchers in various network activities.