Aminopeptidase and phosphatase activities in basins of Lake Hiidenvesi dominated by cyanobacteria and in laboratory grown Anabaena

Abstract

1. Extracellular enzyme activities were examined in freshwater basins representing a transition from hypertrophy to mesotrophy and in axenic cyanobacterial cultures to evaluate the ecological role of extracellular enzyme activities of cyanobacteria.2. Aminopeptidase activity was related to the trophic status of the lake basins. The activity was highest in the most eutrophic basin and decreased in the less nutrient‐rich basins. Cyanobacteria were the most important autotrophic organisms and aminopeptidase activity was positively associated with cyanobacterial biomass.3. In an axenic Anabaena batch culture, nitrogenase activity was several orders of magnitude higher than leucine aminopeptidase activity. Nitrate did not have an effect on aminopeptidase activity or growth, but significantly reduced the rate of nitrogen fixation. A high phosphorus concentration at the beginning of the Anabaena batch‐culture experiment resulted in reduced phosphatase activity.4. In Lake Hiidenvesi, aminopeptidase activity probably originated mostly from attached bacteria and less so from cyanobacteria.