Polyphenol oxidase, tannase and proteolytic activity in relation to tannin concentration in the soil organic horizon under silver birch and Norway spruce

Our aim was to compare enzyme activities (tannase, polyphenol oxidase and protease) with concentrations of tannins and their ability to precipitate proteins in the litter layer and the humus layer under silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L.). We also estimated the influence of these enzymes on protein-tannin complexes and the influence of tannins on proteolytic activity. The study site was a tree species experiment in Eno, middle-eastern Finland, having three replicated plots dominated by 42-year-old silver birch and Norway spruce. Our hypotheses were (1) tree species and soil layer have an influence on tannin concentrations and enzyme activities, (2) that tannin and protein concentrations in soil organic horizon are positively correlated with enzyme activities and (3) that the enzymes studied have the ability to degrade tannin-protein complexes and that tannins can inhibit proteolytic activity. Concentrations of total tannins and hydrolysable tannins, and tannase and proteolytic activities were higher in the humus layer than in the litter layer. In general the highest values of concentrations of total tannins and hydrolysable tannins and enzyme activities were obtained for the birch humus layer, but the concentrations of condensed tannins and proteins were highest in the litter layer and under spruce. A strong correlation between substrate concentration and enzyme activity was found between hydrolysable tannins and tannase activity. Polyphenol oxidase showed similar activities in both layers. To study the influence of enzymes on protein-tannin complex we synthesized such complexes using bovine serum albumin and either condensed tannins from silver birch and Norway spruce needles or a hydrolysable tannin, tannic acid. Studies with commercial enzymes and enzymes extracted from the soil showed some decrease in tannin concentration of the tannin-protein complex over time, but surprisingly, only a negligible decrease in protein concentration. Complexes of protein with condensed tannins were more recalcitrant than tannic acid-protein complexes. Tannins, depending on the concentration and chemical structure, tended to inhibit proteolytic activity. Our results indicate that protein-tannin complexes are relatively recalcitrant since the enzymes studied here do not effectively release protein from the complexes. Also proteolytic activity and the concentration of extractable proteins seem to be low in soil. However, tannin-degrading enzymes showed high activities.