Revision of two colorimetric methods to quantify glomalin related compounds in soils subjected to different managements

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze two colorimetric methods used to determine easily extracted glomalin-related soil proteins (EE-GRSP). The historically and most commonly used method for measurement of EE-GRSP as total protein has been the Bradford assay. After some troubles/inconsistencies with this method, we carefully analyzed the Bradford assay, measuring a dilution series of the EE-GRSP fraction and analyzing the time stability of the product. In addition, we did similar analysis of another colorimetric method that quantifies total protein, the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay. Unexpectedly, we found that the EE-GRSP concentration values determined by Bradford assay were dependent and variable with the dilution level of the soil extract; moreover, the Bradford assay shows a great instability with the time when soil samples were analyzed but not when protein solution as bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as control. On the contrary, the BCA assay was independent of the dilution levels of the soil extract and showed stability in the time either for soil samples or BSA protein quantification. These results were consistent and independent on the different type of soils corresponding to different locations and with different textures.