Glomalin: an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal soil protein

Glomalin is abundant in soils and is closely correlated with aggregate water stability. Glomalin contains carbon and, hence, constitutes a non-trivial portion of the terrestrial carbon pool. Possibly far more importantly, however, stabilization of aggregates amplifies the role of glomalin in soils because carbonaceous compounds are protected from degradation inside of aggregates. Increased atmospheric CO2 can lead to increased production of glomalin because of the symbiotic association that exists between plants and producers of glomalin, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Glomalin concentrations in soils are influenced by management practices, for example, in agroecosystems, further highlighting the role of this protein in carbon storage. Glomalin is an unusual molecule that has proven difficult to analyze biochemically due to its recalcitrance and complexity. Future research will be directed towards the elucidation of its structure and controls on its production.