GDGT cyclization proteins identify the dominant archaeal sources of tetraether lipids in the ocean.

ABSTRACT: Glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) are distinctive archaeal membrane-spanning lipids with up to eight cyclopentane rings and/or one cyclohexane ring. The number of rings added to the GDGT core structure can vary as a function of environmental conditions, such as changes in growth temperature. This physiological response enables cyclic GDGTs preserved in sediments to be employed as proxies for reconstructing past global and regional temperatures and to provide fundamental insights into ancient climate variability. Yet, confidence in GDGT-based paleotemperature proxies is hindered by uncertainty concerning the archaeal communities contributing to GDGT pools in modern environments and ambiguity in the environmental and physiological factors that affect GDGT cyclization in exta

SUBMITTER: Zeng Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6842593 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature