Discovery, structure and mechanism of a tetraether lipid synthase.

ABSTRACT: Archaea synthesize isoprenoid-based ether-linked membrane lipids, which enable them to withstand extreme environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high salinity, and low or high pH values^1-5. In some archaea, such as Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, these lipids are further modified by forming carbon-carbon bonds between the termini of two lipid tails within one glycerophospholipid to generate the macrocyclic archaeol or forming two carbon-carbon bonds between the termini of two lipid tails from two glycerophospholipids to generate the macrocycle glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT)^1,2. GDGT contains two 40-carbon lipid chains (biphytanyl chains) that span both leaflets of the membrane, providing enhanced stability to extreme conditions. How these

SUBMITTER: Lloyd CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9433317 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature