Thermophilic temperature optimum for crenarchaeol synthesis and its implication for archaeal evolution

Chuanlun L Zhang; Ann Pearson; Yi-Liang Li; Gary Mills; Juergen Wiegel

doi:10.1128/AEM.00191-06

Thermophilic temperature optimum for crenarchaeol synthesis and its implication for archaeal evolution

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 Jun;72(6):4419-22. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00191-06.

Authors

Chuanlun L Zhang¹, Ann Pearson, Yi-Liang Li, Gary Mills, Juergen Wiegel

Affiliation

¹ Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA. zhang@srel.edu

Abstract

The isoprenoid lipid crenarchaeol is widespread in hot springs of California and Nevada. Terrestrial and marine data together suggest a maximum relative abundance of crenarchaeol at approximately 40 degrees C. This warm temperature optimum may have facilitated colonization of the ocean by (hyper)thermophilic Archaea and the major marine radiation of Crenarchaeota.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Archaea / genetics*
Archaea / growth & development
Archaea / isolation & purification
Archaea / metabolism*
Evolution, Molecular*
Freezing
Geography
Glyceryl Ethers / metabolism*
Lipids / chemistry
Lipids / isolation & purification
Mass Spectrometry
Seasons
Thermodynamics

Substances

Glyceryl Ethers
Lipids
crenarchaeol