NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Novel long-chain anteiso-alkanes and anteiso-alkanoic acids in Antarctic rocks colonized by living and fossil cryptoendolithic microorganismsSaponified extracts of rock samples colonized by cryptoendolithic microbial communities from the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, were separated into hydrocarbon and fatty acid fractions by silica gel column chromatography. Hydrocarbons and methyl esters of fatty acids were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Unusually, a suite of long-chain anteiso-alkanes (a-C20 to a-C30) and anteiso-alkanoic acids (a-C20 to a-C30) were detected in many samples, together with straight-chain, branched and/or cyclic and acyclic isoprenoid compounds. These novel compounds are probably derived from unidentified heterotrophic bacteria or symbiotic processes in a unique microbial community in the Antarctic cold desert and suggest the occurrence of a special biosynthetic pathway. Long-chain anteiso-alkanes are probably formed through microbial decarboxylation of corresponding anteiso-alkanoic acids. They may serve as new biomarkers in environmental and geochemical studies.
Document ID
20040090208
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Matsumoto, G. I.
(University of Tokyo Japan)
Friedmann, E. I.
Watanuki, K.
Ocampo-Friedmann, R.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of chromatography
Volume: 598
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0021-9673
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: DPP83-14180
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7337
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Program Exobiology
NASA Discipline Exobiology
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Number 52-30

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available