Cited by 281Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsPhotosynthetic Processes and MechanismsMicrobial bioremediation and biosurfactants

Biosynthesis of 2-methylbacteriohopanepolyols by an anoxygenic phototroph

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Rashby, Sky E., Sessions, Alex L., Summons, Roger E., Newman, Dianne K.·2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Sedimentary 2-methyhopanes have been used as biomarker proxies for cyanobacteria, the only known bacterial clade capable of oxygenic photosynthesis and the only group of organisms found thus far to produce abundant 2-methylbacteriohopanepolyols (2-MeBHPs). Here, we report the identification of significant quantities of 2-MeBHP in two strains of the anoxygenic phototroph Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Biosynthesis of 2-MeBHP can occur in the absence of O(2), deriving the C-2 methyl group from methionine. The relative abundance of 2-MeBHP varies considerably with culture conditions, ranging from 13.3% of total bacteriohopanepolyol (BHP) to trace levels of methylation. Analysis of intact BHPs reveals the presence of methylated bacteriohopane-32,33,34,35-tetrol but no detectable methylation of 35-aminobacteriohopane-32,33,34-triol. Our results demonstrate that an anoxygenic photoautotroph is capable of generating 2-MeBHPs and show that the potential origins of sedimentary 2-methylhopanoids are more diverse than previously thought.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.0704912104

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  • 2-methylbacteriohopanepolyols, once thought to be produced only by cyanobacteria, are produced by other bacteria as well.

    “For example, although 2-methyl hopanes are known to be the breakdown product of 2-methylbacteriohopanepolyols, which were once thought to be produced only by cyanobacteria, it has recently been shown that 2-methylbacteriohopanepolyols are produced by other bacteria as well (Rashby et al., 2007; Welander et al., 2012).”

    From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Rashby et al., 2007

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Authors
Rashby, S. E., Sessions, A. L., Summons, R. E., & Newman, D. K.
Affiliations
  • California Institute of Technology (US)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2007-09-18
Volume
104
Issue
38
Pages
15099-15104
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2123257520
Cited by
281
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 23
FWCI
15.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Ames Research Center
  • University of California, Davis
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
Keywords
biosynthesis, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, anoxygenic phototrophs, bacteriohopanepolyols, sedimentary biomarkers, cyanobacteria, methylation
MeSH terms
Aerobiosis, Chromatography, Liquid, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Methylation, Photosynthesis, Rhodopseudomonas, Triterpenes, Phototrophic Processes

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