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Analysis of intact tetraether lipids in archaeal cell material and sediments by high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Hopmans Ellen C.,
Schouten Stefan,
Pancost Richard D.,
van der Meer Marcel T.J.,
Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0231(20000415)14:7<585::aid-rcm913>3.0.co;2-n
Subject(s) - chemistry , atmospheric pressure chemical ionization , mass spectrometry , thermophile , archaea , chromatography , chemical ionization , mass spectrum , glycerol , protonation , sulfolobus solfataricus , high performance liquid chromatography , analytical chemistry (journal) , environmental chemistry , ionization , ion , organic chemistry , biochemistry , enzyme , gene
A method combining normal phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with positive ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI‐MS) was developed for the analysis of intact glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) in archaeal cell material and sediments. All GDGTs previously reported to occur in the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus could be identified based on their mass spectra and retention time. Positive ion mass spectra consisted of abundant protonated molecules and fragment ions corresponding to loss of water and the glycerol moiety. In addition, two novel GDGTs representing alternative combinations of biphytanyl moieties were observed. Using this method, the tetraethers present in the thermophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula and two sediment samples were characterized. This rapid method will greatly contribute to the establishment of the sedimentary record of these compounds and increase our understanding of archaea and their occurrence in widely different environments. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.