Structural elucidation of a unique macrocyclic membrane lipid from a new, extremely thermophilic, deep-sea hydrothermal vent archaebacterium, Methanococcus jannaschii.

摘要: The membrane lipid of a new deep-sea hydrothermal vent methanogen, Methanococcus jannaschii, was isolated, purified, and structurally characterized. total extract, amounting to 32.2 micrograms/mg, dry cell weight, fractionated on silica gel into neutral polar fraction. fraction consisted series isoprenoid hydrocarbons free (nonphospholipid) alkylglycerol ethers. phospholipid glycolipid (8.44 weight) hydrolyzed with methanolic HCl, the resulting ethers were analyzed by combination chemical spectroscopic techniques. primarily (95%) unique, macrocyclic glycerol diether, heretofore unknown. High-field (250 MHz) proton nuclear magnetic resonance infrared spectra this novel compound are nearly identical overlapping those known bis-(phytanyl)glycerol diether bis-(diphytanyl)diglycerol tetraether. A field desorption mass spectrum revealed molecular weight 650 for 2 units less than that diether. Degradation ether boron tribromide resulted in diphytanyl dibromide, further reaction dibromide lithium aluminium hydride diphytane as determined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. significance predominance structure M. jannaschii is discussed. survey selected methanogenic Archaebacteria, including three thermophiles, failed indicate presence any other microorganism, two species order Methanococcales, one Methanobacteriales, strains belonging Methanomicrobiales.