title: Microbial lipids betrayed by their fossils.
abstract: Novel families of microbial lipids have been betrayed by their molecular fossils. They comprise the very widespread and varied hopanoids, and 'orphan' lipids. Membrane reinforcement appears to be universally achieved by these polyterpenoids; a hypothetical phylogenetic tree comprises the above, some postulated intermediates, bacterial carotenoids, cycloartenol, and finally cholesterol.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Neurochimie, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ourisson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohmer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poralla
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005580:Fossils; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids