title: Structural complexity in isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether lipid cores of Sulfolobus and other archaea revealed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of membrane lipid cores from Sulfolobus species reveals isomeric forms of ring-containing isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether components not previously recognised via the use of NMR and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Equivalent isomerism was confirmed for the components in other hyperthermophilic genera and in sediments which contain the lipids of mesophilic archaea. The recognition of the isomeric structures in distinct archaeal clades suggests that profiles of tetraether lipids reported previously may have oversimplified the true lipid complexity in archaeal cultures and natural environments. Accordingly, the extent of variation in tetraether structures revealed by the work should direct more informative interpretations of lipid profiles in the future. Moreover, the results emphasise that tandem mass spectrometry provides a unique capability for assigning the structures of intact tetraether lipid cores for co-eluting species during chromatographic separation.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Knappy
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Barillà
authors: J P A
authors: JP
authors: de Blaquiere
authors: H W
authors: HW
authors: Morgan
authors: C E M
authors: CE
authors: Nunn
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Suleman
authors: C H W
authors: CH
authors: Tan
authors: B J
authors: BJ
authors: Keely
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005995:Glyceryl Ethers / Q000737:chemistry; D007536:Isomerism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D016944:Sulfolobus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005995:Glyceryl Ethers; D008055:Lipids; D013729:Terpenes