The Development and Improvement of Instructions

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Development and Improvement of Instructions MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION IN THE GREEN MICROALGA Botryococcus braunii A Dissertation by TAYLOR LEIGH WEISS Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY August 2012 Major Subject: Biochemistry Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of Hydrocarbon Production in the Green Microalga Botryococcus braunii Copyright 2012 Taylor Leigh Weiss MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION IN THE GREEN MICROALGA Botryococcus braunii A Dissertation by TAYLOR LEIGH WEISS Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Timothy P. Devarenne Committee Members, Pingwei Li Andreas Holzenburg Comer O. Patterson Head of Department, Gregory D. Reinhart August 2012 Major Subject: Biochemistry iii ABSTRACT Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of Hydrocarbon Production in the Green Microalga Botryococcus braunii. (August 2012) Taylor Leigh Weiss, B.S., Rochester University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Timothy P. Devarenne Botryococcus braunii (Chlorophyta, Botryococcaceae) is a colony-forming green microalga that produces large amounts of liquid hydrocarbons, which can be converted into transportation fuels. While B. braunii has been well studied for the chemistry of the hydrocarbon production, very little is known about the molecular biology of B. braunii. As such, this study developed both apparatus and techniques to culture B. braunii for use in the genetic and biochemical characterization. During genetic studies, the genome size was determined of a representative strain of each of the three races of B. braunii, A, B, and L, that are distinguished based on the type of hydrocarbon each produces. Flow cytometry analysis indicates that the A race, Yamanaka strain, of B. braunii has a genome size of 166.0 ± 0.4 Mb, which is similar to the B race, Berkeley strain, with a genome size of 166 ± 2.2 Mb, while the L race, Songkla Nakarin strain, has a substantially larger genome size at 211.3 ± 1.7 Mb. Phylogenetic analysis with the nuclear small subunit (18S) rRNA and actin genes were used to classify multiple strains of A, B, and L races. These analyses suggest that the iv evolutionary relationship between B. braunii races is correlated with the type of liquid hydrocarbon they produce. Biochemical studies of B. braunii primarily focused on the B race, because it uniquely produces large amounts of botryococcenes that can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines. C30 botryococcene is metabolized by methylation to generate intermediates of C31, C32, C33, and C34. Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the structure of botryococcenes. The spectral region from 1600–1700 cm-1 showed v(C=C) stretching bands specific for botryococcenes. Distinct botryococcene Raman bands at 1640 and 1647 cm-1 were assigned to the stretching of the C=C bond in the botryococcene branch and the exomethylene C=C bonds produced by the methylations, respectively. A Raman band at 1670 cm-1 was assigned to the backbone C=C bond stretching. Finally, confocal Raman microspectroscopy was used to map the presence and location of methylated botryococcenes within a living colony of B. braunii cells. v DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my grandmother. Though she did not live to see its completion, this work would not have been possible without her love and support. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would foremost like to thank my advisor, Tim Devarenne. I came to him without a lab, a project, nor direction. He gave me all these things plus the freedom and confidence to pursue my most ambitious intellectual pursuits. I am forever grateful for his mentoring, guidance, and friendship. I also thank our collaborator and good friend, Shigeru Okada. Without his aid, great patience, deep wisdom, and vast knowledge none of my studies would have been possible. I would especially like to thank both Arum Han and Christian Hilty for allowing me to collaborate and work with my friends Hyun Soo Kim and Giridhar Sekar. I look forward to many years of friendship and science together. I would like to thank all of the members of my committee, Andreas Holzenburg, Pingwei Li, James Manhart, C.O. Patterson, and Michael Polymenis, for all their service, suggestions, comments, and helpful conversations during the course of my studies. I would similarly like to thank Stanislav Vitha, Jaan Laane, Hye Jin Chun, Amanda Young, Margret Glasner, Wei-chuan Shih, Ji Qi, Larry Dangott, Eunah Lee, Patrick Killough, for all their collaborations, technical expertise, and fruitful conversation. Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the Devarenne lab, past, present, temporary, transient, and otherwise honorary for their help and conversation. In particular, I am grateful to have both worked and laughed beside classmates Anna Nelson, Joel Gray, and Julian Avila. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... xi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... xiv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 Algae biofuels ................................................................................ 1 Algae .............................................................................................. 2 Botryococcus braunii ..................................................................... 4 General biology ........................................................................ 4 Biofuel potential ....................................................................... 9 Hydrocarbon synthesis ................................................................... 11 Isoprenoids ............................................................................... 11 B Race ...................................................................................... 17 L Race ...................................................................................... 22 A Race ...................................................................................... 25 Hydrocarbon accumulation ............................................................ 27 Rationale ......................................................................................... 30 II MATERIALS AND METHODS ......................................................... 31 Growth apparatus design ................................................................ 31 Mixed-gas system ..................................................................... 31 Lighting system ........................................................................ 34 Liquid media growth ...................................................................... 34 Flasks ........................................................................................ 34 Carboy ...................................................................................... 37 Solid media growth ........................................................................ 39 viii CHAPTER Page Culturing of algae ........................................................................... 42 Cyrogenic storage ........................................................................... 43 Gene sequencing ............................................................................ 44 Berkeley strain .......................................................................... 44 18S rRNA ......................................................................... 44 β-actin ............................................................................... 45 Additional strains ..................................................................... 46 18S rRNA ......................................................................... 46 β-actin ............................................................................... 47 Phylogenetic analysis ..................................................................... 48 Genome size estimation ................................................................. 50 Sample preparation ................................................................... 50 Flow cytometry ........................................................................ 50 Berkeley strain GC-content estimation .......................................... 51 Histochemical staining ................................................................... 52 Microscopy ..................................................................................... 53 Shell preparation ............................................................................ 54 Carbohydrate gas chromatography/mass spectrometry .................. 55 Purification and identification of botryococcenes .......................... 57 Raman spectroscopy ......................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Investigating the Effects of Growth Medium and Light Sources on the Growth of Botryococcus Braunii
    Investigating the Effects of Growth Medium and Light Sources on the Growth of Botryococcus Braunii Ayse Busra Sengul, [email protected] Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, [email protected] Eylem Asmatulu, [email protected] Department of Mechanical Engineering Wichita State University 1845 Fairmount St., Wichita, KS 67260, USA ABSTRACT emission can be reduced by developing renewable and sustainable energy sources which will also protect the In the present study, the effect of medium and light natural resources, such as water, soil and air. Liquid source on the growth of B. braunii was investigated for transportation fuels reason the one third of the fossil-fuel large-scale and economical production of biomass and carbon emissions footprint [1]. Biofuel can be a key hydrocarbons. Three types of media and light sources solution for all these challenges. Biodiesel is an alternative were used with incubation temperature of 23±2°C under fuel which can be produced from domestic renewable different light source with a 12h-light/12h-dark cycle to energy resources. It can also be used in diesel engines with observe different growth rates. The growth rate of B. small or no modification. Biodiesel is nontoxic and free of braunii was measured via ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) sulfur, and can be blended at any level with petroleum spectrophotometry and biomass dry weight. The results of diesel to produce a biodiesel mixture [3]. this study showed the maximum growth rate was Algae are photosynthetic and heterotrophic organisms reached after approximately three weeks of incubation and has huge potential as a biofuel source. They have the and then was followed by the stationary phase.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Placement of Botryococcus Braunii (Trebouxiophyceae) and Botryococcus Sudeticus Isolate Utex 2629 (Chlorophyceae)1
    J. Phycol. 40, 412–423 (2004) r 2004 Phycological Society of America DOI: 10.1046/j.1529-8817.2004.03173.x PHYLOGENETIC PLACEMENT OF BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII (TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE) AND BOTRYOCOCCUS SUDETICUS ISOLATE UTEX 2629 (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1 Hoda H. Senousy, Gordon W. Beakes, and Ethan Hack2 School of Biology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK The phylogenetic placement of four isolates of a potential source of renewable energy in the form of Botryococcus braunii Ku¨tzing and of Botryococcus hydrocarbon fuels (Metzger et al. 1991, Metzger and sudeticus Lemmermann isolate UTEX 2629 was Largeau 1999, Banerjee et al. 2002). The best known investigated using sequences of the nuclear small species is Botryococcus braunii Ku¨tzing. This organism subunit (18S) rRNA gene. The B. braunii isolates has a worldwide distribution in fresh and brackish represent the A (two isolates), B, and L chemical water and is occasionally found in salt water. Although races. One isolate of B. braunii (CCAP 807/1; A race) it grows relatively slowly, it sometimes forms massive has a group I intron at Escherichia coli position 1046 blooms (Metzger et al. 1991, Tyson 1995). Botryococcus and isolate UTEX 2629 has group I introns at E. coli braunii strains differ in the hydrocarbons that they positions 516 and 1512. The rRNA sequences were accumulate, and they have been classified into three aligned with 53 previously reported rRNA se- chemical races, called A, B, and L. Strains in the A race quences from members of the Chlorophyta, includ- accumulate alkadienes; strains in the B race accumulate ing one reported for B.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Biogeochemistry, Lecture 8
    12.158 Lecture Pigment-derived Biomarkers (1) Colour, structure, distribution and function (2) Biosynthesis (3) Nomenclature (4) Aromatic carotenoids ● Biomarkers for phototrophic sulfur bacteria ● Alternative biological sources (5) Porphyrins and maleimides Many of the figures in this lecture were kindly provided by Jochen Brocks, RSES ANU 1 Carotenoid pigments ● Carotenoids are usually yellow, orange or red coloured pigments lutein β-carotene 17 18 19 2' 2 4 6 8 3 7 9 16 1 5 lycopenelycopene 2 Structural diversity ● More than 600 different natural structures are known, ● They are derived from the C40 carotenoid lycopene by varied hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, cyclization and oxidation reaction 17 18 19 2' 2 4 6 8 3 7 9 16 1 5 lycopene neurosporene α-carotene γ -carotene spirilloxanthin siphonaxanthin canthaxanthin spheroidenone 3 Structural diversity Purple non-sulfur bacteria peridinin 7,8-didehydroastaxanthin okenone fucoxanthin Biological distribution ● Carotenoids are biosynthesized de novo by all phototrophic bacteria, eukaryotes and halophilic archaea ● They are additionally synthesized by a large variety of non-phototrophs ● Vertebrates and invertebrates have to incorporate carotenoids through the diet, but have often the capacity to structurally modifiy them 4 Carotenoid function (1) Accessory pigments in Light Harvesting Complex (LHC) (annual production by marine phytoplancton alone: 4 million tons) e.g. LH-II Red and blue: protein complex Green: chlorophyll Yellow: lycopene (2) Photoprotection (3) photoreceptors for phototropism
    [Show full text]
  • Studies in Organic Geochemistry"
    A Thesis entitled "STUDIES IN ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY" submitted to the UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW in part fulfilment of the requirements for admittance to the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the Faculty of Science by JAMES RANKIN MAXWELL, B.Sc. Chemistry Department April, 1967 ProQuest Number: 11011805 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 11011805 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 To t:vv rorontn , v/if^ and dna^ktor, I wish to express my gratitude to Drs. G.Eglinton and J.D, Loudon for their close interest and guidance throughout the work of this thesis. My appreciation is also due to Dr. A.G, Douglas, whose assistance at all times proved to he invaluable. I would also like to thank Miss F. Greene and Miss T.Devit for technical assistance, my colleagues of the Organic Geochemistry Unit and Dr. A, McCormick for their advice and help, Mr, J.M.L. Cameron and his staff for the micro-analyses, Mrs. F. Lawrie and Miss A.
    [Show full text]
  • Neoproterozoic Origin and Multiple Transitions to Macroscopic Growth in Green Seaweeds
    Neoproterozoic origin and multiple transitions to macroscopic growth in green seaweeds Andrea Del Cortonaa,b,c,d,1, Christopher J. Jacksone, François Bucchinib,c, Michiel Van Belb,c, Sofie D’hondta, f g h i,j,k e Pavel Skaloud , Charles F. Delwiche , Andrew H. Knoll , John A. Raven , Heroen Verbruggen , Klaas Vandepoeleb,c,d,1,2, Olivier De Clercka,1,2, and Frederik Leliaerta,l,1,2 aDepartment of Biology, Phycology Research Group, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; bDepartment of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; cVlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; dBioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; eSchool of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; fDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, CZ-12800 Prague 2, Czech Republic; gDepartment of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; hDepartment of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138; iDivision of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee DD2 5DA, United Kingdom; jSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, WA 6009, Australia; kClimate Change Cluster, University of Technology, Ultimo, NSW 2006, Australia; and lMeise Botanic Garden, 1860 Meise, Belgium Edited by Pamela S. Soltis, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, and approved December 13, 2019 (received for review June 11, 2019) The Neoproterozoic Era records the transition from a largely clear interpretation of how many times and when green seaweeds bacterial to a predominantly eukaryotic phototrophic world, creat- emerged from unicellular ancestors (8). ing the foundation for the complex benthic ecosystems that have There is general consensus that an early split in the evolution sustained Metazoa from the Ediacaran Period onward.
    [Show full text]
  • New Structural Insights Into the Extracellular Matrix And
    NEW STRUCTURAL INSIGHTS INTO THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX AND HYDROCARBON DIVERSITY OF Botryococcus Braunii RACE B A Dissertation by MEHMET TATLI Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Timothy P. Devarenne Committee Members, Jaan Laane Vladislav M. Panin Paul A. Lindahl Head of Department, Gregory D. Reinhart May 2018 Major Subject: Biochemistry Copyright 2018 Mehmet Tatli ABSTRACT Botryococcus braunii is a colonial green microalga that can produce large amounts of liquid isoprenoid hydrocarbons known as botryococcenes, which can be easily converted into conventional combustion engine fuels. B. braunii colony cells are held together by a complex extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM serves as a storage unit for liquid hydrocarbons, and contains a retaining wall and a polysaccharide fibrillar sheath. Analysis of “shells” revealed a single protein. Here we use peptide mass fingerprinting and bioinformatics to identify this protein called polysaccharide associated protein (PSAP). PSAP does not show similarity to any protein in databases, and contains several hydroxyproline domains and a predicted sugar binding domain. Staining studies confirm PSAP as a glycoprotein, and mass spectrometry analysis identified ten N-linked glycosylation sites comprising seven different glycans containing mostly mannose and N- acetylglucosamine with fucose and arabinose. Additionally, four hydroxyproline residues have short O-linked glycans of mainly arabinose and galactose, with 6-deoxyhexose. PSAP secretion and localization to shell material is confirmed using western blot analysis and microscopy. These studies indicate PSAP contains unique glycans and suggest its involvement in ECM polysaccharide fiber biosynthesis.
    [Show full text]
  • Effect of Salinity on Growth of Green Alga Botryococcus Braunii and Its
    Bioresource Technology 98 (2007) 560–564 EVect of salinity on growth of green alga Botryococcus braunii and its constituents A. Ranga Rao a, C. Dayananda a, R. Sarada a,¤, T.R. Shamala b, G.A. Ravishankar a a Plant Cell Biotechnology Department, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570 020, India b Food Microbiology Department, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570 020, India Abstract Growth of Botryococcus braunii (race ‘A’) and production of its constituents viz, hydrocarbon, carbohydrate, fatty acid, and carote- noids were inXuenced by diVerent levels of salinity. Under salinity at 34 mM and 85 mM, 1.7–2.25-fold increase in the relative propor- tion of palmitic acid and two fold increase in oleic acid were observed. A twofold increase in carotenoid content was noticed at 85 mM salinity with lutein (75% of total carotenoid) as the major carotenoid followed by -carotene. The increase in biomass yields and changes in other constituents indicated the inXuence of salinity and the organism’s adaptability to the tested levels of salinity (17 mM to 85 mM). 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Keywords: Botryococcus braunii; Microalgae; Hydrocarbon; Biomass; Salinity; Carotenoids; Carbohydrates; Fatty acids 1. Introduction cracking (Hillen et al., 1982). B. braunii (Races A and B) strains are also known to produce exopolysaccharides Botryococcus braunii is a green colonial fresh water up to 250 g m¡3, whereas L race produce up to 1 kg m¡3 microalga and is recognized as one of the renewable (Banerjee et al., 2002). However, the amount of exopoly- resource for the production of liquid hydrocarbons.
    [Show full text]
  • Continuous Culture of Botryococcus Braunii for Hydrocarbons Production
    Continuous Culture of Botryococcus braunii For Hydrocarbons Production Simone Zenobi Submitted to the University of Exeter as a Thesis for the Degree of Master by Research (M. Res.) in Biosciences January 2013 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: ………………………………………………………….. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to first thank Prof. John Love for the opportunity to study at Exeter University and also for his patience, guidance and advice throughout the period of this MRes degree. Many thanks also to Shell Global Solution UK for funding my research project. In particular many thanks to Dr David Parker and Prof. Robert Lee for giving me the opportunity to perform my experimental works at Shell Technology Centre Thornton - Chester. My deepest gratitude to my colleague and friend Steve Brown for giving me training, advice, support , encouragement and a lot of help during all my time at Shell. A special thanks also to Joao Diogo Gouveia for the supplying of the microalgal culture every time I needed. I would like also to thank you all my colleagues at Biodomain department at Shell and in particular Louise Coppack for the initial training and several advices on my research project. i ABSTRACT Botryococcus braunii is a green, colonial microalga that can produce up to 75% of its dry weight as liquid hydrocarbons that can be converted easily in fuel.
    [Show full text]
  • Palynostratigraphy and Palaeoenvironment of the Middle Jurassic Sortehat Formation (Neill Klinter Group), Jameson Land, East Greenland
    Palynostratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of the Middle Jurassic Sortehat Formation (Neill Klinter Group), Jameson Land, East Greenland Eva B. Koppelhus and Carina F.Hansen The grey–black mudstones of the Sortehat Formation form part of the Middle Jurassic fill of the Jameson Land Basin in East Greenland. The formation is exposed in the southernmost part of the north–south-trending, Mesozoic rift system in East Greenland that was part of the epeiric sea- way between East Greenland and Norway. Sedimentological observations of the Sortehat Formation indicate deposition in an offshore marine setting that was typically low energy and periodically oxygen-deficient but was influenced by storm currents on occasion. Detailed palynological stud- ies of the Sortehat Formation have resulted in the definition of three palynological assemblage zones recognised at four localities, namely Enhjørningen Dal and Pelion (north Jameson Land), the type section at Sortehat (central Jameson Land) and Albuen at Neill Klinter along Hurry Inlet (south-east Jameson Land). In stratigraphic order, these zones are termed the Botryococcus Assemblage Zone, the Nannoceratopsis gracilis – Nannoceratopsis senex Assemblage Zone, and the Sentusidinium pelionense Assemblage Zone. They are recognised on the basis of the iden- tification of approximately 110 species of palynomorphs, including 45 species of spores, 30 of pollen, 22 of dinoflagellate cysts, 10 acritarch species, two species of algae, and some fungal spores. An Aalenian – ?Early Bajocian age is suggested for the Sortehat Formation on the basis of the palynoflora. Interpretation of the palynomorph assemblages suggests that the formation accumulated in a shallow, brackish marine environment. A significant terrestrial input, including the freshwater green alga Botryococcus, is recorded in the lower part of the formation and interpreted as an allochtho- nous accumulation in an offshore marine environment related to transgression of a low-lying coastal plain.
    [Show full text]
  • Application of CSIA of Light Oils and Utility of Carotenoid Biomarkers in Resource Plays of North America J
    Application of CSIA of Light Oils and Utility of Carotenoid Biomarkers in Resource Plays of North America J. E. Zumberge1, C. D. Barrie1, J. B. Curtis*1, R. E. Summons2; 1. GeoMark Research, Ltd., Houston, TX, USA; 2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. Abstract Here we examine the value in crude oil correlations and source rock depositional environment predictions based on non-standard compound-specific isotope analysis and carotenoid biomarker data. Results from various unconventional plays (e.g., Late Devonian Bakken and Woodford Fms from the Williston and Anadarko Basins; Cretaceous Second White Specks, Niobrara, Mowry and Eagle Ford Fms in the Western Interior Seaway) are discussed and compared. These data provide new insights into resource plays using novel and relatively rapid analytical methods. Molecular isotopic data and carotenoid biomarker distributions of petroleum systems tend to be distinct so that, in combination with commonly used sterane and hopane biomarkers, oil-oil and oil-source correlations can be made with much greater fidelity. Statement of the background This paper addresses novel application of compound-specific isotope analysis and carotenoid hydrocarbon characterization to better understand, and perhaps predict the productivity of hydrocarbons from source-rock reservoirs. This work provides new and detailed insight into resource play petroleum systems. Aims and Objectives Stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool in understanding the generation, history and correlation of hydrocarbons. Compound-specific δ13C measurements of oils allow detailed comparison of individual compound groupings; however, most studies separate and isolate individual fractions based on the chemistries of particular compound groups, potentially losing or corrupting valuable data.
    [Show full text]
  • Deep Sea Drilling Project Initial Reports Volume 63
    33. GEOCHEMISTRY OF TETRAPYRROLE, CAROTENOID, AND PERYLENE PIGMENTS IN SEDIMENTS FROM THE SAN MIGUEL GAP (SITE 467) AND BAJA CALIFORNIA BORDERLAND (SITE 471), DEEP SEA DRILLING PROJECT LEG 631 J. William Louda and Earl W. Baker, Organic Geochemistry Group, College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida INTRODUCTION for perylene, and homologues, is proposed: the role of diagenetic-geothermal history indicator. That is, as Twenty-one core samples from DSDP/IPOD Leg 63 depth of burial and in situ sediment temperature in- were analyzed for products of chlorophyll diagenesis. In creased, the proportion of C-21, C-22, and C-23 alkyl- addition to the tetrapyrrole pigments, perylene and ated derivatives of perylene (C-20) increased. On the carotenoid pigments were isolated and identified. basis of sediment depth and thermal profiles, the alkyl- The 16 core samples from the San Miguel Gap site perylenes were found to be generated prior to the ap- (467) and the five from the Baja California borderland pearance of nickel porphyrin homologues above C-32 location (471) afforded the unique opportunity of exam- and the release or formation of the vanadyl pigments. ining tetrapyrrole diagenesis in clay-rich marine sedi- Alkylation of perylene within DSDP/IPOD sample ments that are very high in total organic matter. suites has previously been mentioned (Brassell et al., The chelation reaction, whereby free-base porphyrins 1980). give rise to metalloporphyrins (viz., nickel), is well ß-Carotene was found to be present in Site 467 upper documented within the downhole sequence of sediments Pliocene and Quaternary sections (viz., 467-18-5 and from the San Miguel Gap (Site 467).
    [Show full text]
  • Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Investigation of Seep
    RICE UNIVERSITY GAS CHROHATOGRAP! 11 C-i IASS SPECTROMCTRIC iriVESTIGATION OF SEEP OIL ISOPRENOID ALKANES by' David James Curry A THESIS SUBMITTED III PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS Thesis Director's' signature ■ficCt rfc Houston, Texas August, 1072 TABLE OF COKTENTS ACSC'IOMLEDGEMEHTS ' 1 ABSTRACT... 2 INTRODUCTION TO GEOCHEMISTRY 4. ISOPRENOID ALKANES. 10 SAMPLE DESCRIPTION ....1C EXPERIMENTAL METHODS.-. ;...20 INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS.......20 SUMMARY. .01 POSSIBILITIES FOR FUTURE STUDY ........64 TABLES.'..... ........SO CHROMATOGRAMS 71 FOOTNOTES..... 74 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY. 76 MASS SPECTRA MS 1 (Phytane) 15,43 I IS 2 (Authenti c Pri s tane)..... .. .25 MS 3 (Pristane).' 26,40 I IS 4 (Au then ti c P r.i s tane) . ...27 MS 5 (C^ Isoprenoid) ...31 OO MS 6 (3-,7-,ll-trin;ethyl tetradecana) • • « sJsJ MS 7 (C1? Unknown) ... 33 MS 8 (C10 Isoorenoid) ...36 MS 9 (Pristane) ,38 MS 18 (Ci Unknown) 41 MS 11 (C22 Isoprenoicl) 44 MS 12 (C23 Isoprenoid),. 46 IIS 13- (C2* Isoprenoicl) 48 MS 14 (C2g Isoprenoicl) 50 MS 15 (C2Q Iscprenoid)...: 51 MS 15 (COQ Isoprenoid) MS 17 (Proposed C2C Isoprenoid) 64 CHROMATOGRAMS GC I (Total Branched alkane-cycloalkane Fraction) 71 GC II (Still Residue Branched Alkane-cycloalkane Fraction)72 GC III (Total, normal Alkane Fraction) 73 (GC I,II,III were taken on 3% SE-30 phase) TABLES I: Composition of Distillation and 56 Column'Chromatography Fractions II: Approximate Relative and Absoluts 67 Amounts of Isoprenoid Components III: Off Scale Intensities of Mass..... !...68 Spectrometric Peaks IV: Initial Separatory Gas Chroma- _ 69 tographic Conditions V: .
    [Show full text]