Molecular Preservation of 1.88 Ga Gunflint Organic Microfossils As a Function of Temperature and Mineralogy

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2016 Jun 18

PMID 27312070

Citations 18

Authors

Julien Alleon

Sylvain Bernard

Corentin Le Guillou

Johanna Marin-Carbonne

Sylvain Pont

Olivier Beyssac

Kevin D McKeegan

Francois Robert

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The significant degradation that fossilized biomolecules may experience during burial makes it challenging to assess the biogenicity of organic microstructures in ancient rocks. Here we investigate the molecular signatures of 1.88 Ga Gunflint organic microfossils as a function of their diagenetic history. Synchrotron-based XANES data collected in situ on individual microfossils, at the submicrometre scale, are compared with data collected on modern microorganisms. Despite diagenetic temperatures of ∼150-170 °C deduced from Raman data, the molecular signatures of some Gunflint organic microfossils have been exceptionally well preserved. Remarkably, amide groups derived from protein compounds can still be detected. We also demonstrate that an additional increase of diagenetic temperature of only 50 °C and the nanoscale association with carbonate minerals have significantly altered the molecular signatures of Gunflint organic microfossils from other localities. Altogether, the present study provides key insights for eventually decoding the earliest fossil record.

Citing Articles

Amide groups in 3.7 billion years old liquid inclusions.

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Ultrahigh-resolution imaging of biogenic phosphorus and molybdenum in palaeoproterozoic gunflint microfossils.

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A review of microbial-environmental interactions recorded in Proterozoic carbonate-hosted chert.

Moore K, Daye M, Gong J, Williford K, Konhauser K, Bosak T Geobiology. 2022; 21(1):3-27.

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Acritarch-like Microorganisms from the 1.9 Ga Gunflint Chert, Canada.

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An Alternative Approach for Assessing Biogenicity.

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