Appl Environ Microbiol. 1997 Aug;63(8):3090-5. doi: 10.1128/aem.63.8.3090-3095.1997.
Acyclic and cyclic biphytanes derived from the membrane ether lipids of archaea were found in water column particulate and sedimentary organic matter from several oxic and anoxic marine environments. Compound-specific isotope analyses of the carbon skeletons suggest that planktonic archaea utilize an isotopically heavy carbon source such as algal carbohydrates and proteins or dissolved bicarbonate. Due to their high preservation potential, these lipids provide a fossil record of planktonic archaea and suggest that they have thrived in marine environments for more than 50 million years.
从几种好氧和缺氧海洋环境的水柱颗粒和沉积物有机质中发现了源自古菌膜醚脂的无环和环双萜烷。碳骨架的化合物特异性同位素分析表明，浮游古菌利用了一种同位素较重的碳源，如藻类碳水化合物和蛋白质或溶解的碳酸氢盐。由于其高保存潜力，这些脂质提供了浮游古菌的化石记录，并表明它们在海洋环境中已经繁盛了超过 5000 万年。
