Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Molecular Preservation in Graptolites

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biopolymers

Part of the book series: Topics in Geobiology ((TGBI,volume 38))

Abstract

Graptolites are important fossils in the Lower Palaeozoic. Preserved graptolite periderm consists dominantly of an aliphatic polymer, immune to base hydrolysis. It contains no protein even though its structure, and chemical analyses of the periderm of the living relative Rhabdopleura, indicate that it was originally collagen. This anomaly was previously interpreted as the result of replacement by macromolecular material from the surrounding sediment. New analyses suggest that the aliphatic composition of graptolite periderm reflects direct incorporation of lipids from the organism itself by in situ polymerization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bass M, Briggs DEG, Van Heemst JDH, Kear AJ, De Leeuw JW (1995) Selective preservation of chitin during the decay of shrimp. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59:945–951

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bland HA, van Bergen PF, Carter JF, Evershed RP (1998) Early diagenetic transformations of proteins and polysaccharides in archaeological plant remains. In: Stankiewicz BA, van Bergen PF (eds) Nitrogen-containing macromolecules in the bio- and geosphere, vol 707, ACS symposium series

    Google Scholar 

  • Briggs DEG (1999) Molecular taphonomy of animal and plant cuticles: selective preservation and diagenesis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 354:7–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs DEG, Kear AJ (1993) Decay and preservation of polychaetes: taphonomic thresholds in soft-bodied organisms. Paleobiology 19:107–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Briggs DEG, Kear AJ, Baas M, De Leeuw JW, Rigby S (1995) Decay and composition of the hemichordate Rhabdopleura: implications for the taphonomy of graptolites. Lethaia 28:15–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs DEG, Evershed RP, Lockheart MJ (2000) The biomolecular paleontology of continental fossils. Paleobiology 26(Suppl to no. 4):169–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bustin RM, Link C, Goodarzi F (1989) Optical properties and chemistry of graptolite periderm following laboratory simulated maturation. Org Geochem 14:355–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Challinor JM (1991a) Structure determination of alkyd resins by simultaneous pyrolysis methylation. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 18:233–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Challinor JM (1991b) The scope of pyrolysis methylation reactions. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 20:15–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crowther PR (1981) The fine structure of graptolite periderm. Spec Pap Palaeontol 26:119 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowther PR, Rickards RB (1977) Cortical bandages and the graptolite zooid. Geol Palaeontol 11:9–46

    Google Scholar 

  • De Leeuw JW, Baas M (1993) The behavior of esters in the presence of tetramethylammonium salts at elevated temperatures; flash pyrolysis or flash chemolysis? J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 26:175–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Leeuw JW, Largeau C (1993) A review of macromolecular organic compounds that comprise living organisms and their role in kerogen, coal and petroleum formation. In: Engel MH, Macko SA (eds) Organic geochemistry: principles and applications, vol 11, Topics in geobiology. Springer, New York, pp 23–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta NS, Pancost RD (2004) Biomolecular and physical taphonomy of angiosperm leaf during early decay: implications for fossilisation. Palaios 19:428–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta NS, Briggs DEG, Collinson ME, Evershed RP, Pancost RD (2006a) Re-investigation of the occurrence of cutan in plants: implications for the leaf fossil record. Paleobiology 32(3):432–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta NS, Briggs DEG, Collinson ME, Evershed RP, Michels R, Pancost RD (2006b) Organic preservation of fossil arthropods: an experimental study. Proc R Soc Lond B 273(1602):2777–2783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta NS, Briggs DEG, Collinson ME, Evershed RP, Michels R, Pancost RD (2007a) Molecular preservation of plant and insect cuticles from the Oligocene Enspel Formation, Germany: evidence against derivation of aliphatic polymer from sediment. Org Geochem 38(3):404–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta NS, Briggs DEG, Collinson ME, Evershed RP, Michels R, Jack KS, Pancost RD (2007b) Evidence for the in situ polymerisation of labile aliphatic organic compounds during the preservation of fossil leaves: implications for organic matter preservation. Org Geochem 38(3):499–522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knicker H, del Rio JC, Hatcher PG, Minard RD (2001) Identification of protein remnants in insoluble geopolymers using TMAH thermochemolysis/GC-MS. Org Geochem 32:397–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kok MD, Schouten S, Damsté JSS (2000) Formation of insoluble, nonhydrolyzable, sulfur-rich macromolecules via incorporation of inorganic sulfur species into algal carbohydrates. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64:2689–2699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loydell DK, Orr PJ, Kearns S (2004) Preservation of soft tissues in Silurian graptolites from Latvia. Palaeontology 47:503–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mckinney DE, Bortiatynski JM, Carson DM, Clifford DJ, De Leeuw JW, Hatcher PG (1996) Tetramethylammonium hydroxide thermochemolysis of the aliphatic biopolymer cutan: insights into the chemical structure. Org Geochem 24:641–650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mongenot A, Riboulleau A, Garcette-Lepecq A, Derenne S, Pouet Y, Baudin F, Largeau C (2001) Occurrence of proteinaceous moieties in S- and O-rich late Tithonian kerogen (Kashpir oil shales, Russia). Org Geochem 32:199–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen RT, Harvey HR (1998) Protein preservation during early diagenesis in marine waters and sediments. In: Stankiewicz BA, van Bergen PF (eds) Nitrogen-containing macromolecules in the bio- and geosphere, vol 707, American chemical society symposium series. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp 88–112

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves JB III, Francis BA (1998) Pyrolysis-gas chromatography for the analysis of proteins: with emphasis on forages. In: Stankiewicz BA, van Bergen PF (eds) Nitrogen-278 containing macromolecules in the bio- and geosphere, vol 707, American chemical society symposium series. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp 47–62

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Riboulleau A, Mongenot T, Baudin F, Derenne S (2002) Factors controlling the survival of proteinaceous material in Late Tithonian kerogens (Kashpir oil shales, Russia). Org Geochem 33:1127–1130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rickards RB, Partridge PL, Banks MR (1991) Psigraptus jacksoni Rickards & Stait—systematics, reconstruction, distribution and preservation. Alcheringa 15:243–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stankiewicz BA, Hutchins JC, Thomson R, Briggs DEG, Evershed RP (1997a) Assessment of bog-body tissue preservation by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 11:1884–1890

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stankiewicz BA, Briggs DEG, Evershed RP, Flannery MB, Wuttke M (1997b) Preservation of chitin in 25-million-year-old fossils. Science 276:1541–1543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stankiewicz BA, Briggs DEG, Michels R, Collinson ME, Evershed RP (2000) Alternative origin of aliphatic polymer in kerogen. Geology 28:559–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tegelaar EW, De Leeuw JW, Derenne S, Largeau C (1989) A reappraisal of kerogen formation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 53:3103–3106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Towe KM, Urbanek A (1972) Collagen-like structures in Ordovician graptolite periderm. Nature 237:443–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Underwood CJ (1992) Graptolite preservation and deformation. Palaios 7:178–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Underwood CJ, Bottrell SH (1994) Diagenetic controls on multiphase pyritization of graptolites. Geol Mag 131:315–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Versteegh GMJ, Blokker P, Wood GD, Collinson ME, Damsté JSS, De Leeuw JW (2004) An example of oxidative polymerization of unsaturated fatty acids as a preservation pathway for dinoflagellate organic matter. Org Geochem 35:1129–1139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wakeham SG, Gagosian RB, Farrington JW, Canuel EA (1984) Sterenes in suspended matter in the eastern tropical North Pacific. Nature 308:840–843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wakeham SG, Lee C, Hedges JI, Hernes PJ, Peterson ML (1997) Molecu308 lar indicators of diagenetic status in marine organic matter. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 61:5363–5369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Brown JC, Van Heemst JDH, Palumbo A, Hatcher PG (2001) Characterization of amino acids and proteinaceous materials using online tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) thermochemolysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 61:181–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Science and Technology Laboratory for Terrestrial Environments, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, USA

    Neal S. Gupta

Authors
  1. Neal S. Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gupta, N.S. (2014). Molecular Preservation in Graptolites. In: Biopolymers. Topics in Geobiology, vol 38. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7936-5_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation