6533b7cefe1ef96bd1257862

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Non-hydrolysable macromolecular constituents from outer walls of Chlorella fusca and Nanochlorum eucaryotum

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Abstract Many green microalgae possess a thin trilaminar outer wall (TLS) with a very high resistance to chemical degradation. TLS are known to play an important protective role in living cells. They are also selectively preserved during fossilization and thus provide a major contribution to the fossil organic matter of a number of sedimentary rocks. However, little information is available on TLS chemical structure. Examination of the TLS of Chlorella fusca (a lacustrine Chlorophycea) and of Nanochlorum eucaryotum (a recently discovered marine Chlorophycea) indicated that (i) they exhibit morphological features commonly observed in other green microalgae, (ii) their non-hydrolysable macromolecular constituents comprise large amounts of long, up to C 30 , polymethylenic chains, (iii) the absence of carotenoid moieties indicates that they can no longer be considered as sporopollenins and (iv) the large contribution of hydrocarbon chains in these macromolecules accounts for the important role of fossil TLS in the formation of numerous oil-source rocks.