Preservation of proteinaceous material during the degradation of the greenalga Botryococcus braunii: A solid-state 2D N-15 C-13 NMR spectroscopy study

Using solid-state cross-polarization-maaic-angle-spinning (CPMAS) C-13 and N-15 nuclear magnetic: resonance (NMR) and 2-D double cross polarization (D CP) MAS N-15 C-13 NMR techniques, microbially degraded Botryococcus braunii was analyzed to study the chemical nature of organic nitrogen in the algal residue. The amide. linkage, as found in protein, was observed as the majo r nitrogen component in 201-day-old degraded algae. No significant amount o f heterocyclic nitrogen, or evidence for melanoidin products, was found. Th e results strongly suggest that proteinaceous material can survive early di agenesis. and be preserved via its encapsulation by refractory, macromolecu lar, organic matter. Copyright (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.