Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2001/01044
Life on Earth: Identification of primordial membrane constituents.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor S Belt, University of Plymouth, Sch of Earth Ocean and Environment
- Grant held at:
- University of Plymouth, Sch of Earth Ocean and Environment
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Freshwater
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Palaeobiology
- Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
- Palaeoenvironments
- Abstract:
- The evolution of cellular life on Earth must have been preceded by the formation of primitive membranes capable of separating the inside of the cell from the outside. The most likely candidate membrane chemicals are a number of polyprenyl phosphates that are capable of self-assembly into vesicles of various sizes. To date, a search for these chemicals in extant micro-organisms has not been made, but significantly, alkenes with identical structures and double bond positions have been identified recently by the PI in 17 species of diatoms. This project will lead to the isolation and identification of the polyprenyl phosphates from these diatoms and a search for the compounds in a sediment core in which the related alkenes are abundant, will be made. The success of this program will make an important contribution to the debate on the development of cellular life on Earth.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2001/01044
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £47,293
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £893 | £26,653 | £7,487 | £12,261 |
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