Dinosterane

Dinosterane is a steroidal alkane, also known as 4α,23,24-trimethylcholestane.[1] It is used in geochemistry as a biomarker, interpreted as an indication of dinoflagellate presence[2] due to its derivative dinosterol high occurrence in extant dinoflagellate species[3] and its rarity in other taxa,[1] although it has been shown to be produced by a single species of marine diatom as well.[2]

Dinosterane
Names
IUPAC name
4α,23,24-Trimethylcholestane; (4R,5S,8S,9S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-4,10,13-trimethyl-17-[(2R,4S,5S)-4,5,6-trimethylheptan-2-yl]-2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
Properties
C30H54
Molar mass 414.762 g·mol−1
Related compounds
Related Compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

History of use as a biomarker

A 1984 study was conducted which established the dinoflagellate origin for dinosterane based on distributions of modern dinoflagellates and dinosterane abundance in sediment.[3]

In 1993, dinosteranes were discovered in a section of the Bristol Trough that was dated to the Rhaetian Age. Due to the co-deposition of these dinosteranes with dinoflagellate cysts and comparison of microfossil abundance with hydrocarbon abundance, the dinosterane was associated with marine dinoflagellates. This was the first stratigraphic evidence for Mesozoic dinoflagellates.

In 1998, dinosteranes were found in high relative abundance in samples from the Lükati Formation, which were collected from the Kopli quarry in Estonia. This evidence was used to place the origin of dinoflagellates as early as the Early Cambrian, much earlier than the Bristol Trough studies had been able to.[1]

Characterisation

Dinosterane's mass spectrum shows a highly increased abundance of the m/z = 98 ion compared to 24-ethyl-4α-methylcholestane,[4] which is likely due to preferential cleavage of the C-22,23 bond.[5]

References
  1. Moldowan, J. Michael; Talyzina, Nina M. (1998-08-21). "Biogeochemical Evidence for Dinoflagellate Ancestors in the Early Cambrian". Science. 281 (5380): 1168–1170. Bibcode:1998Sci...281.1168M. doi:10.1126/science.281.5380.1168. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 9712575.
  2. Thomas, J. B.; Marshall, J.; Mann, A. L.; Summons, R. E.; Maxwell, J. R. (1993-01-01). "Dinosteranes (4,23,24-trimethylsteranes) and other biological markers in dinoglagellate-rich marine sediments of Rhaetian age". Organic Geochemistry. 20 (1): 91–104. doi:10.1016/0146-6380(93)90084-O.
  3. Robinson, N.; Eglinton, G.; Brassell, S. C. (1984-03-01). "Dinoflagellate origin for sedimentary 4alpha-methylsteroids and 5alpha(H)-stanols". Nature. 308 (5958): 439–442. Bibcode:1984Natur.308..439R. doi:10.1038/308439a0. ISSN 0028-0836. S2CID 4301310.
  4. Arouri, Khaled R; Greenwood, Paul F; Walter, Malcolm R (2000-01-01). "Biological affinities of Neoproterozoic acritarchs from Australia: microscopic and chemical characterisation". Organic Geochemistry. 31 (1): 75–89. doi:10.1016/S0146-6380(99)00145-X.
  5. Summons, Roger E.; Volkman, John K.; Boreham, Christopher J. (1987-11-01). "Dinosterane and other steroidal hydrocarbons of dinoflagellate origin in sediments and petroleum". Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 51 (11): 3075–3082. Bibcode:1987GeCoA..51.3075S. doi:10.1016/0016-7037(87)90381-4.
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