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

Using solid-state cross-polarization-magic-angle-spinning (CPMAS) C and N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 2-D double cross polarization (DCP) MAS N C 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 major nitrogen component in 201-day-old degraded algae. No significant amount of heterocyclic nitrogen, or evidence for melanoidin products, was found. The results strongly suggest that proteinaceous material can survive early diagenesis and be preserved via its encapsulation by refractory, macromolecular, organic matter. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd