Diagenetic fate of glycerol ethers in seep carbonates revealed by two novel isoprenoid hydroxyphytanyl-glycerol monoethers

Summary Studying the diagenetic fate of mono- and dialkyl glycerol ether lipids (MAGEs and DAGEs) are of a broad geochemical significance, since they are potential powerful biomarker for specific environments and not limited in cold seep ecosystems. There are several creative findings in our studies as follows: (1) Novel 13C depleted hydroxyphytanyl-glycerol ethers and hydroxyphytanol were found. (2) Hydroxyphytanyl-glycerol ethers and hydroxyphytanol were hydrolyzed form di-hydroxyarchaeol. (3) The short-chain alcohols were most likely hydrolysis products of MAGEs. (4) Degradation from glycerol ethers to respective alcohols might be common and highly underestimated in cold seep ecosystems.