Diplopterol
Diplopterol is a triterpenoid molecule commonly produced by bacteria, ferns, and a few protozoans. This compound, classified as a member of the hopanoid family, is synthesized from triterpenoid precursor squalene. It is generally believed that hopanoids serve a similar function in bacteria as that of sterols in eukaryotes, which involves modulating membrane fluidity. Diplopterol serves as a useful biomarker for prokaryotic life, along with oxygen content at the time of sediment deposition.
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| Systematic IUPAC name
2-[(3S,3aS,5aR,5bR,7aS,11aS,11bR,13aR,13bS)-5a,5b,8,8,11a,13b-hexamethyl-1,2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13,13a-hexadecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysen-3-yl]propan-2-ol | |
| Other names
hopan-22-ol 22-hydroxyhopane 22-hopanol | |
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| Properties | |
| C30H52O | |
| Molar mass | 428.7 g/mol |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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