Molecular preservation of the pigment melanin in fossil melanosomes.

Lindgren, JohanLund University,Lunds universitet,Berggrundsgeologi,Geologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Lithosphere and Biosphere Science,Department of Geology,Faculty of Science,Lund University, Sweden (author)

A3113
Fossil feathers, hairs and eyes are regularly preserved as carbonized traces comprised of masses of micrometre-sized bodies that are spherical, oblate or elongate in shape. For a long time, these minute structures were regarded as the remains of biofilms of keratinophilic bacteria, but recently they have been reinterpreted as melanosomes; that is, colour-bearing organelles. Resolving this fundamental difference in interpretation is crucial: if endogenous then the fossil microbodies would represent a significant advancement in the fields of palaeontology and evolutionary biology given, for example, the possibility to reconstruct integumentary colours and plumage colour patterns. It has previously been shown that certain trace elements occur in fossils as organometallic compounds, and hence may be used as biomarkers for melanin pigments. Here we expand this knowledge by demonstrating the presence of molecularly preserved melanin in intimate association with melanosome-like microbodies isolated from an argentinoid fish eye from the early Eocene of Denmark.

Uvdal, PerLund University,Lunds universitet,Kemisk fysik,Enheten för fysikalisk och teoretisk kemi,Kemiska institutionen,Institutioner vid LTH,Lunds Tekniska Högskola,Chemical Physics,Physical and theoretical chemistry,Department of Chemistry,Departments at LTH,Faculty of Engineering, LTH,Lund University, Sweden(Swepub:lu)chph-puv (author)
Sjövall, PeterRISE,YKI – Ytkemiska institutet(Swepub:ri)PeterS@ri.se (author)
Nilsson, Dan-ELund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,Lund University, Sweden(Swepub:lu)zool-dni (author)
Engdahl, AndersLund University,Lunds universitet,MAX IV-laboratoriet,MAX IV Laboratory,Lund University, Sweden(Swepub:lu)chph-aen (author)
Schultz, Bo PaghMuseum Salling, Denmark (author)
Thiel, VolkerUniversity of Göttingen, Germany (author)
BerggrundsgeologiGeologiska institutionen (creator_code:org_t)

In:Nature Communications: Springer Science and Business Media LLC3:Online 08 May 20122041-1723

By the author/editor: Lindgren, Johan; Uvdal, Per; Sjövall, Peter; Nilsson, Dan-E; Engdahl, Anders; Schultz, Bo Pagh; show more...; Thiel, Volker; show less...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Physical Science ...; and Atom and Molecul ...

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