Intracellular bound chlorophyll residues identify 1 Gyr-old fossils as eukaryotic algae

Marie Catherine Sforna (), Corentin C. Loron, Catherine F. Demoulin, Camille François, Yohan Cornet, Yannick J. Lara, Daniel Grolimund, Dario Ferreira Sanchez, Kadda Medjoubi, Andrea Somogyi, Ahmed Addad, Alexandre Fadel, Philippe Compère, Daniel Baudet, Jochen J. Brocks and Emmanuelle J. Javaux ()
Additional contact information
Marie Catherine Sforna: UR Astrobiology, University of Liège
Corentin C. Loron: UR Astrobiology, University of Liège
Catherine F. Demoulin: UR Astrobiology, University of Liège
Camille François: UR Astrobiology, University of Liège
Yohan Cornet: UR Astrobiology, University of Liège
Yannick J. Lara: UR Astrobiology, University of Liège
Daniel Grolimund: Paul Scherrer Institut, Swiss Light Source
Dario Ferreira Sanchez: Paul Scherrer Institut, Swiss Light Source
Kadda Medjoubi: Synchrotron Soleil
Andrea Somogyi: Synchrotron Soleil
Ahmed Addad: Université Lille 1 - Sciences et Technologies
Alexandre Fadel: Université Lille 1 - Sciences et Technologies
Philippe Compère: University of Liège
Daniel Baudet: Royal Museum for Central Africa
Jochen J. Brocks: The Australian National University
Emmanuelle J. Javaux: UR Astrobiology, University of Liège

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The acquisition of photosynthesis is a fundamental step in the evolution of eukaryotes. However, few phototrophic organisms are unambiguously recognized in the Precambrian record. The in situ detection of metabolic byproducts in individual microfossils is the key for the direct identification of their metabolisms. Here, we report a new integrative methodology using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence and absorption. We evidence bound nickel-geoporphyrins moieties in low-grade metamorphic rocks, preserved in situ within cells of a ~1 Gyr-old multicellular eukaryote, Arctacellularia tetragonala. We identify these moieties as chlorophyll derivatives, indicating that A. tetragonala was a phototrophic eukaryote, one of the first unambiguous algae. This new approach, applicable to overmature rocks, creates a strong new proxy to understand the evolution of phototrophy and diversification of early ecosystems.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27810-7

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