Importance of the isopropylidene terminal of geranylgeranyl group for the formation of tetraether lipid in methanogenic archaea

Labeling experiments using several deuterated lipids were pursued to study the biosynthesis of macrocyclic isoprenoidal lipids of thermophilic methanogenic archaea, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. The isopropylidene terminal of geranylgeranyl group of monomeric precursor appeared to be important for the CC bond formation at the hydrophobic end in the macrocyclic lipids. A mechanism involving a radical trigger at the allylic methyl group is proposed for this CC bond formation.