@article{Lee:2016:10.1038/ncomms13144,
author = {Lee, RBY and Mavridou, DAI and Papadakos, G and McClelland, HLO and Rickaby, REM},
doi = {10.1038/ncomms13144},
journal = {Nature Communications},
title = {The uronic acid content of coccolith-associated polysaccharides provides insight into coccolithogenesis and past climate},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13144},
volume = {7},
year = {2016}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - Unicellular phytoplanktonic algae (coccolithophores) are among the most prolific producers of calcium carbonate on the planet, with a production of ∼1026 coccoliths per year. During their lith formation, coccolithophores mainly employ coccolith-associated polysaccharides (CAPs) for the regulation of crystal nucleation and growth. These macromolecules interact with the intracellular calcifying compartment (coccolith vesicle) through the charged carboxyl groups of their uronic acid residues. Here we report the isolation of CAPs from modern day coccolithophores and their prehistoric predecessors and we demonstrate that their uronic acid content (UAC) offers a species-specific signature. We also show that there is a correlation between the UAC of CAPs and the internal saturation state of the coccolith vesicle that, for most geologically abundant species, is inextricably linked to carbon availability. These findings suggest that the UAC of CAPs reports on the adaptation of coccolithogenesis to environmental changes and can be used for the estimation of past CO2 concentrations.
AU  - Lee,RBY
AU  - Mavridou,DAI
AU  - Papadakos,G
AU  - McClelland,HLO
AU  - Rickaby,REM
DO  - 10.1038/ncomms13144
PY  - 2016///
SN  - 2041-1723
TI  - The uronic acid content of coccolith-associated polysaccharides provides insight into coccolithogenesis and past climate
T2  - Nature Communications
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13144
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/41259
VL  - 7
ER  - 

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