Publication: Submicron particles contain large quantities of L-proline

L-proline is one of the 20 amino acids that are found in proteins. Because previous studies have generally used high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) for the determination of AA composition of marine samples, data regarding the abundance of proline, a secondary amine that does not react with OPA, is scarce for marine microbes and organic matter. Here we used GC/MS to determine L-proline and other amino acid content of bacteria-sized particles (submicron particles) in the western North Pacific. We found that L-proline content was remarkably high, accounting for more than 40% of total quantifiable amino acids in those particles. Our results suggested that proline or proline-rich proteins may play important, yet hitherto unidentified, roles in marine biogeochemistry and microbial ecology.

Takasu, H. and Nagata T. (2015) High proline content of bacteria-sized particles in the western North Pacific and its potential as a new biogeochemical indicator of organic matter diagenesis Front. Mar. Sci. | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2015.00110

http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2015.00110/full#