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X-WR-CALNAME;VALUE=TEXT:Professor Alex Sessions (Caltech) -   "The hydrogen isotope fingerprints of life."
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SUMMARY:Professor Alex Sessions (Caltech) -   "The hydrogen isotope fingerprints of life."
DESCRIPTION:<p>	Abstract: </p><p>	 </p><p>	 </p><p>	Most biologic processes exhibit significant deuterium isotope effects, which can measurably alter the abundances of stable hydrogen isotopes (<sup>1</sup>H and <sup>2</sup>H) in biomolecules. A longstanding hope is that different organisms, reactions, or environments will result in characteristic <sup>2</sup>H/<sup>1</sup>H ratios that we can learn to interpret. In this seminar I will summarize our efforts to understand the biochemical mechanisms that control H-isotopic fractionation in lipids, molecules that are well preserved in the sedimentary record and potentially offer insight into ancient metabolism and environments. In contrast to C and N isotopes, H-isotope signals arise from a combination of effects distributed across central metabolism, particularly those that conserve reducing power as NADPH. Both depletions and enrichments of <sup>2</sup>H in the same environment are simultaneously possible, and provide a potential biosignature. We will conclude by considering the likelihood of such fingerprints being preserved in rocks from the early Earth, or in extraterrestrial materials.</p><p>	 </p>
LOCATION:Haller Hall, Geological Museum, 24 Oxford Street
STATUS:CONFIRMED
DTSTART:20181017T200000Z
DTEND:20181017T213000Z
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