A comprehensive database for high-throughput identification of archaeal lipids using high-resolution mass spectrometry

Nat Commun. 2025 Dec 15. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67286-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Archaeal membrane lipids are markedly distinct from those in bacteria and eukaryotes, serving as biomarkers for unraveling their ecological and biogeochemical roles. Recent advancements in high-resolution mass spectrometry-based lipidomic research facilitate detailed cellular-level characterizations of lipid compounds. However, the lack of a comprehensive and dedicated database severely limits large-scale, high-throughput investigations of archaeal lipids. We present ArchLips, a comprehensive database containing 219,348 in silico molecular structures and tandem mass spectra of 199,248 corresponding archaeal lipid compounds. ArchLips enables the automatic and accurate annotation of archaeal lipid compounds characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry from both pure cultures and environmental samples, serving as a transformative tool for enhancing our understanding of archaeal diversity and its ecological and evolutionary significance within global ecosystems.

PMID:41397974 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-67286-3