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Rodriguez LE, Weber JM, Barge LM. Evaluating Pigments as a Biosignature: Abiotic/Prebiotic Synthesis of Pigments and Pigment Mimics in Planetary Environments. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:767-782. [PMID: 38768415 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Pigments serve a multitude of functions in biology including light harvesting for photosynthesis, radiation protection, membrane support, and defense. The ubiquity of pigments-especially within extremophiles found in high-radiation, high-salinity, and dry environments-and their detectability via mission-ready techniques have elevated these molecules as promising targets in the search for evidence of life elsewhere. Moreover, the detection of pigments has been proposed as a "smoking gun" for extraterrestrial life as it has been suggested that these molecules cannot be generated abiotically. However, while pigments may hold promise as a biosignature, current understanding of their possible prebiotic origins remains understudied and uncertain. Better understanding of the abiotic synthesis of pigments is critical for evaluating the biogenicity of any pigment detected during missions, including by the Mars Perseverance rover or from returned samples. Compounding this uncertainty is the broad definition of pigment as it includes any compound capable of absorbing visible light and by itself does not specify a particular chemical motif. While not experimentally verified, there are promising prebiotic routes for generating pigments including hemes, chlorophylls, and carotenoids. Herein, we review the biochemistry of pigments, the inherent assumptions made when searching for these molecules in the field, their abiotic synthesis in industry and prebiotic reactions, prebiotically relevant molecules that can mimic their spectral signatures, and implications/recommendations for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Rodriguez
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jessica M Weber
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Laura M Barge
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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Case N, Johnston N, Nadeau J. Fluorescence Microscopy with Deep UV, Near UV, and Visible Excitation for In Situ Detection of Microorganisms. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:300-317. [PMID: 38507693 PMCID: PMC10979697 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
We report a simple, inexpensive design of a fluorescence microscope with light-emitting diode (LED) excitation for detection of labeled and unlabeled microorganisms in mineral substrates. The use of deep UV (DUV) excitation with visible emission requires no specialized optics or slides and can be implemented easily and inexpensively using an oblique illumination geometry. DUV excitation (<280 nm) is preferable to near UV (365 nm) for avoidance of mineral autofluorescence. When excited with DUV, unpigmented bacteria show two emission peaks: one in the near UV ∼320 nm, corresponding to proteins, and another peak in the blue to green range, corresponding to flavins and/or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Many commonly used dyes also show secondary excitation peaks in the DUV, with identical emission spectra and quantum yields as their primary peak. However, DUV fails to excite key biosignature molecules, especially chlorophyll in cyanobacteria. Visible excitation (violet to blue) also results in less mineral autofluorescence than near UV, and most autofluorescence in the minerals seen here is green, so that red dyes and red autofluorescence of chlorophyll and porphyrins are readily distinguished. The pairing of DUV and near UV or visible excitation, with emission across the visible, represents the most thorough approach to detection of labeled and unlabeled bacteria in soil and rock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel Case
- Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Nikki Johnston
- Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jay Nadeau
- Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Cvjetan N, Schuler LD, Ishikawa T, Walde P. Optimization and Enhancement of the Peroxidase-like Activity of Hemin in Aqueous Solutions of Sodium Dodecylsulfate. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:42878-42899. [PMID: 38024761 PMCID: PMC10652838 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Iron porphyrins play several important roles in present-day living systems and probably already existed in very early life forms. Hemin (= ferric protoporphyrin IX = ferric heme b), for example, is the prosthetic group at the active site of heme peroxidases, catalyzing the oxidation of a number of different types of reducing substrates after hemin is first oxidized by hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizing substrate of the enzyme. The active site of heme peroxidases consists of a hydrophobic pocket in which hemin is embedded noncovalently and kept in place through coordination of the iron atom to a proximal histidine side chain of the protein. It is this partially hydrophobic local environment of the enzyme which determines the efficiency with which the sequential reactions of the oxidizing and reducing substrates proceed at the active site. Free hemin, which has been separated from the protein moiety of heme peroxidases, is known to aggregate in an aqueous solution and exhibits low catalytic activity. Based on previous reports on the use of surfactant micelles to solubilize free hemin in a nonaggregated state, the peroxidase-like activity of hemin in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at concentrations below and above the critical concentration for SDS micelle formation (critical micellization concentration (cmc)) was systematically investigated. In most experiments, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) was applied as a reducing substrate at pH = 7.2. The presence of SDS clearly had a positive effect on the reaction in terms of initial reaction rate and reaction yield, even at concentrations below the cmc. The highest activity correlated with the cmc value, as demonstrated for reactions at three different HEPES concentrations. The 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonate salt (HEPES) served as a pH buffer substance and also had an accelerating effect on the reaction. At the cmc, the addition of l-histidine (l-His) resulted in a further concentration-dependent increase in the peroxidase-like activity of hemin until a maximal effect was reached at an optimal l-His concentration, probably corresponding to an ideal mono-l-His ligation to hemin. Some of the results obtained can be understood on the basis of molecular dynamics simulations, which indicated the existence of intermolecular interactions between hemin and HEPES and between hemin and SDS. Preliminary experiments with SDS/dodecanol vesicles at pH = 7.2 showed that in the presence of the vesicles, hemin exhibited similar peroxidase-like activity as in the case of SDS micelles. This supports the hypothesis that micelle- or vesicle-associated ferric or ferrous iron porphyrins may have played a role as primitive catalysts in membranous prebiotic compartment systems before cellular life emerged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemanja Cvjetan
- Department
of Materials, ETH-Zürich, Leopold-Ruzicka-Weg 4, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Takashi Ishikawa
- Department
of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute and Department of
Biology, ETH-Zürich, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Peter Walde
- Department
of Materials, ETH-Zürich, Leopold-Ruzicka-Weg 4, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Abstract
Ferric heme b (= ferric protoporphyrin IX = hemin) is an important prosthetic group of different types of enzymes, including the intensively investigated and widely applied horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In HRP, hemin is present in monomeric form in a hydrophobic pocket containing among other amino acid side chains the two imidazoyl groups of His170 and His42. Both amino acids are important for the peroxidase activity of HRP as an axial ligand of hemin (proximal His170) and as an acid/base catalyst (distal His42). A key feature of the peroxidase mechanism of HRP is the initial formation of compound I under heterolytic cleavage of added hydrogen peroxide as a terminal oxidant. Investigations of free hemin dispersed in aqueous solution showed that different types of hemin dimers can form, depending on the experimental conditions, possibly resulting in hemin crystallization. Although it has been recognized already in the 1970s that hemin aggregation can be prevented in aqueous solution by using micelle-forming amphiphiles, it remains a challenge to prepare hemin-containing micellar and vesicular systems with peroxidase-like activities. Such systems are of interest as cheap HRP-mimicking catalysts for analytical and synthetic applications. Some of the key concepts on which research in this fascinating and interdisciplinary field is based are summarized, along with major accomplishments and possible directions for further improvement. A systematic analysis of the physico-chemical properties of hemin in aqueous micellar solutions and vesicular dispersions must be combined with a reliable evaluation of its catalytic activity. Future studies should show how well the molecular complexity around hemin in HRP can be mimicked by using micelles or vesicles. Because of the importance of heme b in virtually all biological systems and the fact that porphyrins and hemes can be obtained under potentially prebiotic conditions, ideas exist about the possible role of heme-containing micellar and vesicular systems in prebiotic times.
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Baqué M, Backhaus T, Meeßen J, Hanke F, Böttger U, Ramkissoon N, Olsson-Francis K, Baumgärtner M, Billi D, Cassaro A, de la Torre Noetzel R, Demets R, Edwards H, Ehrenfreund P, Elsaesser A, Foing B, Foucher F, Huwe B, Joshi J, Kozyrovska N, Lasch P, Lee N, Leuko S, Onofri S, Ott S, Pacelli C, Rabbow E, Rothschild L, Schulze-Makuch D, Selbmann L, Serrano P, Szewzyk U, Verseux C, Wagner D, Westall F, Zucconi L, de Vera JPP. Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn7412. [PMID: 36070383 PMCID: PMC9451166 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn7412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickael Baqué
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Planetary Laboratories Department, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Theresa Backhaus
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität (HHU), Institut für Botanik, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Joachim Meeßen
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität (HHU), Institut für Botanik, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Franziska Hanke
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ute Böttger
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nisha Ramkissoon
- AstrobiologyOU, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Karen Olsson-Francis
- AstrobiologyOU, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Michael Baumgärtner
- Microbial Geoecology and Astrobiology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå university, Linnaeus väg 6, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Daniela Billi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Cassaro
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Rosa de la Torre Noetzel
- Departamento de Observación de la Tierra, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz-28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - René Demets
- European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC),, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Howell Edwards
- University of Bradford, University Analytical Centre, Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Raman Spectroscopy Group, West Yorkshire, UK
| | - Pascale Ehrenfreund
- Leiden Observatory, Laboratory Astrophysics, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- George Washington University, Space Policy Institute, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Andreas Elsaesser
- Freie Universitaet Berlin, Experimental Biophysics and Space Sciences, Institute of Experimental Physics; Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernard Foing
- Leiden Observatory, Laboratory Astrophysics, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081-1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frédéric Foucher
- CNRS Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, UPR-4301, Rue Charles Sadron, CS80054, 45071 Orléans Cedex 2, France
| | - Björn Huwe
- Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany
- Department Technology Assessment and Substance Cycles, Leibniz- Institute for Agriculture Engineering and Bioeconomy, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jasmin Joshi
- Institute for Landscape and Open Space, Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, Seestrasse 10, 8640 Rapperswil, Switzerland
| | - Natalia Kozyrovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str.150, 03680, Kyiv Ukraine
| | - Peter Lasch
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 6), Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Natuschka Lee
- Microbial Geoecology and Astrobiology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå university, Linnaeus väg 6, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Stefan Leuko
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln, Germany
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Sieglinde Ott
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität (HHU), Institut für Botanik, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Claudia Pacelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
- Research and Science Department, Italian Space Agency (ASI), Via del Politecnico snc, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Elke Rabbow
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln, Germany
| | - Lynn Rothschild
- NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 239-20, P.O. Box 1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Technical University Berlin, ZAA, Hardenbergstr. 36, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
- Section Geomicrobiology, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 12587, Stechlin, Germany
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), 16121 Genoa, Italy
| | - Paloma Serrano
- Section Geomicrobiology, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ulrich Szewzyk
- Institute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Microbiology, Technical University Berlin, Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1, Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Cyprien Verseux
- Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), University of Bremen, Am Fallturm 2, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Dirk Wagner
- Section Geomicrobiology, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Frances Westall
- CNRS Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, UPR-4301, Rue Charles Sadron, CS80054, 45071 Orléans Cedex 2, France
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Jean-Pierre P. de Vera
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC), Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln, Germany
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Pleyer HL, Moeller R, Fujimori A, Fox S, Strasdeit H. Chemical, Thermal, and Radiation Resistance of an Iron Porphyrin: A Model Study of Biosignature Stability. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:776-799. [PMID: 35647896 PMCID: PMC9298530 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Metal complexes of porphyrins and porphyrin-type compounds are ubiquitous in all three domains of life, with hemes and chlorophylls being the best-known examples. Their diagenetic transformation products are found as geoporphyrins, in which the characteristic porphyrin core structure is retained and which can be up to 1.1 billion years old. Because of this, and their relative ease of detection, metalloporphyrins appear attractive as chemical biosignatures in the search for extraterrestrial life. In this study, we investigated the stability of solid chlorido(2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrinato)iron(III) [FeCl(oep)], which served as a model for heme-like molecules and iron geoporphyrins. [FeCl(oep)] was exposed to a variety of astrobiologically relevant extreme conditions, namely: aqueous acids and bases, oxidants, heat, and radiation. Key results are: (1) the [Fe(oep)]+ core is stable over the pH range 0.0-13.5 even at 80°C; (2) the oxidizing power follows the order ClO- > H2O2 > ClO3- > HNO3 > ClO4-; (3) in an inert atmosphere, the iron porphyrin is thermally stable to near 250°C; (4) at high temperatures, carbon dioxide gas is not inert but acts as an oxidant, forming carbon monoxide; (5) a decomposition layer is formed on ultraviolet irradiation and protects the [FeCl(oep)] underneath; (6) an NaCl/NaHCO3 salt mixture has a protective effect against X-rays; and (7) no such effect is observed when [FeCl(oep)] is exposed to iron ion particle radiation. The relevance to potential iron porphyrin biosignatures on Mars, Europa, and Enceladus is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Lukas Pleyer
- Department of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Chemical Evolution, Institute of Chemistry, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Space Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Akira Fujimori
- Molecular and Cellular Radiation Biology Group, Department of Charged Particle Therapy Research, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Stefan Fox
- Department of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Chemical Evolution, Institute of Chemistry, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Henry Strasdeit
- Department of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Chemical Evolution, Institute of Chemistry, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
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7
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Siljeström S, Li X, Brinckerhoff W, van Amerom F, Cady SL. ExoMars Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (LDI-MS) Analysis of Phototrophic Communities from a Silica-Depositing Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park, USA. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:1515-1525. [PMID: 33733826 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) is a key scientific instrument on the ExoMars Rover mission. MOMA is designed to detect and characterize organic compounds, over a wide range of volatility and molecular weight, in samples obtained from up to 2 m below the martian surface. Thorough analog sample studies are required to best prepare to interpret MOMA data collected on Mars. We present here the MOMA characterization of Mars analog samples, microbial streamer communities composed primarily of oxygenic and anoxygenic phototrophs, collected from an alkaline silica-depositing hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. Samples of partly mineralized microbial streamers and their total lipid extract (TLE) were measured on a MOMA Engineering Test Unit (ETU) instrument by using its laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) mode. MOMA LDI-MS detected a variety of lipids and pigments such as chlorophyll a, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol, diacylglycerols, and β-carotene in the TLE sample. Only chlorophyll a was detected in the untreated streamer samples when using mass isolation, which was likely due to the higher background signal of this sample and the relative high ionization potential of the chlorophyll a compared with other compounds in unextracted samples. The results add to the LDI-MS sample characterization database and demonstrate the benefit of using mass isolation on the MOMA instrument to reveal the presence of complex organics and potential biomarkers preserved in a natural sample. This will also provide guidance to in situ analysis of surface samples during Mars operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Siljeström
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Department of Chemistry, Biomaterials and Textiles, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiang Li
- Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science & Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Sherry L Cady
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
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8
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Whitaker DA, Munshi T, Scowen IJ, Edwards HGM. Development of a Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Methodology to Detect Immobilized Organic Materials in Biogeological Contexts. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:1089-1098. [PMID: 34129380 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The likelihood of finding intact cellular structures on the surface or in the near subsurface of the martian regolith is slim, due in part to the intense bombardment of the surface by ionizing radiation from outer space. Given that this radiation is predicted to be so intense that it would render a living cell inactive within minutes, it is logical to search for evidence of microbial life by looking for molecules produced by the breakdown of cellular matter. This "pool" of molecules, known as biomarkers, consists of a range of species with various functionalities that make them likely to interact with minerals in the martian regolith. Raman spectroscopy, a molecularly specific analysis method utilized for detecting organic biomarkers among inorganic geomaterials, suffers from low signal intensity when the concentration of organics is as low as it appears to be on the martian surface. This article describes the utility of a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method used to detect extremely low levels of biomarkers that were passively adhered to mineral surfaces in a method that represents how this interaction would take place in a natural environment on Mars. The methodology showed promise for the detection of multiple classes of biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren A Whitaker
- Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Tasnim Munshi
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - Ian J Scowen
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - Howell G M Edwards
- Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
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9
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Tahoun M, Gee CT, McCoy VE, Sander PM, Müller CE. Chemistry of porphyrins in fossil plants and animals. RSC Adv 2021; 11:7552-7563. [PMID: 35423242 PMCID: PMC8695116 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra10688g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Porphyrins are macrocyclic tetrapyrrole derivatives that are widely distributed in nature. They are often complexed with a metal ion located in the center of the ring system and may be modified by various substituents including additional rings, or by ring opening, which leads to a plethora of different functions. Due to their extended conjugated aromatic ring system, porphyrins absorb light in the visible range and therefore show characteristic colors. Well-known natural porphyrins include the red-colored heme present in hemoglobin, which is responsible for blood oxygen transport, and the chlorophylls in some bacteria and in plants which are utilized for photosynthesis. Porphyrins are mostly lipophilic pigments that display relatively high chemical stability. Therefore, they can even survive hundreds of millions of years. The present review article provides an overview of natural porphyrins, their chemical structures, and properties. A special focus is put on porphyrins discovered in the fossil record. Examples will be highlighted, and information on their chemical analysis will be provided. We anticipate that the development of novel analytical methods with increased sensitivity will prompt new discoveries of porphyrins in fossils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Tahoun
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn An der Immenburg 4 53121 Bonn Germany
| | - Carole T Gee
- Institute of Geosciences, Division of Paleontology, University of Bonn Nussallee 8 53115 Bonn Germany
- Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road San Marino California 91108 USA
| | - Victoria E McCoy
- Department of Geosciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 3209 N Maryland Ave Milwaukee WI 53211 USA
| | - P Martin Sander
- Institute of Geosciences, Division of Paleontology, University of Bonn Nussallee 8 53115 Bonn Germany
| | - Christa E Müller
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn An der Immenburg 4 53121 Bonn Germany
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Makarska-Bialokoz M. Comparative study of binding interactions between porphyrin systems and aromatic compounds of biological importance by multiple spectroscopic techniques: A review. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2018; 200:263-274. [PMID: 29694930 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2018.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The specific spectroscopic and redox properties of porphyrins predestine them to fulfill the role of sensors during interacting with different biologically active substances. Monitoring of binding interactions in the systems porphyrin-biologically active compound is a key question not only in the field of physiological functions of living organisms, but also in environmental protection, notably in the light of the rapidly growing drug consumption and concurrently the production of drug effluents. Not always beneficial action of drugs on natural porphyrin systems induces to further studies, with commercially available porphyrins as the model systems. Therefore the binding process between several water-soluble porphyrins and a series of biologically active compounds (e.g. caffeine, guanine, theophylline, theobromine, xanthine, uric acid) has been studied in different aqueous solutions analyzing their absorption and steady-state fluorescence spectra, the porphyrin fluorescence lifetimes and their quantum yields. The magnitude of the binding and fluorescence quenching constants values for particular quenchers decreases in a series: uric acid > guanine > caffeine > theophylline > theobromine > xanthine. In all the systems studied there are characters of static quenching, as a consequence of the π-π-stacked non-covalent and non-fluorescent complexes formation between porphyrins and interacting compounds, accompanied simultaneously by the additional specific binding interactions. The porphyrin fluorescence quenching can be explain by the photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer from aromatic compound to the center of the porphyrin molecule, playing the role of the binding site. Presented results can be valuable for designing of new fluorescent porphyrin chemosensors or monitoring of drug traces in aqueous solutions. The obtained outcomes have also the toxicological and medical importance, providing insight into the interactions of the water-soluble porphyrins with biologically active substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Makarska-Bialokoz
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, M. C. Sklodowska Sq. 2, 20-031 Lublin, Poland.
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Liu K, Ren X, Sun J, Zou Q, Yan X. Primitive Photosynthetic Architectures Based on Self-Organization and Chemical Evolution of Amino Acids and Metal Ions. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2018; 5:1701001. [PMID: 29938179 PMCID: PMC6010005 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201701001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of light-energy-utilizing metabolism is likely to be a critical milestone in prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life. However, how the primitive pigment is spontaneously generated still remains unknown. Herein, a primitive pigment model based on adaptive self-organization of amino acids (Cystine, Cys) and metal ions (zinc ion, Zn2+) followed by chemical evolution under hydrothermal conditions is developed. The resulting hybrid microspheres are composed of radially aligned cystine/zinc (Cys/Zn) assembly decorated with carbonate-doped zinc sulfide (C-ZnS) nanocrystals. The part of C-ZnS can work as a light-harvesting antenna to capture ultraviolet and visible light, and use it in various photochemical reactions, including hydrogen (H2) evolution, carbon dioxide (CO2) photoreduction, and reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride (NADH). Additionally, guest molecules (e.g., glutamate dehydrogenase, GDH) can be encapsulated within the hierarchical Cys/Zn framework, which facilitates sustainable photoenzymatic synthesis of glutamate. This study helps deepen insight into the emergent functionality (conversion of light energy) and complexity (hierarchical architecture) from interaction and reaction of prebiotic molecules. The primitive pigment model is also promising to work as an artificial photosynthetic microreactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical EngineeringInstitute of Process EngineeringChinese Academy of Sciences100190BeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences100049BeijingChina
| | - Xiaokang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical EngineeringInstitute of Process EngineeringChinese Academy of Sciences100190BeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences100049BeijingChina
| | - Jianxuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical EngineeringInstitute of Process EngineeringChinese Academy of Sciences100190BeijingChina
| | - Qianli Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical EngineeringInstitute of Process EngineeringChinese Academy of Sciences100190BeijingChina
| | - Xuehai Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical EngineeringInstitute of Process EngineeringChinese Academy of Sciences100190BeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences100049BeijingChina
- Center for MesoscienceInstitute of Process EngineeringChinese Academy of Sciences100190BeijingChina
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Abstract
Johan Lindgren introduces fossil pigments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Lindgren
- Department of Geology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
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13
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Biochemistry and adaptive colouration of an exceptionally preserved juvenile fossil sea turtle. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13324. [PMID: 29042651 PMCID: PMC5645316 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13187-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The holotype (MHM-K2) of the Eocene cheloniine Tasbacka danica is arguably one of the best preserved juvenile fossil sea turtles on record. Notwithstanding compactional flattening, the specimen is virtually intact, comprising a fully articulated skeleton exposed in dorsal view. MHM-K2 also preserves, with great fidelity, soft tissue traces visible as a sharply delineated carbon film around the bones and marginal scutes along the edge of the carapace. Here we show that the extraordinary preservation of the type of T. danica goes beyond gross morphology to include ultrastructural details and labile molecular components of the once-living animal. Haemoglobin-derived compounds, eumelanic pigments and proteinaceous materials retaining the immunological characteristics of sauropsid-specific β-keratin and tropomyosin were detected in tissues containing remnant melanosomes and decayed keratin plates. The preserved organics represent condensed remains of the cornified epidermis and, likely also, deeper anatomical features, and provide direct chemical evidence that adaptive melanism – a biological means used by extant sea turtle hatchlings to elevate metabolic and growth rates – had evolved 54 million years ago.
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El-Nahass M, Zayed H, Elgarhy E, Hassanien A. Effect of γ- irradiation on structural, optical and electrical properties of thermally evaporated iron (III) chloride tetraphenylporphyrin thin films. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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15
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Fox S, Strasdeit H. Inhabited or Uninhabited? Pitfalls in the Interpretation of Possible Chemical Signatures of Extraterrestrial Life. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1622. [PMID: 28970819 PMCID: PMC5609592 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The "Rare Earth" hypothesis-put forward by Ward and Brownlee in their 2000 book of the same title-states that prokaryote-type organisms may be common in the universe but animals and higher plants are exceedingly rare. If this idea is correct, the search for extraterrestrial life is essentially the search for microorganisms. Various indicators may be used to detect extant or extinct microbial life beyond Earth. Among them are chemical biosignatures, such as biomolecules and stable isotope ratios. The present minireview focuses on the major problems associated with the identification of chemical biosignatures. Two main types of misinterpretation are distinguished, namely false positive and false negative results. The former can be caused by terrestrial biogenic contaminants or by abiotic products. Terrestrial contamination is a common problem in space missions that search for biosignatures on other planets and moons. Abiotic organics can lead to false positive results if erroneously interpreted as biomolecules, but also to false negatives, for example when an abiotic source obscures a less productive biological one. In principle, all types of putative chemical biosignatures are prone to misinterpretation. Some, however, are more reliable ("stronger") than others. These include: (i) homochiral polymers of defined length and sequence, comparable to proteins and polynucleotides; (ii) enantiopure compounds; (iii) the existence of only a subset of molecules when abiotic syntheses would produce a continuous range of molecules; the proteinogenic amino acids constitute such a subset. These considerations are particularly important for life detection missions to solar system bodies such as Mars, Europa, and Enceladus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Fox
- Department of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of HohenheimStuttgart, Germany
| | - Henry Strasdeit
- Department of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of HohenheimStuttgart, Germany
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16
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Falk H, Wolkenstein K. Natural Product Molecular Fossils. PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS 104 2017; 104:1-126. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-45618-8_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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17
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Almeida J, Aguiar A, Leite A, Silva AMN, Cunha-Silva L, de Castro B, Rangel M, Barone G, Tomé AC, Silva AMG. 1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions with meso-tetraarylchlorins – site selectivity and mixed bisadducts. Org Chem Front 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c6qo00771f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Mixed bisadducts resulting from the sequential addition of a nitrone and an azomethine ylide to the porphyrin macrocycle were efficiently obtained, in a site selective approach.
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18
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Rolfe SM, Patel MR, Gilmour I, Olsson-Francis K, Ringrose TJ. Defining Multiple Characteristic Raman Bands of α-Amino Acids as Biomarkers for Planetary Missions Using a Statistical Method. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2016; 46:323-46. [PMID: 26744263 PMCID: PMC4764629 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-015-9477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Biomarker molecules, such as amino acids, are key to discovering whether life exists elsewhere in the Solar System. Raman spectroscopy, a technique capable of detecting biomarkers, will be on board future planetary missions including the ExoMars rover. Generally, the position of the strongest band in the spectra of amino acids is reported as the identifying band. However, for an unknown sample, it is desirable to define multiple characteristic bands for molecules to avoid any ambiguous identification. To date, there has been no definition of multiple characteristic bands for amino acids of interest to astrobiology. This study examined L-alanine, L-aspartic acid, L-cysteine, L-glutamine and glycine and defined several Raman bands per molecule for reference as characteristic identifiers. Per amino acid, 240 spectra were recorded and compared using established statistical tests including ANOVA. The number of characteristic bands defined were 10, 12, 12, 14 and 19 for L-alanine (strongest intensity band: 832 cm(-1)), L-aspartic acid (938 cm(-1)), L-cysteine (679 cm(-1)), L-glutamine (1090 cm(-1)) and glycine (875 cm(-1)), respectively. The intensity of bands differed by up to six times when several points on the crystal sample were rotated through 360 °; to reduce this effect when defining characteristic bands for other molecules, we find that spectra should be recorded at a statistically significant number of points per sample to remove the effect of sample rotation. It is crucial that sets of characteristic Raman bands are defined for biomarkers that are targets for future planetary missions to ensure a positive identification can be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Rolfe
- Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Robert Hooke Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK.
| | - M R Patel
- Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Robert Hooke Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
- Space Science and Technology Department, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - I Gilmour
- Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Robert Hooke Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - K Olsson-Francis
- Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - T J Ringrose
- Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Robert Hooke Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
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Groemer G, Sattler B, Weisleitner K, Hunger L, Kohstall C, Frisch A, Józefowicz M, Meszyński S, Storrie-Lombardi M, Bothe C, Boyd A, Dinkelaker A, Dissertori M, Fasching D, Fischer M, Föger D, Foresta L, Frischauf N, Fritsch L, Fuchs H, Gautsch C, Gerard S, Goetzloff L, Gołebiowska I, Gorur P, Groemer G, Groll P, Haider C, Haider O, Hauth E, Hauth S, Hettrich S, Jais W, Jones N, Taj-Eddine K, Karl A, Kauerhoff T, Khan MS, Kjeldsen A, Klauck J, Losiak A, Luger M, Luger T, Luger U, McArthur J, Moser L, Neuner J, Orgel C, Ori GG, Paternesi R, Peschier J, Pfeil I, Prock S, Radinger J, Ragonig C, Ramirez B, Ramo W, Rampey M, Sams A, Sams E, Sams S, Sandu O, Sans A, Sansone P, Scheer D, Schildhammer D, Scornet Q, Sejkora N, Soucek A, Stadler A, Stummer F, Stumptner W, Taraba M, Tlustos R, Toferer E, Turetschek T, Winter E, Zanella-Kux K. Field trial of a dual-wavelength fluorescent emission (L.I.F.E.) instrument and the Magma White rover during the MARS2013 Mars analog mission. ASTROBIOLOGY 2014; 14:391-405. [PMID: 24823800 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2013.1081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Abstract We have developed a portable dual-wavelength laser fluorescence spectrometer as part of a multi-instrument optical probe to characterize mineral, organic, and microbial species in extreme environments. Operating at 405 and 532 nm, the instrument was originally designed for use by human explorers to produce a laser-induced fluorescence emission (L.I.F.E.) spectral database of the mineral and organic molecules found in the microbial communities of Earth's cryosphere. Recently, our team had the opportunity to explore the strengths and limitations of the instrument when it was deployed on a remote-controlled Mars analog rover. In February 2013, the instrument was deployed on board the Magma White rover platform during the MARS2013 Mars analog field mission in the Kess Kess formation near Erfoud, Morocco. During these tests, we followed tele-science work flows pertinent to Mars surface missions in a simulated spaceflight environment. We report on the L.I.F.E. instrument setup, data processing, and performance during field trials. A pilot postmission laboratory analysis determined that rock samples acquired during the field mission exhibited a fluorescence signal from the Sun-exposed side characteristic of chlorophyll a following excitation at 405 nm. A weak fluorescence response to excitation at 532 nm may have originated from another microbial photosynthetic pigment, phycoerythrin, but final assignment awaits development of a comprehensive database of mineral and organic fluorescence spectra. No chlorophyll fluorescence signal was detected from the shaded underside of the samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gernot Groemer
- 1 Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck, Austria
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Cook AM, Mattioda AL, Ricco AJ, Quinn RC, Elsaesser A, Ehrenfreund P, Ricca A, Jones NC, Hoffmann SV. The Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital Stresses (O/OREOS) satellite: radiation exposure in low-earth orbit and supporting laboratory studies of iron tetraphenylporphyrin chloride. ASTROBIOLOGY 2014; 14:87-101. [PMID: 24512475 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2013.0998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We report results from the exposure of the metalloporphyrin iron tetraphenylporphyrin chloride (FeTPPCl) to the outer space environment, measured in situ aboard the Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital Stresses nanosatellite. FeTPPCl was exposed for a period of 17 months (3700 h of direct solar exposure), which included broad-spectrum solar radiation (∼122 nm to the near infrared). Motivated by the potential role of metalloporphyrins as molecular biomarkers, the exposure of thin-film samples of FeTPPCl to the space environment in low-Earth orbit was monitored in situ via ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy and reported telemetrically. The space data were complemented by laboratory exposure experiments that used a high-fidelity solar simulator covering the spectral range of the spaceflight measurements. We found that thin-film samples of FeTPPCl that were in contact with a humid headspace gas (0.8-2.3% relative humidity) were particularly susceptible to destruction upon irradiation, degrading up to 10 times faster than identical thin films in contact with dry headspace gases; this degradation may also be related to the presence of oxides of nitrogen in those cells. In the companion terrestrial experiments, simulated solar exposure of FeTPPCl films in contact with either Ar or CO2:O2:Ar (10:0.01:1000) headspace gas resulted in growth of a band in the films' infrared spectra at 1961 cm(-1). We concluded that the most likely carriers of this band are allene (C3H4) and chloropropadiene (C3H3Cl), putative molecular fragments of the destruction of the porphyrin ring. The thin films studied in space and in solar simulator-based experiments show qualitatively similar spectral evolution as a function of contacting gaseous species but display significant differences in the time dependence of those changes. The relevance of our findings to planetary science, biomarker research, and the photostability of organic materials in astrobiologically relevant environments is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Cook
- 1 NASA Ames Research Center , Moffett Field, California, USA
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Hemoglobin-derived porphyrins preserved in a Middle Eocene blood-engorged mosquito. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:18496-500. [PMID: 24127577 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1310885110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although hematophagy is found in ~14,000 species of extant insects, the fossil record of blood-feeding insects is extremely poor and largely confined to specimens identified as hematophagic based on their taxonomic affinities with extant hematophagic insects; direct evidence of hematophagy is limited to four insect fossils in which trypanosomes and the malarial protozoan Plasmodium have been found. Here, we describe a blood-engorged mosquito from the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation in Montana. This unique specimen provided the opportunity to ask whether or not hemoglobin, or biomolecules derived from hemoglobin, were preserved in the fossilized blood meal. The abdomen of the fossil mosquito was shown to contain very high levels of iron, and mass spectrometry data provided a convincing identification of porphyrin molecules derived from the oxygen-carrying heme moiety of hemoglobin. These data confirm the existence of taphonomic conditions conducive to the preservation of biomolecules through deep time and support previous reports of the existence of heme-derived porphyrins in terrestrial fossils.
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Fox S, Strasdeit H. A possible prebiotic origin on volcanic islands of oligopyrrole-type photopigments and electron transfer cofactors. ASTROBIOLOGY 2013; 13:578-595. [PMID: 23742230 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2012.0934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Tetrapyrroles are essential to basic biochemical processes such as electron transfer and photosynthesis. However, it is not known whether these evolutionary old molecules have a prebiotic origin. We have serendipitously obtained pyrroles, which are the corresponding monomers, in laboratory experiments that simulated the interaction of amino acid-containing seawater with molten lava. The thermal pyrrole formation from amino acids, which so far has only been reported for special cases, can be explained by the observation that the amino acids become metal bonded, for example in (CaCl2)3(Hala)2·6H2O (Hala=DL-alanine), when the seawater evaporates. At a few hundred degrees Celsius, sea salt crusts also release hydrochloric acid (HCl). On primordial volcanic islands, the volatile pyrroles and HCl must have condensed at cooler locations, for example, in rock pools. There, pyrrole oligomerization may have occurred. To study this possibility, we added formaldehyde and nitrite, two species for which plausible prebiotic sources are known, to 2,4-diethylpyrrole and HCl. We found that even at high dilution conjugated (oxidized) oligomers, including octaethylporphyrin and other cyclic and open-chain tetrapyrroles, were formed. All experiments were conducted under rigorously oxygen-free conditions. Our results suggest that primitive versions of present-day biological cofactors such as chlorophylls, bilins, and heme were spontaneously abiotically synthesized on primordial volcanic islands and thus may have been available to the first protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Fox
- Department of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Hohenheim , Stuttgart, Germany
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Leefmann T, Heim C, Siljeström S, Blumenberg M, Sjövall P, Thiel V. Spectral characterization of ten cyclic lipids using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2013; 27:565-581. [PMID: 23413216 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 11/30/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Over the last decade, the high lateral resolution and imaging capabilities of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) have increasingly stimulated interest in studying organic molecules in complex environmental materials. However, unlike with the established mass spectrometric techniques, the use of ToF-SIMS in the biogeosciences is still hampered by a lack of reference spectra of the relevant biomarker compounds. Here we present and interpret ToF-SIMS reference spectra of ten different cyclic lipids that are frequently used as biological tracers in ecological, organic geochemical and geobiological studies. METHODS Standard compounds of α,β,β-(20R,24S)-24-methylcholestane, (22E)-ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol, 17α(H),21β-(H)-30-norhopane, hope-17(21)-ene, hop-22(29)-ene, 17β(H),21β(H)-bacteriohopane-32,33,34,35-tetrol, 17β(H),21β(H)-35-aminobacteriohopane-32,33,34-triol, α-tocopherol, β,β-carotene, chlorophyll a, and cryosections of microbial mats and a fungus were analyzed using a ToF-SIMS instrument equipped with a Bi(3)(+) cluster ion source. RESULTS The spectra obtained from the standard compounds showed peaks in the molecular weight range (molecular ions, protonated and deprotonated molecules, adduct ions) and diagnostic fragment ion peaks in both, positive and negative ion modes. For the cyclic hydrocarbons, however, the positive ion mode spectra typically showed more and stronger characteristic peaks than the negative ion mode spectra. Using real world samples the capability of ToF-SIMS to detect and image selected compounds in complex organic matrices was tested. 17β(H),21β(H)-35-Aminobacteriohopane-32,33,34-triol, carotene and chlorophyll a were successfully identified in cryosections of microbial mats, and the distribution of ergosterol was mapped at µm resolution in a cryosection of a fungus (Tuber uncinatum). CONCLUSIONS This study further highlights the utility of ToF-SIMS for the identification and localization of lipids within environmental samples and as a technique for biomarker-related research in organic geochemistry and geobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Leefmann
- Geobiology Group, Geoscience Centre, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstrasse 3, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Dartnell LR, Storrie-Lombardi MC, Mullineaux CW, Ruban AV, Wright G, Griffiths AD, Muller JP, Ward JM. Degradation of cyanobacterial biosignatures by ionizing radiation. ASTROBIOLOGY 2011; 11:997-1016. [PMID: 22149884 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2011.0663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Primitive photosynthetic microorganisms, either dormant or dead, may remain today on the martian surface, akin to terrestrial cyanobacteria surviving endolithically in martian analog sites on Earth such as the Antarctic Dry Valleys and the Atacama Desert. Potential markers of martian photoautotrophs include the red edge of chlorophyll reflectance spectra or fluorescence emission from systems of light-harvesting pigments. Such biosignatures, however, would be modified and degraded by long-term exposure to ionizing radiation from the unshielded cosmic ray flux onto the martian surface. In this initial study into this issue, three analytical techniques--absorbance, reflectance, and fluorescence spectroscopy--were employed to determine the progression of the radiolytic destruction of cyanobacteria. The pattern of signal loss for chlorophyll reflection and fluorescence from several biomolecules is characterized and quantified after increasing exposures to ionizing gamma radiation. This allows estimation of the degradation rates of cyanobacterial biosignatures on the martian surface and the identification of promising detectable fluorescent break-down products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis R Dartnell
- UCL Institute for Origins, University College London, London, UK.
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Sathe M, Derveni M, Broadbent G, Bodlenner A, Charlton K, Ravi B, Rohmer M, Sims MR, Cullen DC. Synthesis and characterisation of immunogens for the production of antibodies against small hydrophobic molecules with biosignature properties. Anal Chim Acta 2011; 708:97-106. [PMID: 22093350 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2011.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2011] [Revised: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, five different classes of small hydrophobic molecular targets, atypical for antibody generation, were structurally modified in order to introduce suitable reactive functionalities and/or spacers which allow covalent coupling to a carrier protein resulting in a stable carrier-hapten complex. These targets were chosen to serve as markers of extant and/or extinct life in the context of the development of the Life Marker Chip (LMC), an antibody-based instrument, which is being developed by a UK-led international consortium for flight to Mars on board the joint ESA/NASA Mars exploration ExoMars mission. The hapten-protein conjugates were designed to be used as immunogens for antibody generation and immunoassay reagents in subsequent stages of the LMC development. The extent of protein modification due to covalent attachment of hapten was determined by two independent methods, i.e. trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBSA) titrations of remaining protein reactive groups and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) of the resultant hapten-protein conjugates. In a further quality validation step, the conjugates were presented to an animal's immune system and polyclonal antibody titres with moderate specificity were obtained. These results suggest that conjugates synthesized as described herein can successfully be used in the generation of antibodies targeting small hydrophobic molecules.
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Killian MS, Krebs HM, Schmuki P. Protein denaturation detected by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2011; 27:7510-7515. [PMID: 21627086 DOI: 10.1021/la200704s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In the present work we investigate the denaturation of a functional protein, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), under various experimental conditions using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. HRP was immobilized on TiO(2), and the samples were stored under different conditions. The activity of the enzyme was assessed colorimetrically and compared to ToF-SIMS spectra. We show that denaturation of the protein can be monitored using the ToF-SIMS signal of the disulfide bonds, which is related to the tertiary structure of the protein. As disulfide bonds appear in a vast range of proteins, the present findings may be of wide significance; i.e., a tool is provided that can allow the investigation of the presence of an active protein structure by a comparably simple surface analytical method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela S Killian
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering 4, Chair for Surface Science and Corrosion, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martensstr.7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Abrevaya XC, Mauas PJD, Cortón E. Microbial fuel cells applied to the metabolically based detection of extraterrestrial life. ASTROBIOLOGY 2010; 10:965-971. [PMID: 21162676 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2009.0460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1970s, when the Viking spacecrafts carried out experiments to detect microbial metabolism on the surface of Mars, the search for nonspecific methods to detect life in situ has been one of the goals of astrobiology. It is usually required that a methodology detect life independently from its composition or form and that the chosen biological signature point to a feature common to all living systems, such as the presence of metabolism. In this paper, we evaluate the use of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for the detection of microbial life in situ. MFCs are electrochemical devices originally developed as power electrical sources and can be described as fuel cells in which the anode is submerged in a medium that contains microorganisms. These microorganisms, as part of their metabolic process, oxidize organic material, releasing electrons that contribute to the electric current, which is therefore proportional to metabolic and other redox processes. We show that power and current density values measured in MFCs that use microorganism cultures or soil samples in the anode are much larger than those obtained with a medium free of microorganisms or sterilized soil samples, respectively. In particular, we found that this is true for extremophiles, which have been proposed as potential inhabitants of extraterrestrial environments. Therefore, our results show that MFCs have the potential to be used for in situ detection of microbial life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena C Abrevaya
- Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio (IAFE), UBA-CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Killian MS, Gnichwitz JF, Hirsch A, Schmuki P, Kunze J. ToF-SIMS and XPS studies of the adsorption characteristics of a Zn-porphyrin on TiO2. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2010; 26:3531-3538. [PMID: 20175576 DOI: 10.1021/la9032139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to study monolayers (ML) and thick films of porphyrin Zn-TESP (C(67)H(75)N(5)O(5)SiZn) attached to titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) substrates via silanization. Films on ideal hydroxyl-terminated silicon (SiO(2)) surfaces were used for comparison. ToF-SIMS and XPS spectra show that the type of adsorption varies depending on the thickness of the organic film, the preparation temperature, and the adsorption time. We show that the intensity of a molecular peak at mass 1121.5 u in ToF-SIMS can be used as a direct measure of the ratio of chemisorption/physisorption of Zn-TESP. On TiO(2), the amount of chemisorbed porphyrin can be increased by increasing the reaction temperature and time during the silanization process. On the SiO(2) reference, only chemisorbed species were detected under all investigated preparation conditions. The present work thus not only gives information on the Zn-TESP linkage to TiO(2) but provides a direct tool for generally determining the type of adsorption of monolayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela S Killian
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering 4, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martensstrasse 7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Gourier D, Delpoux O, Bonduelle A, Binet L, Ciofini I, Vezin H. EPR, ENDOR, and HYSCORE Study of the Structure and the Stability of Vanadyl−Porphyrin Complexes Encapsulated in Silica: Potential Paramagnetic Biomarkers for the Origin of Life. J Phys Chem B 2010; 114:3714-25. [DOI: 10.1021/jp911728e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Didier Gourier
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech) and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR-CNRS 7574, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, Laboratoire d’Electrochimie, Chimie des Interfaces et Modélisation pour l’Energie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech), UMR-CNRS 7575, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, and Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infrarouge et
| | - Olivier Delpoux
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech) and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR-CNRS 7574, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, Laboratoire d’Electrochimie, Chimie des Interfaces et Modélisation pour l’Energie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech), UMR-CNRS 7575, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, and Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infrarouge et
| | - Audrey Bonduelle
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech) and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR-CNRS 7574, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, Laboratoire d’Electrochimie, Chimie des Interfaces et Modélisation pour l’Energie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech), UMR-CNRS 7575, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, and Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infrarouge et
| | - Laurent Binet
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech) and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR-CNRS 7574, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, Laboratoire d’Electrochimie, Chimie des Interfaces et Modélisation pour l’Energie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech), UMR-CNRS 7575, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, and Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infrarouge et
| | - Ilaria Ciofini
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech) and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR-CNRS 7574, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, Laboratoire d’Electrochimie, Chimie des Interfaces et Modélisation pour l’Energie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech), UMR-CNRS 7575, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, and Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infrarouge et
| | - Hervé Vezin
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech) and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR-CNRS 7574, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, Laboratoire d’Electrochimie, Chimie des Interfaces et Modélisation pour l’Energie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (Chimie ParisTech), UMR-CNRS 7575, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France, and Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infrarouge et
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Lindsey JS, Ptaszek M, Taniguchi M. Simple formation of an abiotic porphyrinogen in aqueous solution. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2009; 39:495-515. [PMID: 19472071 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-009-9168-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2009] [Accepted: 04/06/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Porphyrins have long been proposed as key ingredients in the emergence of life yet plausible routes for forming their essential pyrrole precursor have heretofore not been identified. Here we show that the anaerobic reaction of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA, 1-5 mM) with the β-ketoester methyl 4-methoxyacetoacetate (2-40 mM) in water (pH5-7) at 70-100°C for >6 h affords the porphyrinogen, which upon chemical oxidation gives the corresponding porphyrin in overall yield of up to 10%. The key intermediate is the α-methoxymethyl-substituted pyrrole, which undergoes tetramerization and macrocycle formation under kinetic control. The resulting type-I porphyrin bears four propionic acid and four carbomethoxy groups, is distinct from porphyrins (e.g., uroporphyrin or coproporphyrin) derivable from ALA alone via the extant universal biosynthetic path to tetrapyrroles, and is photoactive upon assembly into cationic micelles in aqueous solution. The simple self-organization of eight acyclic molecules into a tetrapyrrole macrocycle, from which a porphyrin is derived that is photoactive in lipid assemblies, augurs well for the spontaneous origin of catalysts and pigments essential for prebiotic metabolism and proto-photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Lindsey
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695, USA.
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Arias JI, Aller MA, Arias J. Surgical inflammation: a pathophysiological rainbow. J Transl Med 2009; 7:19. [PMID: 19309494 PMCID: PMC2667492 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-7-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2009] [Accepted: 03/23/2009] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Tetrapyrrole molecules are distributed in virtually all living organisms on Earth. In mammals, tetrapyrrole end products are closely linked to oxygen metabolism. Since increasingly complex trophic functional systems for using oxygen are considered in the post-traumatic inflammatory response, it can be suggested that tetrapyrrole molecules and, particularly their derived pigments, play a key role in modulating inflammation. In this way, the diverse colorfulness that the inflammatory response triggers during its evolution would reflect the major pathophysiological importance of these pigments in each one of its phases. Therefore, the need of exploiting this color resource could be considered for both the diagnosis and treatment of the inflammation.
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