The production of methane, hydrogen, and organic compounds in ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Production of abiotic or biogenic hydrocarbons on rock particles in the presence of H2O and carbon compounds

Abiotic H2 and hydrocarbons are found in fluids discharged from ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal vents. Beneath the hydrothermal vents, abiotic H2 and hydrocarbons can be formed by serpentinization reactions and Fischer-Tropsch-type hydrocarbon-forming reactions, respectively, over ultramafic rocks. However, the source rocks that form abiotic H2 and hydrocarbons may extend to broader subsurface rocks. Here, we show that various rock constituents (solid acids) play a catalytic role in the formation of H and OH radicals via H2O dissociation, as well as in the formation of diverse hydrocarbons via the synthesis reactions of H radicals and inorganic carbons or by H radical-induced dissociation of organic carbons. The mechanisms and characteristics of these formation processes were explored through a series of reactor-based laboratory experiments. Four types of solid acid-containing rocks were mixed with H2O and a carbon source and reacted at different temperatures and pressures for different reaction periods. The product gases were analyzed via GC/MS. Twenty-nine hydrocarbons up to C11, predominantly including CH4 and aromatic hydrocarbons, were identified when CO2 (inorganic carbon source) and basalt particles were used; in contrast, 42 hydrocarbons up to C11, predominantly including CH4 and aliphatic hydrocarbons, were identified when soybean oil (organic carbon source) and basalt particles were used. The results of this study imply that abiotic H2 and diverse hydrocarbons are produced in the subsurface of Earth regardless of the presence of living organisms and suggest that solid acid-containing rocks near hot springs or volcanic areas can promote CO2 conversion into CH4 with the aid of H radicals supplied from H2O dissociation over the rocks.

Bioenergetic characterization of hyperthermophilic archaean Methanocaldococcus sp. FS406-22

Hyperthermophilic archaean Methanocaldococcus sp. FS406-22 (hereafter FS406) is a hydrogenotrophic methanogen isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. To better understand the energetic requirements of hydrogen oxidation under extreme conditions, the thermodynamic characterization of FS406 incubations is necessary and notably underexplored. In this work, we quantified the bioenergetics of FS406 incubations at a range of temperatures (65, 76, and 85 ℃) and hydrogen concentrations (1.1, 1.4, and 2.1 mm). The biomass yields (C-mol of biomass per mol of H2 consumed) ranged from 0.02 to 0.19. Growth rates ranged from 0.4 to 1.5 h-1. Gibbs energies of incubation based on macrochemical equations of cell growth ranged from - 198 kJ/C-mol to - 1840 kJ/C-mol. Enthalpies of incubation determined from calorimetric measurements ranged from - 4150 kJ/C-mol to - 36333 kJ/C-mol. FS406 growth rates were most comparable to hyperthermophilic methanogen Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. Maintenance energy calculations from the thermodynamic parameters of FS406 and previously determined heterotrophic methanogen data revealed that temperature is a primary determinant rather than an electron donor. This work provides new insights into the thermodynamic underpinnings of a hyperthermophilic hydrothermal vent methanogen and helps to better constrain the energetic requirements of life in extreme environments.

Discovery of the first hydrothermal field along the 500-km-long Knipovich Ridge offshore Svalbard (the Jøtul field)

Oceanic spreading centers north of Iceland are characterized by ultraslow spreading rates, and related hydrothermal activity has been detected in the water column and at the seafloor along nearly all ridge segments. An exception is the 500-km-long Knipovich Ridge, from where, until now, no hydrothermal vents were known. Here we report the investigation of the first hydrothermal vent field of the Knipovich Ridge, which was discovered in July 2022 during expedition MSM109. The newly discovered hydrothermal field, named Jøtul hydrothermal field, is associated with the eastern bounding fault of the rift valley rather than with an axial volcanic ridge. Guided by physico-chemical anomalies in the water column, ROV investigations on the seafloor showed a wide variety of fluid escape sites, inactive and active mounds with abundant hydrothermal precipitates, and chemosynthetic organisms. Fluids with temperatures between 8 and 316 °C as well as precipitates were sampled at four vent sites. High methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonium concentrations, as well as high 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of the vent fluids indicate strong interaction between magma and sediments from the Svalbard continental margin. Such interactions are important for carbon mobilization at the seafloor and the carbon cycle in the ocean.

Soil processes modify the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from CO2- and CH4-dominated geogenic and landfill gases: A comprehensive study

Degradation mechanisms affecting non-methane volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during gas uprising from different hypogenic sources to the surface were investigated through extensive sampling surveys in areas encompassing a high enthalpy hydrothermal system associated with active volcanism, a CH4-rich sedimentary basin and a municipal waste landfill. For a comprehensive framework, published data from medium-to-high enthalpy hydrothermal systems were also included. The investigated systems were characterised by peculiar VOC suites that reflected the conditions of the genetic environments in which temperature, contents of organic matter, and gas fugacity had a major role. Differences in VOC patterns between source (gas vents and landfill gas) and soil gases indicated VOC transformations in soil. Processes acting in soil preferentially degraded high-molecular weight alkanes with respect to the low-molecular weight ones. Alkenes and cyclics roughly behaved like alkanes. Thiophenes were degraded to a larger extent with respect to alkylated benzenes, which were more reactive than benzene. Furan appeared less degraded than its alkylated homologues. Dimethylsulfoxide was generally favoured with respect to dimethylsulfide. Limonene and camphene were relatively unstable under aerobic conditions, while α-pinene was recalcitrant. O-bearing organic compounds (i.e., aldehydes, esters, ketones, alcohols, organic acids and phenol) acted as intermediate products of the ongoing VOC degradations in soil. No evidence for the degradation of halogenated compounds and benzothiazole was observed. This study pointed out how soil degradation processes reduce hypogenic VOC emissions and the important role played by physicochemical and biological parameters on the effective VOC attenuation capacity of the soil.

Comparison of Raman spectral characteristics and quantitative methods between 13CH4 and 12CH4 from 25 to 400 °C and 50 to 400 bar

In recent years, increasing attention has been given to quantifying the isotopic compositions of gases by Raman spectroscopy. However, related research on the carbon isotopes of CH4 is still lacking. In this study, the Raman spectral characteristics of 13CH4 and 12CH4 in the pure CH4 system and in the CH4-H2O system are comprehensively studied at temperatures ranging from 25 to 400 °C and pressures ranging from 50 to 400 bar. For the pure CH4 system, the peak positions of the symmetric stretching band (ν1) of 13CH4 and 12CH4 both shift to a higher wavenumber with increasing temperature and decreasing pressure, and their full width at half maximum (FWHM) values can reach 4.7 cm-1 and 5.5 cm-1, respectively, with increasing temperature and density. The peak position of the ν1 band of 13CH4 is always 4.6-5.1 cm-1 lower than that of 12CH4 under the same conditions, indicating that 13CH4 and 12CH4 can be distinguished by peak position and FWHM in the Raman spectra. Although the calculated Raman shifts (ν0) at zero-density for 13CH4 and 12CH4 are different, the unified equation for determining the density of CH4-rich fluid inclusions is still applicable, as long as to bracket the sample measurement with measurements of reference standards. For the CH4-H2O system, the peak position of the ν1 band of dissolved 13CH4 is approximately 2.5 cm-1 lower than that of 12CH4, while their FWHM values can be more than 12.2 cm-1, causing more difficulty in distinguishing them in aqueous solutions. In addition, Raman quantitative calibration models of 12CH4 and 13CH4 in the CH4-H2O system are established. The difference in the Raman scattering cross section (RSCS) of dissolved 12CH4 and 13CH4, rather than changes in the molar density or RSCS of water is the main reason leading to the difference in the Raman quantitative calibration models of CH4 concentrations between the 12CH4-H2O system and the 13CH4-H2O system. Our work provides a good reference for the in situ identification and quantification of the carbon isotopic composition of CH4 in high-temperature and high-pressure environments.

Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life

Serpentinization in hydrothermal vents is central to some autotrophic theories for the origin of life because it generates compartments, reductants, catalysts and gradients. During the process of serpentinization, water circulates through hydrothermal systems in the crust where it oxidizes Fe (II) in ultramafic minerals to generate Fe (III) minerals and H2. Molecular hydrogen can, in turn, serve as a freely diffusible source of electrons for the reduction of CO2 to organic compounds, provided that suitable catalysts are present. Using catalysts that are naturally synthesized in hydrothermal vents during serpentinization H2 reduces CO2 to formate, acetate, pyruvate, and methane. These compounds represent the backbone of microbial carbon and energy metabolism in acetogens and methanogens, strictly anaerobic chemolithoautotrophs that use the acetyl-CoA pathway of CO2 fixation and that inhabit serpentinizing environments today. Serpentinization generates reduced carbon, nitrogen and - as newer findings suggest - reduced phosphorous compounds that were likely conducive to the origins process. In addition, it gives rise to inorganic microcompartments and proton gradients of the right polarity and of sufficient magnitude to support chemiosmotic ATP synthesis by the rotor-stator ATP synthase. This would help to explain why the principle of chemiosmotic energy harnessing is more conserved (older) than the machinery to generate ion gradients via pumping coupled to exergonic chemical reactions, which in the case of acetogens and methanogens involve H2-dependent CO2 reduction. Serpentinizing systems exist in terrestrial and deep ocean environments. On the early Earth they were probably more abundant than today. There is evidence that serpentinization once occurred on Mars and is likely still occurring on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, providing a perspective on serpentinization as a source of reductants, catalysts and chemical disequilibrium for life on other worlds.

Microbial taxa related to natural hydrogen and methane emissions in serpentinite-hosted hyperalkaline springs of New Caledonia

The southeastern part of New Caledonia main island (Grande Terre) is the location of a large ophiolitic formation that hosts several hyperalkaline springs discharging high pH (∼11) and warm (<40°C) fluids enriched in methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2). These waters are produced by the serpentinization of the ultrabasic rock formations. Molecular surveys had previously revealed the prokaryotic diversity of some of these New Caledonian springs, especially from the submarine chimneys of Prony Bay hydrothermal field. Here we investigate the microbial community of hyperalkaline waters from on-land springs and their relationships with elevated concentrations of dissolved H2 (21.1-721.3 μmol/L) and CH4 (153.0-376.6 μmol/L). 16S rRNA gene analyses (metabarcoding and qPCR) provided evidence of abundant and diverse prokaryotic communities inhabiting hyperalkaline fluids at all the collected springs. The abundance of prokaryotes was positively correlated to the H2/CH4 ratio. Prokaryotes consisted mainly of bacteria that use H2 as an energy source, such as microaerophilic Hydrogenophaga/Serpentinimonas (detected in all sources on land) or anaerobic sulfate-reducing Desulfonatronum, which were exclusively found in the most reducing (Eh ref H2 ∼ -700 mV) and the most H2-enriched waters discharging at the intertidal spring of the Bain des Japonais. The relative abundance of a specific group of uncultured Methanosarcinales that thrive in serpentinization-driven ecosystems emitting H2, considered potential H2-consuming methanogens, was positively correlated with CH4 concentrations, and negatively correlated to the relative abundance of methylotrophic Gammaproteobacteria. Firmicutes were also numerous in hyperalkaline waters, and their relative abundance (e.g., Gracilibacter or Dethiobacter) was proportional to the dissolved H2 concentrations, but their role in the H2 budget remains to be assessed. The prokaryotic communities thriving in New Caledonia hyperalkaline waters are similar to those found in other serpentinite-hosted high-pH waters worldwide, such as Lost City (North Atlantic) and The Cedars (California).

Microbial biosignatures in ancient deep-sea hydrothermal sulfides

Deep-sea hydrothermal systems provide ideal conditions for prebiotic reactions and ancient metabolic pathways and, therefore, might have played a pivotal role in the emergence of life. To understand this role better, it is paramount to examine fundamental interactions between hydrothermal processes, non-living matter, and microbial life in deep time. However, the distribution and diversity of microbial communities in ancient deep-sea hydrothermal systems are still poorly constrained, so evolutionary, and ecological relationships remain unclear. One important reason is an insufficient understanding of the formation of diagnostic microbial biosignatures in such settings and their preservation through geological time. This contribution centers around microbial biosignatures in Precambrian deep-sea hydrothermal sulfide deposits. Intending to provide a valuable resource for scientists from across the natural sciences whose research is concerned with the origins of life, we first introduce different types of biosignatures that can be preserved over geological timescales (rock fabrics and textures, microfossils, mineral precipitates, carbonaceous matter, trace metal, and isotope geochemical signatures). We then review selected reports of biosignatures from Precambrian deep-sea hydrothermal sulfide deposits and discuss their geobiological significance. Our survey highlights that Precambrian hydrothermal sulfide deposits potentially encode valuable information on environmental conditions, the presence and nature of microbial life, and the complex interactions between fluids, micro-organisms, and minerals. It further emphasizes that the geobiological interpretation of these records is challenging and requires the concerted application of analytical and experimental methods from various fields, including geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and microbiology. Well-orchestrated multidisciplinary studies allow us to understand the formation and preservation of microbial biosignatures in deep-sea hydrothermal sulfide systems and thus help unravel the fundamental geobiology of ancient settings. This, in turn, is critical for reconstructing life's emergence and early evolution on Earth and the search for life elsewhere in the universe.

Linking Methanogenesis in Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Vent Systems to Planetary Spectra: Methane Biosignatures on an Archean-Earth-like Exoplanet

In this work, the viability of the detection of methane produced by microbial activity in low-temperature hydrothermal vents on an Archean-Earth-like exoplanet in the habitable zone is explored via a simplified bottom-up approach using a toy model. By simulating methanogens at hydrothermal vent sites in the deep ocean, biological methane production for a range of substrate inflow rates was determined and compared to literature values. These production rates were then used, along with a range of ocean floor vent coverage fractions, to determine likely methane concentrations in the simplified atmosphere. At maximum production rates, a vent coverage of 4-15 × 10^-4 % (roughly 2000-6500 times that of modern Earth) is required to achieve 0.25% atmospheric methane. At minimum production rates, 100% vent coverage is not enough to produce 0.25% atmospheric methane. NASA's Planetary Spectrum Generator was then used to assess the detectability of methane features at various atmospheric concentrations. Even with future space-based observatory concepts (such as LUVOIR and HabEx), our results show the importance of both mirror size and distance to the observed planet. Planets with a substantial biomass of methanogens in hydrothermal vents can still lack a detectable, convincingly biological methane signature if they are beyond the scope of the chosen instrument. This work shows the value of coupling microbial ecological modeling with exoplanet science to better understand the constraints on biosignature gas production and its detectability.

The rocky road to organics needs drying

How simple abiotic organic compounds evolve toward more complex molecules of potentially prebiotic importance remains a missing key to establish where life possibly emerged. The limited variety of abiotic organics, their low concentrations and the possible pathways identified so far in hydrothermal fluids have long hampered a unifying theory of a hydrothermal origin for the emergence of life on Earth. Here we present an alternative road to abiotic organic synthesis and diversification in hydrothermal environments, which involves magmatic degassing and water-consuming mineral reactions occurring in mineral microcavities. This combination gathers key gases (N2, H2, CH4, CH3SH) and various polyaromatic materials associated with nanodiamonds and mineral products of olivine hydration (serpentinization). This endogenous assemblage results from re-speciation and drying of cooling C-O-S-H-N fluids entrapped below 600 °C-2 kbars in rocks forming the present-day oceanic lithosphere. Serpentinization dries out the system toward macromolecular carbon condensation, while olivine pods keep ingredients trapped until they are remobilized for further reactions at shallower levels. Results greatly extend our understanding of the forms of abiotic organic carbon available in hydrothermal environments and open new pathways for organic synthesis encompassing the role of minerals and drying. Such processes are expected in other planetary bodies wherever olivine-rich magmatic systems get cooled down and hydrated.

Setting the geological scene for the origin of life and continuing open questions about its emergence

The origin of life is one of the most fundamental questions of humanity. It has been and is still being addressed by a wide range of researchers from different fields, with different approaches and ideas as to how it came about. What is still incomplete is constrained information about the environment and the conditions reigning on the Hadean Earth, particularly on the inorganic ingredients available, and the stability and longevity of the various environments suggested as locations for the emergence of life, as well as on the kinetics and rates of the prebiotic steps leading to life. This contribution reviews our current understanding of the geological scene in which life originated on Earth, zooming in specifically on details regarding the environments and timescales available for prebiotic reactions, with the aim of providing experimenters with more specific constraints. Having set the scene, we evoke the still open questions about the origin of life: did life start organically or in mineralogical form? If organically, what was the origin of the organic constituents of life? What came first, metabolism or replication? What was the time-scale for the emergence of life? We conclude that the way forward for prebiotic chemistry is an approach merging geology and chemistry, i.e., far-from-equilibrium, wet-dry cycling (either subaerial exposure or dehydration through chelation to mineral surfaces) of organic reactions occurring repeatedly and iteratively at mineral surfaces under hydrothermal-like conditions.

Depth wide distribution and metabolic potential of chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms reactivated from deep continental granitic crust underneath the Deccan Traps at Koyna, India

Characterization of inorganic carbon (C) utilizing microorganisms from deep crystalline rocks is of major scientific interest owing to their crucial role in global carbon and other elemental cycles. In this study we investigate the microbial populations from the deep [up to 2,908 meters below surface (mbs)] granitic rocks within the Koyna seismogenic zone, reactivated (enriched) under anaerobic, high temperature (50°C), chemolithoautotrophic conditions. Subsurface rock samples from six different depths (1,679-2,908 mbs) are incubated (180 days) with CO2 (+H2) or HCO3 - as the sole C source. Estimation of total protein, ATP, utilization of NO3 - and SO4 2- and 16S rRNA gene qPCR suggests considerable microbial growth within the chemolithotrophic conditions. We note a better response of rock hosted community towards CO2 (+H2) over HCO3 -. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing shows a depth-wide distribution of diverse chemolithotrophic (and a few fermentative) Bacteria and Archaea. Comamonas, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Ralstonia, Klebsiella, unclassified Burkholderiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae are reactivated as dominant organisms from the enrichments of the deeper rocks (2335-2,908 mbs) with both CO2 and HCO3 -. For the rock samples from shallower depths, organisms of varied taxa are enriched under CO2 (+H2) and HCO3 -. Pseudomonas, Rhodanobacter, Methyloversatilis, and Thaumarchaeota are major CO2 (+H2) utilizers, while Nocardioides, Sphingomonas, Aeromonas, respond towards HCO3 -. H2 oxidizing Cupriavidus, Hydrogenophilus, Hydrogenophaga, CO2 fixing Cyanobacteria Rhodobacter, Clostridium, Desulfovibrio and methanogenic archaea are also enriched. Enriched chemolithoautotrophic members show good correlation with CO2, CH4 and H2 concentrations of the native rock environments, while the organisms from upper horizons correlate more to NO3 -, SO4 2- , Fe and TIC levels of the rocks. Co-occurrence networks suggest close interaction between chemolithoautotrophic and chemoorganotrophic/fermentative organisms. Carbon fixing 3-HP and DC/HB cycles, hydrogen, sulfur oxidation, CH4 and acetate metabolisms are predicted in the enriched communities. Our study elucidates the presence of live, C and H2 utilizing Bacteria and Archaea in deep subsurface granitic rocks, which are enriched successfully. Significant impact of depth and geochemical controls on relative distribution of various chemolithotrophic species enriched and their C and H2 metabolism are highlighted. These endolithic microorganisms show great potential for answering the fundamental questions of deep life and their exploitation in CO2 capture and conversion to useful products.

Comparative Metagenomics Highlight a Widespread Pathway Involved in Catabolism of Phosphonates in Marine and Terrestrial Serpentinizing Ecosystems

Serpentinizing hydrothermal systems result from water circulating into the subsurface and interacting with mantle-derived rocks notably near mid-ocean ridges or continental ophiolites. Serpentinization and associated reactions produce alkaline fluids enriched in molecular hydrogen, methane, and small organic molecules that are assumed to feed microbial inhabitants. In this study, we explored the relationships linking serpentinization to associated microbial communities by comparative metagenomics of serpentinite-hosted systems, basalt-hosted vents, and hot springs. The shallow Prony bay hydrothermal field (PBHF) microbiome appeared to be more related to those of ophiolitic sites than to the Lost City hydrothermal field (LCHF) microbiome, probably because of the meteoric origin of its fluid, like terrestrial alkaline springs. This study emphasized the ubiquitous importance of a set of genes involved in the catabolism of phosphonates and highly enriched in all serpentinizing sites compared to other ecosystems. Because most of the serpentinizing systems are depleted in inorganic phosphate, the abundance of genes involved in the carbon-phosphorus lyase pathway suggests that the phosphonates constitute a source of phosphorus in these ecosystems. Additionally, hydrocarbons such as methane, released upon phosphonate catabolism, may contribute to the overall budget of organic molecules in serpentinizing systems.

IMPORTANCE This first comparative metagenomic study of serpentinite-hosted environments provides an objective framework to understand the functioning of these peculiar ecosystems. We showed a taxonomic similarity between the PBHF and other terrestrial serpentinite-hosted ecosystems. At the same time, the LCHF microbial community was closer to deep basalt-hosted hydrothermal fields than continental ophiolites, despite the influence of serpentinization. This study revealed shared functional capabilities among serpentinite-hosted ecosystems in response to environmental stress, the metabolism of abundant dihydrogen, and the metabolism of phosphorus. Our results are consistent with the generalized view of serpentinite environments but provide deeper insight into the array of factors that may control microbial activities in these ecosystems. Moreover, we show that metabolism of phosphonate is widespread among alkaline serpentinizing systems and could play a crucial role in phosphorus and methane biogeochemical cycles. This study opens a new line of investigation of the metabolism of reduced phosphorus compounds in serpentinizing environments.

Determination of H2 Densities Over a Wide Range of Temperatures and Pressures Based on the Spectroscopic Characterization of Raman Vibrational Bands

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful method for determining the densities of gas species in fluid inclusions, especially for H₂-bearing inclusions in which the microthermometry approach is difficult to apply. The relationships between Raman peak position and H₂ density have been recorded in several previous studies. However, systematic discrepancies exist among these studies. In this study, the Raman spectral parameters (peak position, width, and intensity) of the vibrational bands of H₂ (Q₁(0), Q₁(1), Q₁(2), and Q₁(3)) were systematically measured at temperatures from 25 to 400 °C and pressures up to 150 MPa using a high-pressure optical cell. The variation in each parameter as a function of H₂ density was discussed. Several calibration polynomials derived from the measured peak positions and peak widths of these vibrational bands and the peak intensity ratios of Q₁(1) to Q₁(n = 0, 2, 3) were established to determine H₂ densities up to 0.062 g/cm³ at 25 °C. For natural fluid inclusions, the peak position of the Q₁(1) band is the best choice for density determination mainly because (i) Raman spectra derived from fluid inclusions are not always of applicable qualities and the strongest intensity Q₁(1) band could be obtained easier than others, and (ii) the peak position is insensitive to instrumental factors. The relationship between the peak position of Q₁(1) band and density can be represented by ΔQ₁(1) = 90,246.070 × ρ⁴ - 5471.203 × ρ³ + 770.944 × ρ²- 41.038 × ρ (r² = 0.999), where ρ is the density of H₂ in g/cm³; ΔQ₁(1) (cm^-1) is the difference between the obtained peak position of Q₁(1) band of H₂ and the known peak position of Q₁(1) band of H₂ at near-zero density. This polynomial is independent of instrumental factors and can be applied in any laboratory, as long as the peak position of H₂ with a near-zero density is known. The effects of temperature on the relationship between these spectral parameters and H₂ density were also examined.

Determining the "Biosignature Threshold" for Life Detection on Biotic, Abiotic, or Prebiotic Worlds

The field of prebiotic chemistry has demonstrated that complex organic chemical systems that exhibit various life-like properties can be produced abiotically in the laboratory. Understanding these chemical systems is important for astrobiology and life detection since we do not know the extent to which prebiotic chemistry might exist or have existed on other worlds. Nor do we know what signatures are diagnostic of an extant or "failed" prebiotic system. On Earth, biology has suppressed most abiotic organic chemistry and overprints geologic records of prebiotic chemistry; therefore, it is difficult to validate whether chemical signatures from future planetary missions are remnant or extant prebiotic systems. The "biosignature threshold" between whether a chemical signature is more likely to be produced by abiotic versus biotic chemistry on a given world could vary significantly, depending on the particular environment, and could change over time, especially if life were to emerge and diversify on that world. To interpret organic signatures detected during a planetary mission, we advocate for (1) gaining a more complete understanding of prebiotic/abiotic chemical possibilities in diverse planetary environments and (2) involving experimental prebiotic samples as analogues when generating comparison libraries for "life-detection" mission instruments.

Carbon Geochemistry of the Active Serpentinization Site at the Wadi Tayin Massif: Insights From the ICDP Oman Drilling Project: Phase II

A large part of the hydrated oceanic lithosphere consists of serpentinites exposed in ophiolites. Serpentinites constitute reactive chemical and thermal systems and potentially represent an effective sink for CO2. Understanding carbonation mechanisms within ophiolites are almost exclusively based on studies of outcrops, which can limit the interpretation of fossil hydrothermal systems. We present stable and radiogenic carbon isotope data that provide insights into the isotopic trends and fluid evolution of peridotite carbonation in ICDP Oman Drilling Project drill holes BA1B (400-m deep) and BA3A (300-m deep). Geochemical investigations of the carbonates in serpentinites indicate formation in the last 50 kyr, implying a distinctly different phase of alteration than the initial oceanic hydration and serpentinization of the Samail Ophiolite. The oldest carbonates (∼31 to >50 kyr) are localized calcite, dolomite, and aragonite veins, formed between 26°C and 43°C and related to focused fluid flow. Subsequent pervasive small amounts of dispersed carbonate precipitated in the last 1,000 years. Macroscopic brecciation and veining of the peridotite indicate that carbonation is influenced by tectonic features allowing infiltration of fluids over extended periods and at different structural levels such as along fracture planes and micro-fractures and grain boundaries, causing large-scale hydration of the ophiolite. The formation of dispersed carbonate is related to percolating fluids with δ 18O lower than modern ground and meteoric water. Our study shows that radiocarbon investigations are an essential tool to interpret the carbonation history and that stable oxygen and carbon isotopes alone can result in ambiguous interpretations.

Interaction between Microbes, Minerals, and Fluids in Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Systems

The discovery of deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the late 1970s widened the limits of life and habitability. The mixing of oxidizing seawater and reduction of hydrothermal fluids create a chemical disequilibrium that is exploited by chemosynthetic bacteria and archaea to harness energy by converting inorganic carbon into organic biomass. Due to the rich variety of chemical sources and steep physico-chemical gradients, a large array of microorganisms thrive in these extreme environments, which includes but are not restricted to chemolithoautotrophs, heterotrophs, and mixotrophs. Past research has revealed the underlying relationship of these microbial communities with the subsurface geology and hydrothermal geochemistry. Endolithic microbial communities at the ocean floor catalyze a number of redox reactions through various metabolic activities. Hydrothermal chimneys harbor Fe-reducers, sulfur-reducers, sulfide and H2-oxidizers, methanogens, and heterotrophs that continuously interact with the basaltic, carbonate, or ultramafic basement rocks for energy-yielding reactions. Here, we briefly review the global deep-sea hydrothermal systems, microbial diversity, and microbe–mineral interactions therein to obtain in-depth knowledge of the biogeochemistry in such a unique and geologically critical subseafloor environment.

A Lizardite-HCN Interaction Leading the Increasing of Molecular Complexity in an Alkaline Hydrothermal Scenario: Implications for Origin of Life Studies

Hydrogen cyanide, HCN, is considered a fundamental molecule in chemical evolution. The named HCN polymers have been suggested as precursors of important bioorganics. Some novel researches have focused on the role of mineral surfaces in the hydrolysis and/or polymerization of cyanide species, but until now, their role has been unclear. Understanding the role of minerals in chemical evolution processes is crucial because minerals undoubtedly interacted with the organic molecules formed on the early Earth by different process. Therefore, we simulated the probable interactions between HCN and a serpentinite-hosted alkaline hydrothermal system. We studied the effect of serpentinite during the thermolysis of HCN at basic conditions (i.e., HCN 0.15 M, 50 h, 100 °C, pH > 10). The HCN-derived thermal polymer and supernatant formed after treatment were analyzed by several complementary analytical techniques. The results obtained suggest that: (I) the mineral surfaces can act as mediators in the mechanisms of organic molecule production such as the polymerization of HCN; (II) the thermal and physicochemical properties of the HCN polymer produced are affected by the presence of the mineral surface; and (III) serpentinite seems to inhibit the formation of bioorganic molecules compared with the control (without mineral).

Pyrolysis of Carboxylic Acids in the Presence of Iron Oxides: Implications for Life Detection on Missions to Mars

The search for, and characterization of, organic matter on Mars is central to efforts in identifying habitable environments and detecting evidence of life in the martian surface and near surface. Iron oxides are ubiquitous in the martian regolith and are known to be associated with the deposition and preservation of organic matter in certain terrestrial environments, thus iron oxide-rich sediments are potential targets for life-detection missions. The most frequently used protocol for martian organic matter characterization (also planned for use on ExoMars) has been thermal extraction for the transfer of organic matter to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detectors. For the effective use of thermal extraction for martian samples, it is necessary to explore how potential biomarker organic molecules evolve during this process in the presence of iron oxides. We have thermally decomposed iron oxides simultaneously with (z)-octadec-9-enoic and n-octadecanoic acids and analyzed the products through pyrolysis-GC-MS. We found that the thermally driven dehydration, reduction, and recrystallization of iron oxides transformed fatty acids. Overall detectability of products greatly reduced, molecular diversity decreased, unsaturated products decreased, and aromatization increased. The severity of this effect increased as reduction potential of the iron oxide and inferred free radical formation increased. Of the iron oxides tested hematite showed the least transformative effects, followed by magnetite, goethite, then ferrihydrite. It was possible to identify the saturation state of the parent carboxylic acid at high (0.5 wt %) concentrations by the distribution of n-alkylbenzenes in the pyrolysis products. When selecting life-detection targets on Mars, localities where hematite is the dominant iron oxide could be targeted preferentially, otherwise thermal analysis of carboxylic acids, or similar biomarker molecules, will lead to enhanced polymerization, aromatization, and breakdown, which will in turn reduce the fidelity of the original biomarker, similar to changes normally observed during thermal maturation.

On the Evolution of the Biological Framework for Insight

The details of abiogenesis, to date, remain a matter of debate and constitute a key mystery in science and philosophy. The prevailing scientific hypothesis implies an evolutionary process of increasing complexity on Earth starting from (self-) replicating polymers. Defining the cut-off point where life begins is another moot point beyond the scope of this article. We will instead walk through the known evolutionary steps that led from these first exceptional polymers to the vast network of living biomatter that spans our world today, focusing in particular on perception, from simple biological feedback mechanisms to the complexity that allows for abstract thought. We will then project from the well-known to the unknown to gain a glimpse into what the universe aims to accomplish with living matter, just to find that if the universe had ever planned to be comprehended, evolution still has a long way to go.

The Autotrophic Core: An Ancient Network of 404 Reactions Converts H2, CO2, and NH3 into Amino Acids, Bases, and Cofactors

The metabolism of cells contains evidence reflecting the process by which they arose. Here, we have identified the ancient core of autotrophic metabolism encompassing 404 reactions that comprise the reaction network from H₂, CO₂, and ammonia (NH₃) to amino acids, nucleic acid monomers, and the 19 cofactors required for their synthesis. Water is the most common reactant in the autotrophic core, indicating that the core arose in an aqueous environment. Seventy-seven core reactions involve the hydrolysis of high-energy phosphate bonds, furthermore suggesting the presence of a non-enzymatic and highly exergonic chemical reaction capable of continuously synthesizing activated phosphate bonds. CO₂ is the most common carbon-containing compound in the core. An abundance of NADH and NADPH-dependent redox reactions in the autotrophic core, the central role of CO₂, and the circumstance that the core’s main products are far more reduced than CO₂ indicate that the core arose in a highly reducing environment. The chemical reactions of the autotrophic core suggest that it arose from H₂, inorganic carbon, and NH₃ in an aqueous environment marked by highly reducing and continuously far from equilibrium conditions. Such conditions are very similar to those found in serpentinizing hydrothermal systems.

Greenalite Nanoparticles in Alkaline Vent Plumes as Templates for the Origin of Life

Mineral templates are thought to have played keys roles in the emergence of life. Drawing on recent findings from 3.45-2.45 billion-year-old iron-rich hydrothermal sedimentary rocks, we hypothesize that greenalite (Fe3Si2O5(OH)4) was a readily available mineral in hydrothermal environments, where it may have acted as a template and catalyst in polymerization, vesicle formation and encapsulation, and protocell replication. We argue that venting of dissolved Fe2+ and SiO2(aq) into the anoxic Hadean ocean favored the precipitation of nanometer-sized particles of greenalite in hydrothermal plumes, producing a continuous flow of free-floating clay templates that traversed the ocean. The mixing of acidic, metal-bearing hydrothermal plumes from volcanic ridge systems with more alkaline, organic-bearing plumes generated by serpentinization of ultramafic rocks brought together essential building blocks for life in solutions conducive to greenalite precipitation. We suggest that the extreme disorder in the greenalite crystal lattice, producing structural modulations resembling parallel corrugations (∼22 Å wide) on particle edges, promoted the assembly and alignment of linear RNA-type molecules (∼20 Å diameter). In alkaline solutions, greenalite nanoparticles could have accelerated the growth of membrane vesicles, while their encapsulation allowed RNA-type molecules to continue to form on the mineral templates, potentially enhancing the growth and division of primitive cell membranes. Once self-replicating RNA evolved, the mineral template became redundant, and protocells were free to replicate and roam the ocean realm.

Subduction hides high-pressure sources of energy that may feed the deep subsurface biosphere

Geological sources of H₂ and abiotic CH₄ have had a critical role in the evolution of our planet and the development of life and sustainability of the deep subsurface biosphere. Yet the origins of these sources are largely unconstrained. Hydration of mantle rocks, or serpentinization, is widely recognized to produce H₂ and favour the abiotic genesis of CH₄ in shallow settings. However, deeper sources of H₂ and abiotic CH₄ are missing from current models, which mainly invoke more oxidized fluids at convergent margins. Here we combine data from exhumed subduction zone high-pressure rocks and thermodynamic modelling to show that deep serpentinization (40–80 km) generates significant amounts of H₂ and abiotic CH₄, as well as H₂S and NH₃. Our results suggest that subduction, worldwide, hosts large sources of deep H₂ and abiotic CH₄, potentially providing energy to the overlying subsurface biosphere in the forearc regions of convergent margins.

Geological sources of H₂ and abiotic CH₄ have had a critical role in the evolution of life and sustainability of the deep subsurface biosphere, yet the origins of these sources remain largely unconstrained. Here the authors show that deep serpentinization (40–80 km) during subduction generates significant amounts of H₂ and abiotic CH₄, potentially providing energy to the overlying subsurface biosphere.

The ambivalent role of water at the origins of life

Life as we know it would not exist without water. However, water molecules not only serve as a solvent and reactant but can also promote hydrolysis, which counteracts the formation of essential organic molecules. This conundrum constitutes one of the central issues in origin of life. Hydrolysis is an important part of energy metabolism for all living organisms but only because, inside cells, it is a controlled reaction. How could hydrolysis have been regulated under prebiotic settings? Lower water activities possibly provide an answer: geochemical sites with less free and more bound water can supply the necessary conditions for protometabolic reactions. Such conditions occur in serpentinising systems, hydrothermal sites that synthesise hydrogen gas via rock-water interactions. Here, we summarise the parallels between biotic and abiotic means of controlling hydrolysis in order to narrow the gap between biochemical and geochemical reactions and briefly outline how hydrolysis could even have played a constructive role at the origin of molecular self-organisation.

The oxidation of hydrocarbons by diverse heterotrophic and mixotrophic bacteria that inhabit deep-sea hydrothermal ecosystems

Hydrothermal activity can generate numerous and diverse hydrocarbon compounds. However, little is known about the influence of such hydrocarbons on deep-sea hydrothermal microbial ecology. We hypothesize that certain bacteria live on these hydrocarbons. Therefore, in this study, the distribution of hydrocarbons and their associated hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were investigated at deep-sea hydrothermal vents at the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Southwest Indian Ridge, and the East Pacific Rise. A variety of hydrocarbon-degrading consortia were obtained from hydrothermal samples collected at the aforementioned sites after low-temperature enrichment under high hydrostatic pressures, and the bacteria responsible for the degradation of hydrocarbons were investigated by DNA-based stable-isotope probing with uniformly ¹³C-labeled hydrocarbons. Unusually, we identified several previously recognized sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophs as hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, e.g., the SAR324 group, the SUP05 clade, and Sulfurimonas, and for the first time confirmed their ability to degrade hydrocarbons. In addition, Erythrobacter, Pusillimonas, and SAR202 clade were shown to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for the first time. These results together with relatively high abundance in situ of most of the above-described bacteria highlight the potential influence of hydrocarbons in configuring the vent microbial community, and have made the importance of mixotrophs in hydrothermal vent ecosystems evident.

Organic Records of Early Life on Mars: The Role of Iron, Burial, and Kinetics on Preservation

Samples that are likely to contain evidence of past life on Mars must have been deposited when and where environments exhibited habitable conditions. Mars analog sites provide the opportunity to study how life could have exploited such habitable conditions. Acidic iron- and sulfur-rich streams are good geochemical analogues for the late Noachian and early Hesperian, periods of martian history where habitable conditions were widespread. Past life on Mars would have left behind fossilized microbial organic remains. These are often-sought diagnostic evidence, but they must be shielded from the harsh radiation flux at the martian surface and its deleterious effect on organic matter. One mechanism that promotes such preservation is burial, which raises questions about how organic biomarkers are influenced by the postburial effects of diagenesis. We investigated the kinetics of organic degradation in the subsurface of Mars. Natural mixtures of acidic iron- and sulfur-rich stream sediments and their associated microbial populations and remains were subjected to hydrous pyrolysis, which simulated the increased temperatures and pressures of burial alongside any promoted organic/mineral interactions. Calculations were made to extrapolate the observed changes over martian history. Our experiments indicate that low carbon contents, high water-to-rock ratios, and the presence of iron-rich minerals combine to provide unfavorable conditions for the preservation of soluble organic matter over the billions of years necessary to produce present-day organic records of late Noachian and early Hesperian life on Mars. Successful sample selection strategies must therefore consider the pre-, syn-, and postburial histories of sedimentary records on Mars and the balance between the production of biomass and the long-term preservation of organic biomarkers over geological time.

Production of Current by Syntrophy Between Exoelectrogenic and Fermentative Hyperthermophilic Microorganisms in Heterotrophic Biofilm from a Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Chimney

To study the role of exoelectrogens within the trophic network of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, we performed successive subcultures of a hyperthermophilic community from a hydrothermal chimney sample on a mix of electron donors in a microbial fuel cell system. Electrode (the electron acceptor) was swapped every week to enable fresh development from spent media as inoculum. The MFC at 80 °C yielded maximum current production increasing from 159 to 247 mA m^-2 over the subcultures. The experiments demonstrated direct production of electric current from acetate, pyruvate, and H₂ and indirect production from yeast extract and peptone through the production of H₂ and acetate from fermentation. The microorganisms found in on-electrode communities were mainly affiliated to exoelectrogenic Archaeoglobales and Thermococcales species, whereas in liquid media, the communities were mainly affiliated to fermentative Bacillales and Thermococcales species. The work shows interactions between fermentative microorganisms degrading complex organic matter into fermentation products that are then used by exoelectrogenic microorganisms oxidizing these reduced compounds while respiring on a conductive support. The results confirmed that with carbon cycling, the syntrophic relations between fermentative microorganisms and exoelectrogens could enable some microbes to survive as biofilm in extremely unstable conditions. Graphical Abstract Schematic representation of cross-feeding between fermentative and exoelectrogenic microbes on the surface of the conductive support. B, Bacillus/Geobacillus spp.; Tc, Thermococcales; Gg, Geoglobus spp.; Py, pyruvate; Ac, acetate.

Investigating the Effect of Perchlorate on Flight-like Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry as Performed by MOMA on board the ExoMars 2020 Rover

The Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument on board ESA's ExoMars 2020 rover will be essential in the search for organic matter. MOMA applies gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques that rely on thermal volatilization. Problematically, perchlorates and chlorates in martian soils and rocks become highly reactive during heating (>200°C) and can lead to oxidation and chlorination of organic compounds, potentially rendering them unidentifiable. Here, we analyzed a synthetic sample (alkanols and alkanoic acids on silica gel) and a Silurian chert with and without Mg-perchlorate to evaluate the applicability of MOMA-like GC-MS techniques to different sample types and assess the impact of perchlorate. We used a MOMA flight analog system coupled to a commercial GC-MS to perform MOMA-like pyrolysis, in situ derivatization, and in situ thermochemolysis. We show that pyrolysis can provide a sufficient overview of the organic inventory but is strongly affected by the presence of perchlorates. In situ derivatization facilitates the identification of functionalized organics but showed low efficiency for n-alkanoic acids. Thermochemolysis is shown to be an effective technique for the identification of both refractory and functional compounds. Most importantly, this technique was barely affected by perchlorates. Therefore, MOMA GC-MS analyses of martian surface/subsurface material may be less affected by perchlorates than commonly thought, in particular when applying the full range of available MOMA GC-MS techniques.

Anaerobic methane oxidation inducing carbonate precipitation at abiogenic methane seeps in the Tuscan archipelago (Italy)

Seepage of methane (CH4) on land and in the sea may significantly affect Earth's biogeochemical cycles. However processes of CH4 generation and consumption, both abiotic and microbial, are not always clear. We provide new geochemical and isotope data to evaluate if a recently discovered CH4 seepage from the shallow seafloor close to the Island of Elba (Tuscany) and two small islands nearby are derived from abiogenic or biogenic sources and whether carbonate encrusted vents are the result of microbial or abiotic processes. Emission of gas bubbles (predominantly CH4) from unlithified sands was observed at seven spots in an area of 100 m2 at Pomonte (Island of Elba), with a total rate of 234 ml m-2 d-1. The measured carbon isotope values of CH4 of around -18‰ (VPDB) in combination with the measured δ2H value of -120‰ (VSMOW) and the inverse correlation of δ13C-value with carbon number of hydrocarbon gases are characteristic for sites of CH4 formation through abiogenic processes, specifically abiogenic formation of CH4 via reduction of CO2 by H2. The H2 for methanogenesis likely derives from ophiolitic host rock within the Ligurian accretionary prism. The lack of hydrothermal activity allows CH4 gas to become decoupled from the stagnant aqueous phase. Hence no hyperalkaline fluid is currently released at the vent sites. Within the seep area a decrease in porewater sulphate concentrations by ca. 5 mmol/l relative to seawater and a concomitant increase in sulphide and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) indicate substantial activity of sulphate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). In absence of any other dissimilatory pathway, the δ13C-values between -17 and -5‰ in dissolved inorganic carbon and aragonite cements suggest that the inorganic carbon is largely derived from CH4. The formation of seep carbonates is thus microbially induced via anaerobic oxidation of abiotic CH4.

Abiotic synthesis of amino acids in the recesses of the oceanic lithosphere

Abiotic hydrocarbons and carboxylic acids are known to be formed on Earth, notably during the hydrothermal alteration of mantle rocks. Although the abiotic formation of amino acids has been predicted both from experimental studies and thermodynamic calculations, its occurrence has not been demonstrated in terrestrial settings. Here, using a multimodal approach that combines high-resolution imaging techniques, we obtain evidence for the occurrence of aromatic amino acids formed abiotically and subsequently preserved at depth beneath the Atlantis Massif (Mid-Atlantic Ridge). These aromatic amino acids may have been formed through Friedel-Crafts reactions catalysed by an iron-rich saponite clay during a late alteration stage of the massif serpentinites. Demonstrating the potential of fluid-rock interactions in the oceanic lithosphere to generate amino acids abiotically gives credence to the hydrothermal theory for the origin of life, and may shed light on ancient metabolisms and the functioning of the present-day deep biosphere.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Degradation Pathways of the Obligate Marine PAH Degrader Cycloclasticus sp. Strain P1

Bacteria play an important role in the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from polluted environments. In marine environments, Cycloclasticus is one of the most prevalent PAH-degrading bacterial genera. However, little is known regarding the degradation mechanisms for multiple PAHs by CycloclasticusCycloclasticus sp. strain P1 was isolated from deep-sea sediments and is known to degrade naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and other aromatic hydrocarbons. Here, six ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHDs) were identified in the complete genome of Cycloclasticus sp. P1 and were confirmed to be involved in PAH degradation by enzymatic assays. Further, five gene clusters in its genome were identified to be responsible for PAH degradation. Degradation pathways for naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene were elucidated in Cycloclasticus sp. P1 based on genomic and transcriptomic analysis and characterization of an interconnected metabolic network. The metabolic pathway overlaps in many steps in the degradation of pyrene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene, which were validated by the detection of metabolic intermediates in cultures. This study describes a pyrene degradation pathway for Cycloclasticus. Moreover, the study represents the integration of a PAH metabolic network that comprises pyrene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene degradation pathways. Taken together, these results provide a comprehensive investigation of PAH metabolism in CycloclasticusIMPORTANCE PAHs are ubiquitous in the environment and are carcinogenic compounds and tend to accumulate in food chains due to their low bioavailability and poor biodegradability. Cycloclasticus is an obligate marine PAH degrader and is widespread in marine environments, while the PAH degradation pathways remain unclear. In this report, the degradation pathways for naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene were revealed, and an integrated PAH metabolic network covering pyrene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene was constructed in Cycloclasticus This overlapping network provides streamlined processing of PAHs to intermediates and ultimately to complete mineralization. Furthermore, these results provide an additional context for the prevalence of Cycloclasticus in oil-polluted marine environments and pelagic settings. In conclusion, these analyses provide a useful framework for understanding the cellular processes involved in PAH metabolism in an ecologically important marine bacterium.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Degradation Pathways of the Obligate Marine PAH Degrader Cycloclasticus sp. Strain P1

Bacteria play an important role in the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from polluted environments. In marine environments, Cycloclasticus is one of the most prevalent PAH-degrading bacterial genera. However, little is known regarding the degradation mechanisms for multiple PAHs by Cycloclasticus Cycloclasticus sp. strain P1 was isolated from deep-sea sediments and is known to degrade naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and other aromatic hydrocarbons. Here, six ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHDs) were identified in the complete genome of Cycloclasticus sp. P1 and were confirmed to be involved in PAH degradation by enzymatic assays. Further, five gene clusters in its genome were identified to be responsible for PAH degradation. Degradation pathways for naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene were elucidated in Cycloclasticus sp. P1 based on genomic and transcriptomic analysis and characterization of an interconnected metabolic network. The metabolic pathway overlaps in many steps in the degradation of pyrene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene, which were validated by the detection of metabolic intermediates in cultures. This study describes a pyrene degradation pathway for Cycloclasticus. Moreover, the study represents the integration of a PAH metabolic network that comprises pyrene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene degradation pathways. Taken together, these results provide a comprehensive investigation of PAH metabolism in Cycloclasticus IMPORTANCE PAHs are ubiquitous in the environment and are carcinogenic compounds and tend to accumulate in food chains due to their low bioavailability and poor biodegradability. Cycloclasticus is an obligate marine PAH degrader and is widespread in marine environments, while the PAH degradation pathways remain unclear. In this report, the degradation pathways for naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene were revealed, and an integrated PAH metabolic network covering pyrene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene was constructed in Cycloclasticus This overlapping network provides streamlined processing of PAHs to intermediates and ultimately to complete mineralization. Furthermore, these results provide an additional context for the prevalence of Cycloclasticus in oil-polluted marine environments and pelagic settings. In conclusion, these analyses provide a useful framework for understanding the cellular processes involved in PAH metabolism in an ecologically important marine bacterium.

Serpentinization: Connecting Geochemistry, Ancient Metabolism and Industrial Hydrogenation

Rock⁻water⁻carbon interactions germane to serpentinization in hydrothermal vents have occurred for over 4 billion years, ever since there was liquid water on Earth. Serpentinization converts iron(II) containing minerals and water to magnetite (Fe₃O₄) plus H₂. The hydrogen can generate native metals such as awaruite (Ni₃Fe), a common serpentinization product. Awaruite catalyzes the synthesis of methane from H₂ and CO₂ under hydrothermal conditions. Native iron and nickel catalyze the synthesis of formate, methanol, acetate, and pyruvate-intermediates of the acetyl-CoA pathway, the most ancient pathway of CO₂ fixation. Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) is central to the pathway and employs Ni⁰ in its catalytic mechanism. CODH has been conserved during 4 billion years of evolution as a relic of the natural CO₂-reducing catalyst at the onset of biochemistry. The carbide-containing active site of nitrogenase-the only enzyme on Earth that reduces N₂-is probably also a relic, a biological reconstruction of the naturally occurring inorganic catalyst that generated primordial organic nitrogen. Serpentinization generates Fe₃O₄ and H₂, the catalyst and reductant for industrial CO₂ hydrogenation and for N₂ reduction via the Haber⁻Bosch process. In both industrial processes, an Fe₃O₄ catalyst is matured via H₂-dependent reduction to generate Fe₅C₂ and Fe₂N respectively. Whether serpentinization entails similar catalyst maturation is not known. We suggest that at the onset of life, essential reactions leading to reduced carbon and reduced nitrogen occurred with catalysts that were synthesized during the serpentinization process, connecting the chemistry of life and Earth to industrial chemistry in unexpected ways.

Specific enrichment of hyperthermophilic electroactive Archaea from deep-sea hydrothermal vent on electrically conductive support

While more and more investigations are done to study hyperthermophilic exoelectrogenic communities from environments, none have been performed yet on deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Samples of black smoker chimney from Rainbow site on the Atlantic mid-oceanic ridge have been harvested for enriching exoelectrogens in microbial electrolysis cells under hyperthermophilic (80 °C) condition. Two enrichments were performed in a BioElectrochemical System specially designed: one from direct inoculation of crushed chimney and the other one from inoculation of a pre-cultivation on iron (III) oxide. In both experiments, a current production was observed from 2.4 A/m² to 5.8 A/m² with a set anode potential of -0.110 V vs Ag/AgCl. Taxonomic affiliation of the exoelectrogen communities obtained on the electrode exhibited a specific enrichment of Archaea belonging to Thermococcales and Archeoglobales orders, even when both inocula were dominated by Bacteria.

Deepest and hottest hydrothermal activity in the Okinawa Trough: the Yokosuka site at Yaeyama Knoll

Since the initial discovery of hydrothermal vents in 1977, these 'extreme' chemosynthetic systems have been a focus of interdisciplinary research. The Okinawa Trough (OT), located in the semi-enclosed East China Sea between the Eurasian continent and the Ryukyu arc, hosts more than 20 known vent sites but all within a relatively narrow depth range (600-1880 m). Depth is a significant factor in determining fluid temperature and chemistry, as well as biological composition. However, due to the narrow depth range of known sites, the actual influence of depth here has been poorly resolved. Here, the Yokosuka site (2190 m), the first OT vent exceeding 2000 m depth is reported. A highly active hydrothermal vent site centred around four active vent chimneys reaching 364°C in temperature, it is the hottest in the OT. Notable Cl depletion (130 mM) and both high H₂ and CH₄ concentrations (approx. 10 mM) probably result from subcritical phase separation and thermal decomposition of sedimentary organic matter. Microbiota and fauna were generally similar to other sites in the OT, although with some different characteristics. In terms of microbiota, the H₂-rich vent fluids in Neuschwanstein chimney resulted in the dominance of hydrogenotrophic chemolithoautotrophs such as Thioreductor and Desulfobacterium. For fauna, the dominance of the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus aduloides is surprising given other nearby vent sites are usually dominated by B. platifrons and/or B. japonicus, and a sponge field in the periphery dominated by Poecilosclerida is unusual for OT vents. Our insights from the Yokosuka site implies that although the distribution of animal species may be linked to depth, the constraint is perhaps not water pressure and resulting chemical properties of the vent fluid but instead physical properties of the surrounding seawater. The potential significance of these preliminary results and prospect for future research on this unique site are discussed.

Methane: Fuel or Exhaust at the Emergence of Life?

As many of the methanogens first encountered at hydrothermal vents were thermophilic to hyperthermophilic and comprised one of the lower roots of the evolutionary tree, it has been assumed that methanogenesis was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, pathway to life. It being well known that hydrothermal springs associated with serpentinization also bore abiotic methane, it had been further assumed that emergent biochemistry merely adopted and quickened this supposed serpentinization reaction. Yet, recent hydrothermal experiments simulating serpentinization have failed to generate methane so far, thus casting doubt on this assumption. The idea that the inverse view is worthy of debate, that is, that methanotrophy was the earlier, is stymied by the "fact" that methanotrophy itself has been termed "reverse methanogenesis," so allotting the methanogens the founding pedigree. Thus, attempting to suggest instead that methanogenesis might be termed reverse methanotrophy would require "unlearning"-a challenge to the subconscious! Here we re-examine the "impossibility" of methanotrophy predating methanogenesis as in what we have termed the "denitrifying methanotrophic acetogenic pathway." Advantages offered by such thinking are that methane would not only be a fuel but also a ready source of reduced carbon to combine with formate or carbon monoxide-available in hydrothermal fluids-to generate acetate, a target molecule of the first autotrophs. And the nitrate/nitrite required for the putative oxidation of methane with activated NO would also be a ready source of fixed nitrogen for amination reactions. Theoretical conditions for such a putative pathway would be met in a hydrothermal green rust-bearing exhalative pile and associated chimneys subject to proton and electron counter gradients. This hypothesis could be put to test in a high-pressure hydrothermal reaction chamber in which a cool carbonate/nitrate/nitrite-bearing early acidulous ocean simulant is juxtaposed across a precipitate membrane to an alkaline solution of hydrogen and methane. Key Words: Green rust-Methanotrophy-Nitrate reduction-Emergence of life. Astrobiology 17, 1053-1066.

Habitability on Early Mars and the Search for Biosignatures with the ExoMars Rover

The second ExoMars mission will be launched in 2020 to target an ancient location interpreted to have strong potential for past habitability and for preserving physical and chemical biosignatures (as well as abiotic/prebiotic organics). The mission will deliver a lander with instruments for atmospheric and geophysical investigations and a rover tasked with searching for signs of extinct life. The ExoMars rover will be equipped with a drill to collect material from outcrops and at depth down to 2 m. This subsurface sampling capability will provide the best chance yet to gain access to chemical biosignatures. Using the powerful Pasteur payload instruments, the ExoMars science team will conduct a holistic search for traces of life and seek corroborating geological context information. Key Words: Biosignatures-ExoMars-Landing sites-Mars rover-Search for life. Astrobiology 17, 471-510.

Massive production of abiotic methane during subduction evidenced in metamorphosed ophicarbonates from the Italian Alps

Alteration of ultramafic rocks plays a major role in the production of hydrocarbons and organic compounds via abiotic processes on Earth and beyond and contributes to the redistribution of C between solid and fluid reservoirs over geological cycles. Abiotic methanogenesis in ultramafic rocks is well documented at shallow conditions, whereas natural evidence at greater depths is scarce. Here we provide evidence for intense high-pressure abiotic methanogenesis by reduction of subducted ophicarbonates. Protracted (≥0.5–1 Ma), probably episodic infiltration of reduced fluids in the ophicarbonates and methanogenesis occurred from at least ∼40 km depth to ∼15–20 km depth. Textural, petrological and isotopic data indicate that methane reached saturation triggering the precipitation of graphitic C accompanied by dissolution of the precursor antigorite. Continuous infiltration of external reducing fluids caused additional methane production by interaction with the newly formed graphite. Alteration of high-pressure carbonate-bearing ultramafic rocks may represent an important source of abiotic methane, with strong implications for the mobility of deep C reservoirs.

Alteration of ultramafic rocks plays a role in hydrocarbon production, but little is known about this process at depth. Here, the authors provide evidence that alteration of carbonated ultramafic rocks at high-pressures are an important source of abiotic methanogenesis with implications for deep C mobility.

Membranes and the Origin of Life: A Century of Conjecture

Cells are the units of all life today, and are defined by their membranous boundaries. The membranes have multiple functions; the most obvious being that, in the absence of a boundary, the systems of functional macromolecular components of the cytosol would spill into the environment and disperse. Membranes also contain the pigments essential for photosynthesis, electron transport enzymes that pump and maintain proton gradients, the ATP synthase that uses proton gradients to produce energy for the cell, and enzymes that use ATP to maintain ion gradients essential for life. But what about the function of membranes in the first forms of cellular life? Could life have begun in the absence of membranous boundaries? In order to answer that question, this review presents a history of the key research observations that began over a century ago.

Biosignatures on Mars: What, Where, and How? Implications for the Search for Martian Life

The search for traces of life is one of the principal objectives of Mars exploration. Central to this objective is the concept of habitability, the set of conditions that allows the appearance of life and successful establishment of microorganisms in any one location. While environmental conditions may have been conducive to the appearance of life early in martian history, habitable conditions were always heterogeneous on a spatial scale and in a geological time frame. This "punctuated" scenario of habitability would have had important consequences for the evolution of martian life, as well as for the presence and preservation of traces of life at a specific landing site. We hypothesize that, given the lack of long-term, continuous habitability, if martian life developed, it was (and may still be) chemotrophic and anaerobic. Obtaining nutrition from the same kinds of sources as early terrestrial chemotrophic life and living in the same kinds of environments, the fossilized traces of the latter serve as useful proxies for understanding the potential distribution of martian chemotrophs and their fossilized traces. Thus, comparison with analog, anaerobic, volcanic terrestrial environments (Early Archean >3.5-3.33 Ga) shows that the fossil remains of chemotrophs in such environments were common, although sparsely distributed, except in the vicinity of hydrothermal activity where nutrients were readily available. Moreover, the traces of these kinds of microorganisms can be well preserved, provided that they are rapidly mineralized and that the sediments in which they occur are rapidly cemented. We evaluate the biogenicity of these signatures by comparing them to possible abiotic features. Finally, we discuss the implications of different scenarios for life on Mars for detection by in situ exploration, ranging from its non-appearance, through preserved traces of life, to the presence of living microorganisms.

KEY WORDS

Mars-Early Earth-Anaerobic chemotrophs-Biosignatures-Astrobiology missions to Mars.