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Newmark J, Kounaves SP. Permeation of photochemically-generated gaseous chlorine dioxide on Mars as a significant factor in destroying subsurface organic compounds. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7682. [PMID: 38561442 PMCID: PMC10985076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57968-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been shown that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is responsible for the destruction of organic compounds on the surface of Mars. When combined with the photochemically-driven production of oxychlorines (ClOx) it can generate highly reactive species that can alter or destroy organic compounds. However, it has been assumed that since UV only penetrates the top few millimeters of the martian regolith, reactive ClOx oxidants are only produced on the surface. Of all the oxychlorine intermediates produced, gaseous chlorine dioxide [ClO2(g)] is of particular interest, being a highly reactive gas with the ability to oxidize organic compounds. Here we report on a set of experiments under Mars ambient conditions showing the production and permeation of ClO2(g) and its reaction with alanine as a test compound. Contrary to the accepted paradigm that UV irradiation on Mars only interacts with a thin layer of surface regolith, our results show that photochemically-generated ClO2(g) can permeate below the surface, depositing ClOx species (mainly Cl- and ClO 3 - ) and destroying organic compounds. With varying levels of humidity and abundant chloride and oxychlorines on Mars, our findings show that permeation of ClO2(g) must be considered as a significant contributing factor in altering, fragmenting, or potentially destroying buried organic compounds on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Newmark
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
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2
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Garvin ZK, Abades SR, Trefault N, Alfaro FD, Sipes K, Lloyd KG, Onstott TC. Prevalence of trace gas-oxidizing soil bacteria increases with radial distance from Polloquere hot spring within a high-elevation Andean cold desert. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae062. [PMID: 38625060 PMCID: PMC11094475 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
High-elevation arid regions harbor microbial communities reliant on metabolic niches and flexibility to survive under biologically stressful conditions, including nutrient limitation that necessitates the utilization of atmospheric trace gases as electron donors. Geothermal springs present "oases" of microbial activity, diversity, and abundance by delivering water and substrates, including reduced gases. However, it is unknown whether these springs exhibit a gradient of effects, increasing their impact on trace gas-oxidizers in the surrounding soils. We assessed whether proximity to Polloquere, a high-altitude geothermal spring in an Andean salt flat, alters the diversity and metabolic structure of nearby soil bacterial populations compared to the surrounding cold desert. Recovered DNA and metagenomic analyses indicate that the spring represents an oasis for microbes in this challenging environment, supporting greater biomass with more diverse metabolic functions in proximal soils that declines sharply with radial distance from the spring. Despite the sharp decrease in biomass, potential rates of atmospheric hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) uptake increase away from the spring. Kinetic estimates suggest this activity is due to high-affinity trace gas consumption, likely as a survival strategy for energy/carbon acquisition. These results demonstrate that Polloquere regulates a gradient of diverse microbial communities and metabolisms, culminating in increased activity of trace gas-oxidizers as the influence of the spring yields to that of the regional salt flat environment. This suggests the spring holds local importance within the context of the broader salt flat and potentially represents a model ecosystem for other geothermal systems in high-altitude desert environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary K Garvin
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Sebastián R Abades
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicole Trefault
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernando D Alfaro
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Katie Sipes
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Karen G Lloyd
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Tullis C Onstott
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
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3
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Chen C, Yi R, Igisu M, Sakaguchi C, Afrin R, Potiszil C, Kunihiro T, Kobayashi K, Nakamura E, Ueno Y, Antunes A, Wang A, Chandru K, Hao J, Jia TZ. Spectroscopic and Biophysical Methods to Determine Differential Salt-Uptake by Primitive Membraneless Polyester Microdroplets. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300119. [PMID: 37203261 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
α-Hydroxy acids are prebiotic monomers that undergo dehydration synthesis to form polyester gels, which assemble into membraneless microdroplets upon aqueous rehydration. These microdroplets are proposed as protocells that can segregate and compartmentalize primitive molecules/reactions. Different primitive aqueous environments with a variety of salts could have hosted chemistries that formed polyester microdroplets. These salts could be essential cofactors of compartmentalized prebiotic reactions or even directly affect protocell structure. However, fully understanding polyester-salt interactions remains elusive, partially due to technical challenges of quantitative measurements in condensed phases. Here, spectroscopic and biophysical methods are applied to analyze salt uptake by polyester microdroplets. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is applied to measure the cation concentration within polyester microdroplets after addition of chloride salts. Combined with methods to determine the effects of salt uptake on droplet turbidity, size, surface potential and internal water distribution, it was observed that polyester microdroplets can selectively partition salt cations, leading to differential microdroplet coalescence due to ionic screening effects reducing electrostatic repulsion forces between microdroplets. Through applying existing techniques to novel analyses related to primitive compartment chemistry and biophysics, this study suggests that even minor differences in analyte uptake can lead to significant protocellular structural change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - Ruiqin Yi
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - Motoko Igisu
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Chie Sakaguchi
- The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, 682-0193, Japan
| | - Rehana Afrin
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - Christian Potiszil
- The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, 682-0193, Japan
| | - Tak Kunihiro
- The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, 682-0193, Japan
| | - Katsura Kobayashi
- The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, 682-0193, Japan
| | - Eizo Nakamura
- The Pheasant Memorial Laboratory for Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Misasa, Tottori, 682-0193, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Ueno
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8551, Japan
| | - André Antunes
- State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), Taipa, Macau, SAR, China
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - Anna Wang
- School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Synthetic Biology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Kuhan Chandru
- Space Science Center (ANGKASA), Institute of Climate Change, National University of Malaysia, Selangor, 43650, Malaysia
| | - Jihua Hao
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
- Deep Space Exploration Laboratory/CAS Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Tony Z Jia
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
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4
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Liu W, Wu Z, Chen W, Jin G, Zhang W, Lv X, Yu P, Zhao H. A potential application for life-related organics detection on Mars by diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13560. [PMID: 36846659 PMCID: PMC9946848 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Life information searching is a hot point for Mars exploration. Ancient Mars was very likely to reach a habitable environment, and there was a real possibility of arising life on Mars. However, the current Mars has a harsh environment. Under such conditions, life materials on Mars are supposed to have taken the form of relatively primitive microbial or organic residues, which might be preserved in some mineral matrices. Detection of these remnants is of great significance for understanding the origin and evolution of life on Mars. The best detection method is in-situ detection or sample return. Herein, diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to detect characteristic spectra and the limit of detection (LOD) of potential representative organic compounds with associated minerals. In view of high oxidation due to the electrostatic discharge (ESD) during dust actives on Martian surface. The degradation of organic matter by ESD process was studied under simulated Mars conditions. Our results show that the spectral characteristics of organic matter are significantly different from that of associated minerals. The different organic samples have different mass loss and color change after ESD reaction. And the signal intensity of infrared diffuse reflection spectrum can also reflect the changes of organic molecules after ESD reaction. Our results indicated that the degradation products of organics rather than organic itself are most likely to be founded on current Martian surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Liu
- School of Space Science and Physics, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Research Center for Biological Adaptability in Space Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Zhongchen Wu
- School of Space Science and Physics, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Research Center for Biological Adaptability in Space Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Corresponding author. School of Space Science and Physics, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China.
| | - Wenxi Chen
- School of Space Science and Physics, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Research Center for Biological Adaptability in Space Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Guobin Jin
- School of Space Science and Physics, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Research Center for Biological Adaptability in Space Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Research Center for Biological Adaptability in Space Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Xinfang Lv
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Research Center for Biological Adaptability in Space Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Pei Yu
- SDU-ANU Joint Science College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Research Center for Biological Adaptability in Space Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Hong Zhao
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China,Research Center for Biological Adaptability in Space Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
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5
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Enya K, Yamagishi A, Kobayashi K, Yoshimura Y. Comparative study of methods for detecting extraterrestrial life in exploration mission of Mars and the solar system. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2022; 34:53-67. [PMID: 35940690 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The detection and analysis of extraterrestrial life are important issues of space science. Mars is among the most important planets to explore for extraterrestrial life, owing both to its physical properties and to its ancient and present environments as revealed by previous exploration missions. In this paper, we present a comparative study of methods for detecting extraterrestrial life and life-related substances. To this end, we have classified and summarized the characteristics targeted for the detection of extraterrestrial life in solar system exploration mission and the methods used to evaluate them. A summary table is presented. We conclude that at this moment (i) there is no realistic single detection method capable of concluding the discovery of extraterrestrial life, (ii) no single method has an advantage over the others in all respects, and (iii) there is no single method capable of distinguishing extraterrestrial life from terrestrial life. Therefore, a combination of complementary methods is essential. We emphasize the importance of endeavoring to detect extraterrestrial life without overlooking possible alien life forms, even at the cost of tolerating false positives. Summaries of both the targets and the detection methods should be updated continuously, and comparative studies of both should be pursued. Although this study assumes Mars to be a model site for the primary environment for life searches, both the targets and detection methods described herein will also be useful for searching for extraterrestrial life in any celestial environment and for the initial inspection of returned samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keigo Enya
- Institute of Space & Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuou, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan.
| | - Akihiko Yamagishi
- School of Life Science, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Kensei Kobayashi
- Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Yoshimura
- Department of Life Science, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
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6
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Royle SH, Salter TL, Watson JS, Sephton MA. Mineral Matrix Effects on Pyrolysis Products of Kerogens Infer Difficulties in Determining Biological Provenance of Macromolecular Organic Matter at Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:520-540. [PMID: 35171040 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ancient martian organic matter is likely to take the form of kerogen-like recalcitrant macromolecular organic matter (MOM), existing in close association with reactive mineral surfaces, especially iron oxides. Detecting and identifying a biological origin for martian MOM will therefore be of utmost importance for life-detection efforts at Mars. We show that Type I and Type IV kerogens provide effective analogues for putative martian MOM of biological and abiological (meteoric) provenances, respectively. We analyze the pyrolytic breakdown products when these kerogens are mixed with mineral matrices highly relevant for the search for life on Mars. We demonstrate that, using traditional thermal techniques as generally used by the Sample Analysis at Mars and Mars Organic Molecule Analyser instruments, even the breakdown products of highly recalcitrant MOM are transformed during analysis in the presence of reactive mineral surfaces, particularly iron. Analytical transformation reduces the diagnostic ability of this technique, as detected transformation products of both biological and abiological MOM may be identical (low molecular weight gas phases and benzene) and indistinguishable. The severity of transformational effects increased through calcite < kaolinite < hematite < nontronite < magnetite < goethite. Due to their representation of various habitable aqueous environments and the preservation potential of organic matter by iron, it is not advisable to completely avoid iron-rich strata. We conclude that hematite-rich localities, with evidence of extensive aqueous alteration of originally reducing phases, such as the Vera Rubin Ridge, may be relatively promising targets for identifying martian biologically sourced MOM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel H Royle
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tara L Salter
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jonathan S Watson
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mark A Sephton
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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7
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Royle SH, Watson JS, Sephton MA. Transformation of Cyanobacterial Biomolecules by Iron Oxides During Flash Pyrolysis: Implications for Mars Life-Detection Missions. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:1363-1386. [PMID: 34402652 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2428] [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: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Answering the question of whether life ever existed on Mars is a key goal of both NASA's and ESA's imminent Mars rover missions. The obfuscatory effects of oxidizing salts, such as perchlorates and sulfates, on organic matter during thermal decomposition analysis techniques are well established. Less well studied are the transformative effects of iron oxides and (oxy)hydroxides, which are present in great abundances in the martian regolith. We examined the products of flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (a technique analogous to the thermal techniques employed by past, current, and future landed Mars missions) which form when the cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis are heated in the presence of a variety of Mars-relevant iron-bearing minerals. We found that iron oxides/(oxy)hydroxides have transformative effects on the pyrolytic products of cyanobacterial biomolecules. Both the abundance and variety of molecular species detected were decreased as iron substrates transformed biomolecules, by both oxidative and reductive processes, into lower fidelity alkanes, aromatic and aryl-bonded hydrocarbons. Despite the loss of fidelity, a suite that contains mid-length alkanes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and/or aryl-bonded molecules in iron-rich samples subjected to pyrolysis may allude to the transformation of cyanobacterially derived mid-long chain length fatty acids (particularly unsaturated fatty acids) originally present in the sample. Hematite was found to be the iron oxide with the lowest transformation potential, and because this iron oxide has a high affinity for codeposition of organic matter and preservation over geological timescales, sampling at Mars should target sediments/strata that have undergone a diagenetic history encouraging the dehydration, dihydroxylation, and oxidation of more reactive iron-bearing phases to hematite by looking for (mineralogical) evidence of the activity of oxidizing, acidic/neutral, and either hot or long-lived fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel H Royle
- Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan S Watson
- Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Sephton
- Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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8
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Pehr K, Bisquera R, Bishop AN, Ossa Ossa F, Meredith W, Bekker A, Love GD. Preservation and Distributions of Covalently Bound Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons in Ancient Biogenic Kerogens and Insoluble Organic Macromolecules. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:1049-1075. [PMID: 34030461 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2338] [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 likelihood of finding pristine molecular biosignatures preserved in Earth's oldest rocks or on other planetary bodies is low, and new approaches are needed to assess the origins of highly altered and recalcitrant organic matter. In this study, we aim to understand the distributions and systematics of preservation of ancient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as both free hydrocarbons and bound within insoluble macromolecules. We report the distributions of bound PAHs generated by catalytic hydropyrolysis from ancient biogenic kerogens and from insoluble organic matter (IOM) in high-temperature carbonaceous residues from pyrobitumens and synthetic coke. For biogenic kerogens, the degree of thermal maturity exerts the primary control on the preservation and distributions of the major five-ring and six-ring PAH compounds. This holds for both Precambrian and Phanerozoic rocks, thus source variation in primary biogenic organic matter inputs does not exert the major control on bound PAH. The IOM samples, predominantly residues from hydrocarbon cracking at high temperatures, preserve a bound PAH profile significantly distinct from ancient biogenic kerogens and characterized by an absence of perylene and higher abundance of large-ring condensed PAHs. Covalently bound PAH profiles offer promise as "last resort" molecular biosignatures for aiding the astrobiological search for ancient life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelden Pehr
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Rose Bisquera
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | | | - Frantz Ossa Ossa
- Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - William Meredith
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrey Bekker
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Gordon D Love
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
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9
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Royle SH, Tan JSW, Watson JS, Sephton MA. Pyrolysis of Carboxylic Acids in the Presence of Iron Oxides: Implications for Life Detection on Missions to Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:673-691. [PMID: 33635150 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel H Royle
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan S W Tan
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan S Watson
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Sephton
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Abrahamsson V, Henderson BL, Herman J, Zhong F, Lin Y, Kanik I, Nixon CA. Extraction and Separation of Chiral Amino Acids for Life Detection on Ocean Worlds Without Using Organic Solvents or Derivatization. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:575-586. [PMID: 33533680 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2298] [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
In situ instrumentation that can detect amino acids at parts-per-billion concentration levels and distinguish an enantiomeric excess of either d- or l-amino acids is vital for future robotic life-detection missions to promising targets in our solar system. In this article, a novel chiral amino acid analysis method is described, which reduces the risk of organic contamination and spurious signals from by-products by avoiding organic solvents and organic additives. Online solid-phase extraction, chiral liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry were used for automated analysis of amino acids from solid and aqueous environmental samples. Carbonated water (pH ∼3, ∼5 wt % CO2 achieved at 6 MPa) was used as the extraction solvent for solid samples at 150°C and as the mobile phase at ambient temperature for chiral chromatographic separation. Of 18 enantiomeric amino acids, 5 enantiomeric pairs were separated with a chromatographic resolution >1.5 and 12 pairs with a resolution >0.7. The median lower limit of detection of amino acids was 2.5 μg/L, with the lowest experimentally verified as low as 0.25 μg/L. Samples from a geyser site (Great Fountain Geyser) and a geothermal spring site (Lemon Spring) in Yellowstone National Park were analyzed to demonstrate the viability of the method for future in situ missions to Ocean Worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Abrahamsson
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Bryana L Henderson
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Julia Herman
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Fang Zhong
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Ying Lin
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Isik Kanik
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Icy Worlds, NASA Astrobiology Institute, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Conor A Nixon
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
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11
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A Review of Sample Analysis at Mars-Evolved Gas Analysis Laboratory Analog Work Supporting the Presence of Perchlorates and Chlorates in Gale Crater, Mars. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11050475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on the Curiosity rover has detected evidence of oxychlorine compounds (i.e., perchlorates and chlorates) in Gale crater, which has implications for past habitability, diagenesis, aqueous processes, interpretation of in situ organic analyses, understanding the martian chlorine cycle, and hazards and resources for future human exploration. Pure oxychlorines and mixtures of oxychlorines with Mars-analog phases have been analyzed for their oxygen (O2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) releases on SAM laboratory analog instruments in order to constrain which phases are present in Gale crater. These studies demonstrated that oxychlorines evolve O2 releases with peaks between ~200 and 600 °C, although the thermal decomposition temperatures and the amount of evolved O2 decrease when iron phases are present in the sample. Mg and Fe oxychlorines decompose into oxides and release HCl between ~200 and 542 °C. Ca, Na, and K oxychlorines thermally decompose into chlorides and do not evolve HCl by themselves. However, the chlorides (original or from oxychlorine decomposition) can react with water-evolving phases (e.g., phyllosilicates) in the sample and evolve HCl within the temperature range of SAM (<~870 °C). These laboratory analog studies support that the SAM detection of oxychlorine phases is consistent with the presence of Mg, Ca, Na, and K perchlorate and/or chlorate along with possible contributions from adsorbed oxychlorines in Gale crater samples.
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He Y, Buch A, Szopa C, Williams AJ, Millan M, Malespin CA, Glavin DP, Freissinet C, Eigenbrode JL, Teinturier S, Coscia D, Bonnet JY, Stern JC, Stalport F, Guzman M, Chaouche-Mechidal N, Lu P, Navarro-Gonzalez R, Butin V, El Bekri J, Cottin H, Johnson S, Cabane M, Mahaffy PR. Influence of Calcium Perchlorate on the Search for Organics on Mars with Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide Thermochemolysis. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:279-297. [PMID: 33306917 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2252] [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) and Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instruments onboard the Exomars 2022 and Mars Science Laboratory rovers, respectively, are capable of organic matter detection and differentiating potentially biogenic from abiotic organics in martian samples. To identify organics, both these instruments utilize pyrolysis-gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and the thermochemolysis agent tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) is also used to increase organic volatility. However, the reactivity and efficiency of TMAH thermochemolysis are affected by the presence of calcium perchlorate on the martian surface. In this study, we determined the products of TMAH pyrolysis in the presence and absence of calcium perchlorate at different heating rates (flash pyrolysis and SAM-like ramp pyrolysis with a 35°C·min-1 heating rate). The decomposition mechanism of TMAH pyrolysis in the presence of calcium perchlorate was studied by using stepped pyrolysis. Moreover, the effect of calcium perchlorate (at Mars-relevant concentrations) on the recovery rate of fatty acids with TMAH thermochemolysis was studied. Results demonstrate that flash pyrolysis yields more diversity and greater abundances of TMAH thermochemolysis products than does the SAM-like ramp pyrolysis method. There is no obvious effect of calcium perchlorate on TMAH degradation when the [ClO4-] is lower than 10 weight percent (wt %). Most importantly, the presence of calcium perchlorate does not significantly impact the recovery rate of fatty acids with TMAH thermochemolysis under laboratory conditions, which is promising for the detection of fatty acids via TMAH thermochemolysis with the SAM and MOMA instruments on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan He
- Laboratoire Génie des Procédés et Matériaux (LGPM), CentraleSupélec, University Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Arnaud Buch
- Laboratoire Génie des Procédés et Matériaux (LGPM), CentraleSupélec, University Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Cyril Szopa
- LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Guyancourt, France
| | - Amy J Williams
- Space Science Exploration Division (Code 690), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Maëva Millan
- Space Science Exploration Division (Code 690), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Charles A Malespin
- Space Science Exploration Division (Code 690), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel P Glavin
- Space Science Exploration Division (Code 690), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Caroline Freissinet
- LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Guyancourt, France
| | - Jennifer L Eigenbrode
- Space Science Exploration Division (Code 690), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Samuel Teinturier
- Space Science Exploration Division (Code 690), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - David Coscia
- LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Guyancourt, France
| | - Jean-Yves Bonnet
- LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Guyancourt, France
- Telespazio France, Toulouse, France
| | - Jennifer C Stern
- Space Science Exploration Division (Code 690), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Fabien Stalport
- Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA), UMR CNRS 7583, Université Paris Est Créteil et Université de Paris, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Créteil, France
| | - Melissa Guzman
- LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Guyancourt, France
| | - Naila Chaouche-Mechidal
- Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA), UMR CNRS 7583, Université Paris Est Créteil et Université de Paris, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Créteil, France
| | - Pin Lu
- LGPM, CentraleSupélec, SFR Condorcet FR CNRS 3417, Centre Européen de Biotechnologie et de Bioéconomie (CEBB), Université Paris-Saclay, Pomacle, France
| | - Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez
- Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Vincent Butin
- Laboratoire Génie des Procédés et Matériaux (LGPM), CentraleSupélec, University Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jamila El Bekri
- Laboratoire Génie des Procédés et Matériaux (LGPM), CentraleSupélec, University Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hervé Cottin
- Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA), UMR CNRS 7583, Université Paris Est Créteil et Université de Paris, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Créteil, France
| | - Sarah Johnson
- Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Michel Cabane
- LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Guyancourt, France
| | - Paul R Mahaffy
- Space Science Exploration Division (Code 690), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
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Tan JS, Royle SH, Sephton MA. Artificial Maturation of Iron- and Sulfur-Rich Mars Analogues: Implications for the Diagenetic Stability of Biopolymers and Their Detection with Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:199-218. [PMID: 33226839 PMCID: PMC7876361 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2019.2211] [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: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Acidic iron- and sulfur-rich streams are appropriate analogues for the late Noachian and early Hesperian periods of martian history, when Mars exhibited extensive habitable environments. Any past life on Mars may have left behind diagnostic evidence of life that could be detected at the present day. For effective preservation, these remains must have avoided the harsh radiation flux at the martian surface, survived geological storage for billions of years, and remained detectable within their geochemical environment by analytical instrument suites used on Mars today, such as thermal extraction techniques. We investigated the detectability of organic matter within sulfur stream sediments that had been subjected to artificial maturation by hydrous pyrolysis. After maturation, the samples were analyzed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (py-GC-MS) to determine whether organic matter could be detected with this commonly used technique. We find that macromolecular organic matter can survive the artificial maturation process in the presence of iron- and sulfur-rich minerals but cannot be unambiguously distinguished from abiotic organic matter. However, if jarosite and goethite are present in the sulfur stream environment, they interfere with the py-GC-MS detection of organic compounds in these samples. Clay reduces the obfuscating effect of the oxidizing minerals by providing nondeleterious adsorption sites. We also find that after a simple alkali and acid leaching process that removes oxidizing minerals such as iron sulfates, oxides, and oxyhydroxides, the sulfur stream samples exhibit much greater organic responses during py-GC-MS in terms of both abundance and diversity of organic compounds, such as the detection of hopanes in all leached samples. Our results suggest that insoluble organic matter can be preserved over billions of years of geological storage while still retaining diagnostic organic information, but sample selection strategies must either avoid jarosite- and goethite-rich outcrops or conduct preparative chemistry steps to remove these oxidants prior to analysis by thermal extraction techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S.W. Tan
- Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Samuel H. Royle
- Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mark A. Sephton
- Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Fairén AG, Gómez-Elvira J, Briones C, Prieto-Ballesteros O, Rodríguez-Manfredi JA, López Heredero R, Belenguer T, Moral AG, Moreno-Paz M, Parro V. The Complex Molecules Detector (CMOLD): A Fluidic-Based Instrument Suite to Search for (Bio)chemical Complexity on Mars and Icy Moons. ASTROBIOLOGY 2020; 20:1076-1096. [PMID: 32856927 PMCID: PMC7116096 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2019.2167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Organic chemistry is ubiquitous in the Solar System, and both Mars and a number of icy satellites of the outer Solar System show substantial promise for having hosted or hosting life. Here, we propose a novel astrobiologically focused instrument suite that could be included as scientific payload in future missions to Mars or the icy moons: the Complex Molecules Detector, or CMOLD. CMOLD is devoted to determining different levels of prebiotic/biotic chemical and structural targets following a chemically general approach (i.e., valid for both terrestrial and nonterrestrial life), as well as their compatibility with terrestrial life. CMOLD is based on a microfluidic block that distributes a liquid suspension sample to three instruments by using complementary technologies: (1) novel microscopic techniques for identifying ultrastructures and cell-like morphologies, (2) Raman spectroscopy for detecting universal intramolecular complexity that leads to biochemical functionality, and (3) bioaffinity-based systems (including antibodies and aptamers as capture probes) for finding life-related and nonlife-related molecular structures. We highlight our current developments to make this type of instruments flight-ready for upcoming Mars missions: the Raman spectrometer included in the science payload of the ESAs Rosalind Franklin rover (Raman Laser Spectrometer instrument) to be launched in 2022, and the biomarker detector that was included as payload in the NASA Icebreaker lander mission proposal (SOLID instrument). CMOLD is a robust solution that builds on the combination of three complementary, existing techniques to cover a wide spectrum of targets in the search for (bio)chemical complexity in the Solar System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto G. Fairén
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca New York, USA
| | - Javier Gómez-Elvira
- Payload & Space Science Department, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Raquel López Heredero
- Payload & Space Science Department, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Tomás Belenguer
- Payload & Space Science Department, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Andoni G. Moral
- Payload & Space Science Department, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Víctor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
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Ligterink NFW, Grimaudo V, Moreno-García P, Lukmanov R, Tulej M, Leya I, Lindner R, Wurz P, Cockell CS, Ehrenfreund P, Riedo A. ORIGIN: a novel and compact Laser Desorption - Mass Spectrometry system for sensitive in situ detection of amino acids on extraterrestrial surfaces. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9641. [PMID: 32541786 PMCID: PMC7296031 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66240-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
For the last four decades space exploration missions have searched for molecular life on planetary surfaces beyond Earth. Often pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry has been used as payload on such space exploration missions. These instruments have relatively low detection sensitivity and their measurements are often undermined by the presence of chloride salts and minerals. Currently, ocean worlds in the outer Solar System, such as the icy moons Europa and Enceladus, represent potentially habitable environments and are therefore prime targets for the search for biosignatures. For future space exploration missions, novel measurement concepts, capable of detecting low concentrations of biomolecules with significantly improved sensitivity and specificity are required. Here we report on a novel analytical technique for the detection of extremely low concentrations of amino acids using ORIGIN, a compact and lightweight laser desorption ionization - mass spectrometer designed and developed for in situ space exploration missions. The identified unique mass fragmentation patterns of amino acids coupled to a multi-position laser scan, allows for a robust identification and quantification of amino acids. With a detection limit of a few fmol mm-2, and the possibility for sub-fmol detection sensitivity, this measurement technique excels current space exploration systems by three orders of magnitude. Moreover, our detection method is not affected by chemical alterations through surface minerals and/or salts, such as NaCl that is expected to be present at the percent level on ocean worlds. Our results demonstrate that ORIGIN is a promising instrument for the detection of signatures of life and ready for upcoming space missions, such as the Europa Lander.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valentine Grimaudo
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pavel Moreno-García
- Interfacial Electrochemistry Group, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rustam Lukmanov
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marek Tulej
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ingo Leya
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert Lindner
- Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Section, European Space Agency, ESTEC, Bern, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Wurz
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Charles S Cockell
- School of Physics and Astronomy, UK Centre for Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Pascale Ehrenfreund
- Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, 20052, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andreas Riedo
- Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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The search for organic compounds with TMAH thermochemolysis: From Earth analyses to space exploration experiments. Trends Analyt Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.115896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Abstract
The question whether organic compounds occur on Mars remained unanswered for decades. However, the recent discovery of various classes of organic matter in martian sediments by the Curiosity rover seems to strongly suggest that indigenous organic compounds exist on Mars. One intriguing group of detected organic compounds were thiophenes, which typically occur on Earth in kerogen, coal, and crude oil as well as in stromatolites and microfossils. Here we provide a brief synopsis of conceivable pathways for the generation and degradation of thiophenes on Mars. We show that the origin of thiophene derivatives can either be biotic or abiotic, for example, through sulfur incorporation in organic matter during early diagenesis. The potential of thiophenes to represent martian biomarkers is discussed as well as a correlation between abundances of thiophenes and sulfate-bearing minerals. Finally, this study provides suggestions for future investigations on Mars and in Earth-based laboratories to answer the question whether the martian thiophenes are of biological origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Heinz
- Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (ZAA), Astrobiology Research Group, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (ZAA), Astrobiology Research Group, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Section Geomicrobiology, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Stechlin, Germany
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Flores N, Hoyos S, Venegas M, Galetović A, Zúñiga LM, Fábrega F, Paredes B, Salazar-Ardiles C, Vilo C, Ascaso C, Wierzchos J, Souza-Egipsy V, Araya JE, Batista-García RA, Gómez-Silva B. Haloterrigena sp. Strain SGH1, a Bacterioruberin-Rich, Perchlorate-Tolerant Halophilic Archaeon Isolated From Halite Microbial Communities, Atacama Desert, Chile. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:324. [PMID: 32194531 PMCID: PMC7066086 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
An extreme halophilic archaeon, strain SGH1, is a novel microorganism isolated from endolithic microbial communities colonizing halites at Salar Grande, Atacama Desert, in northern Chile. Our study provides structural, biochemical, genomic, and physiological information on this new isolate living at the edge of the physical and chemical extremes at the Atacama Desert. SGH1 is a Gram-negative, red-pigmented, non-motile unicellular coccoid organism. Under the transmission electron microscope, strain SGH1 showed an abundant electro-dense material surrounding electron-lucent globular structures resembling gas vacuoles. Strain SGH1 showed a 16S rRNA gene sequence with a close phylogenetic relationship to the extreme halophilic archaea Haloterrigena turkmenica and Haloterrigena salina and has been denominated Haloterrigena sp. strain SGH1. Strain SGH1 grew at 20-40°C (optimum 37°C), at salinities between 15 and 30% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 25%) and growth was improved by addition of 50 mM KCl and 0.5% w/v casamino acids. Growth was severely restricted at salinities below 15% NaCl and cell lysis is avoided at a minimal 10% NaCl. Maximal concentrations of magnesium chloride and sodium or magnesium perchlorates that supported SGH1 growth were 0.5 and 0.15M, respectively. Haloterrigena sp. strain SGH1 accumulates bacterioruberin (BR), a C50 xanthophyll, as the major carotenoid. Total carotenoids in strain SGH1 amounted to nearly 400 μg BR per gram of dry biomass. Nearly 80% of total carotenoids accumulated as geometric isomers of BR: all-trans-BR (50%), 5-cis-BR (15%), 9-cis-BR (10%), 13-cis-BR (4%); other carotenoids were dehydrated derivatives of BR. Carotenogenesis in SGH1 was a reversible and salt-dependent process; transferring BR-rich cells grown in 25% (w/v) NaCl to 15% (w/v) NaCl medium resulted in depigmentation, and BR content was recovered after transference and growth of unpigmented cells to high salinity medium. Methanol extracts and purified BR isomers showed an 8-9-fold higher antioxidant activity than Trolox or β-carotene. Both, plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential measurements under acute 18-h assays showed that purified BR isomers were non-toxic to cultured human THP-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Flores
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Sebastián Hoyos
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Mauricio Venegas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Alexandra Galetović
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Lidia M. Zúñiga
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Francisca Fábrega
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Bernardo Paredes
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Camila Salazar-Ardiles
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Claudia Vilo
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Carmen Ascaso
- Department Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences – Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacek Wierzchos
- Department Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences – Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - Virginia Souza-Egipsy
- Department of Macromolecular Physics, Institute of Material Structure – Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge E. Araya
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Medical Technology and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Ramón Alberto Batista-García
- Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Benito Gómez-Silva
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biomedical Department and Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
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