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Baqué M, Backhaus T, Meeßen J, Hanke F, Böttger U, Ramkissoon N, Olsson-Francis K, Baumgärtner M, Billi D, Cassaro A, de la Torre Noetzel R, Demets R, Edwards H, Ehrenfreund P, Elsaesser A, Foing B, Foucher F, Huwe B, Joshi J, Kozyrovska N, Lasch P, Lee N, Leuko S, Onofri S, Ott S, Pacelli C, Rabbow E, Rothschild L, Schulze-Makuch D, Selbmann L, Serrano P, Szewzyk U, Verseux C, Wagner D, Westall F, Zucconi L, de Vera JPP. Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabn7412. [PMID: 36070383 PMCID: PMC9451166 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn7412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Two rover missions to Mars aim to detect biomolecules as a sign of extinct or extant life with, among other instruments, Raman spectrometers. However, there are many unknowns about the stability of Raman-detectable biomolecules in the martian environment, clouding the interpretation of the results. To quantify Raman-detectable biomolecule stability, we exposed seven biomolecules for 469 days to a simulated martian environment outside the International Space Station. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) strongly changed the Raman spectra signals, but only minor change was observed when samples were shielded from UVR. These findings provide support for Mars mission operations searching for biosignatures in the subsurface. This experiment demonstrates the detectability of biomolecules by Raman spectroscopy in Mars regolith analogs after space exposure and lays the groundwork for a consolidated space-proven database of spectroscopy biosignatures in targeted environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickael Baqué
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Planetary Laboratories Department, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Theresa Backhaus
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität (HHU), Institut für Botanik, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Joachim Meeßen
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität (HHU), Institut für Botanik, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Franziska Hanke
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ute Böttger
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nisha Ramkissoon
- AstrobiologyOU, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Karen Olsson-Francis
- AstrobiologyOU, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Michael Baumgärtner
- Microbial Geoecology and Astrobiology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå university, Linnaeus väg 6, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Daniela Billi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Cassaro
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Rosa de la Torre Noetzel
- Departamento de Observación de la Tierra, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz-28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - René Demets
- European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC),, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Howell Edwards
- University of Bradford, University Analytical Centre, Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Raman Spectroscopy Group, West Yorkshire, UK
| | - Pascale Ehrenfreund
- Leiden Observatory, Laboratory Astrophysics, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- George Washington University, Space Policy Institute, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Andreas Elsaesser
- Freie Universitaet Berlin, Experimental Biophysics and Space Sciences, Institute of Experimental Physics; Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernard Foing
- Leiden Observatory, Laboratory Astrophysics, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081-1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frédéric Foucher
- CNRS Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, UPR-4301, Rue Charles Sadron, CS80054, 45071 Orléans Cedex 2, France
| | - Björn Huwe
- Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany
- Department Technology Assessment and Substance Cycles, Leibniz- Institute for Agriculture Engineering and Bioeconomy, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jasmin Joshi
- Institute for Landscape and Open Space, Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, Seestrasse 10, 8640 Rapperswil, Switzerland
| | - Natalia Kozyrovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str.150, 03680, Kyiv Ukraine
| | - Peter Lasch
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 6), Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Natuschka Lee
- Microbial Geoecology and Astrobiology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå university, Linnaeus väg 6, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Stefan Leuko
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln, Germany
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Sieglinde Ott
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität (HHU), Institut für Botanik, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Claudia Pacelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
- Research and Science Department, Italian Space Agency (ASI), Via del Politecnico snc, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Elke Rabbow
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln, Germany
| | - Lynn Rothschild
- NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 239-20, P.O. Box 1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0001, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Technical University Berlin, ZAA, Hardenbergstr. 36, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
- Section Geomicrobiology, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 12587, Stechlin, Germany
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), 16121 Genoa, Italy
| | - Paloma Serrano
- Section Geomicrobiology, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ulrich Szewzyk
- Institute of Environmental Technology, Environmental Microbiology, Technical University Berlin, Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1, Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Cyprien Verseux
- Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), University of Bremen, Am Fallturm 2, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Dirk Wagner
- Section Geomicrobiology, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Frances Westall
- CNRS Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, UPR-4301, Rue Charles Sadron, CS80054, 45071 Orléans Cedex 2, France
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Jean-Pierre P. de Vera
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC), Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln, Germany
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2
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MacKenzie SM, Neveu M, Davila AF, Lunine JI, Cable ML, Phillips-Lander CM, Eigenbrode JL, Waite JH, Craft KL, Hofgartner JD, McKay CP, Glein CR, Burton D, Kounaves SP, Mathies RA, Vance SD, Malaska MJ, Gold R, German CR, Soderlund KM, Willis P, Freissinet C, McEwen AS, Brucato JR, de Vera JPP, Hoehler TM, Heldmann J. Science Objectives for Flagship-Class Mission Concepts for the Search for Evidence of Life at Enceladus. Astrobiology 2022; 22:685-712. [PMID: 35290745 PMCID: PMC9233532 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cassini revealed that Saturn's Moon Enceladus hosts a subsurface ocean that meets the accepted criteria for habitability with bio-essential elements and compounds, liquid water, and energy sources available in the environment. Whether these conditions are sufficiently abundant and collocated to support life remains unknown and cannot be determined from Cassini data. However, thanks to the plume of oceanic material emanating from Enceladus' south pole, a new mission to Enceladus could search for evidence of life without having to descend through kilometers of ice. In this article, we outline the science motivations for such a successor to Cassini, choosing the primary science goal to be determining whether Enceladus is inhabited and assuming a resource level equivalent to NASA's Flagship-class missions. We selected a set of potential biosignature measurements that are complementary and orthogonal to build a robust case for any life detection result. This result would be further informed by quantifications of the habitability of the environment through geochemical and geophysical investigations into the ocean and ice shell crust. This study demonstrates that Enceladus' plume offers an unparalleled opportunity for in situ exploration of an Ocean World and that the planetary science and astrobiology community is well equipped to take full advantage of it in the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M. MacKenzie
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA
- Address correspondence to: Shannon M. MacKenzie, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - Marc Neveu
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Alfonso F. Davila
- Division of Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Jonathan I. Lunine
- Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Carl Sagan Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Morgan L. Cable
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | - Jennifer L. Eigenbrode
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - J. Hunter Waite
- Space Science and Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Kate L. Craft
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason D. Hofgartner
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Chris P. McKay
- Division of Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Christopher R. Glein
- Space Science and Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Dana Burton
- Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | - Richard A. Mathies
- Chemistry Department and Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Steven D. Vance
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Michael J. Malaska
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Robert Gold
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher R. German
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Krista M. Soderlund
- Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Peter Willis
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | - Alfred S. McEwen
- Lunar and Planetary Lab, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Jean-Pierre P. de Vera
- Space Operations and Astronaut Training, MUSC, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Tori M. Hoehler
- Division of Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Jennifer Heldmann
- Division of Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
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3
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Santana de Carvalho D, Trovatti Uetanabaro AP, Kato RB, Aburjaile FF, Jaiswal AK, Profeta R, De Oliveira Carvalho RD, Tiwar S, Cybelle Pinto Gomide A, Almeida Costa E, Kukharenko O, Orlovska I, Podolich O, Reva O, Ramos PIP, De Carvalho Azevedo VA, Brenig B, Andrade BS, de Vera JPP, Kozyrovska NO, Barh D, Góes-Neto A. The Space-Exposed Kombucha Microbial Community Member Komagataeibacter oboediens Showed Only Minor Changes in Its Genome After Reactivation on Earth. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:782175. [PMID: 35369445 PMCID: PMC8970348 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.782175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Komagataeibacter is the dominant taxon and cellulose-producing bacteria in the Kombucha Microbial Community (KMC). This is the first study to isolate the K. oboediens genome from a reactivated space-exposed KMC sample and comprehensively characterize it. The space-exposed genome was compared with the Earth-based reference genome to understand the genome stability of K. oboediens under extraterrestrial conditions during a long time. Our results suggest that the genomes of K. oboediens IMBG180 (ground sample) and K. oboediens IMBG185 (space-exposed) are remarkably similar in topology, genomic islands, transposases, prion-like proteins, and number of plasmids and CRISPR-Cas cassettes. Nonetheless, there was a difference in the length of plasmids and the location of cas genes. A small difference was observed in the number of protein coding genes. Despite these differences, they do not affect any genetic metabolic profile of the cellulose synthesis, nitrogen-fixation, hopanoid lipids biosynthesis, and stress-related pathways. Minor changes are only observed in central carbohydrate and energy metabolism pathways gene numbers or sequence completeness. Altogether, these findings suggest that K. oboediens maintains its genome stability and functionality in KMC exposed to the space environment most probably due to the protective role of the KMC biofilm. Furthermore, due to its unaffected metabolic pathways, this bacterial species may also retain some promising potential for space applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Santana de Carvalho
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Department of Microbiology, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Trovatti Uetanabaro
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Department of Microbiology, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Bentes Kato
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Department of Microbiology, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Flávia Figueira Aburjaile
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Arun Kumar Jaiswal
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Profeta
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Dias De Oliveira Carvalho
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Sandeep Tiwar
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Anne Cybelle Pinto Gomide
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Almeida Costa
- Computational Biology and Biotechnological Information Management Center (NBCGIB), State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Olga Kukharenko
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Iryna Orlovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Olga Podolich
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oleg Reva
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Pablo Ivan P. Ramos
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Institute Gonçalo Moniz, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-Bahia), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Vasco Ariston De Carvalho Azevedo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Bertram Brenig
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Burckhardtweg, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Southwest Bahia (UESB), Jequié, Brazil
| | - Jean-Pierre P. de Vera
- German Aerospace Center (DLR) Berlin, Institute of Planetary Research, Planetary Laboratories, Astrobiological Laboratories, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Debmalya Barh
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology, Purba Medinipur, India
| | - Aristóteles Góes-Neto
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Department of Microbiology, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Góes-Neto A, Kukharenko O, Orlovska I, Podolich O, Imchen M, Kumavath R, Kato RB, de Carvalho DS, Tiwari S, Brenig B, Azevedo V, Reva O, de Vera JPP, Kozyrovska N, Barh D. Shotgun metagenomic analysis of kombucha mutualistic community exposed to Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:3727-3742. [PMID: 33476085 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Kombucha is a multispecies microbial ecosystem mainly composed of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic acid-tolerant yeasts, which is used to produce a probiotic drink. Furthermore, Kombucha Mutualistic Community (KMC) has been recently proposed to be used during long space missions as both a living functional fermented product to improve astronauts' health and an efficient source of bacterial nanocellulose. In this study, we compared KMC structure and functions before and after samples were exposed to the space/Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station in order to investigate the changes related to their re-adaptation to Earth-like conditions by shotgun metagenomics, using both diversity and functional analyses of Community Ecology and Complex Networks approach. Our study revealed that the long-term exposure to space/Mars-like conditions on low Earth orbit may disorganize the KMC to such extent that it will not restore the initial community structure; however, KMC core microorganisms of the community were maintained. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in the community functions, meaning that the KMC communities are ecologically resilient. Therefore, despite the extremely harsh conditions, key KMC species revived and provided the community with the genetic background needed to survive long periods of time under extraterrestrial conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristóteles Góes-Neto
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Olga Kukharenko
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str., 150, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine
| | - Iryna Orlovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str., 150, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine
| | - Olga Podolich
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str., 150, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine
| | - Madangchanok Imchen
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Padannakkad P.O., Kasaragod, Kerala, 671320, India
| | - Ranjith Kumavath
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Padannakkad P.O., Kasaragod, Kerala, 671320, India
| | - Rodrigo Bentes Kato
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniel Santana de Carvalho
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Sandeep Tiwari
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Bertram Brenig
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Burckhardtweg, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Padannakkad P.O., Kasaragod, Kerala, 671320, India
| | - Oleg Reva
- Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Natalia Kozyrovska
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of NASU, Acad. Zabolotnoho str., 150, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India
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5
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Olsson-Francis
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Daniela Billi
- Deparment of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Andreas Teske
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jean-Pierre P de Vera
- Astrobiological Laboratories, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Management and Infrastructure, Berlin, Germany
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6
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Leuko S, Bohmeier M, Hanke F, Böettger U, Rabbow E, Parpart A, Rettberg P, de Vera JPP. On the Stability of Deinoxanthin Exposed to Mars Conditions during a Long-Term Space Mission and Implications for Biomarker Detection on Other Planets. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1680. [PMID: 28966605 PMCID: PMC5605620 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Outer space, the final frontier, is a hostile and unforgiving place for any form of life as we know it. The unique environment of space allows for a close simulation of Mars surface conditions that cannot be simulated as accurately on the Earth. For this experiment, we tested the resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans to survive exposure to simulated Mars-like conditions in low-Earth orbit for a prolonged period of time as part of the Biology and Mars experiment (BIOMEX) project. Special focus was placed on the integrity of the carotenoid deinoxanthin, which may serve as a potential biomarker to search for remnants of life on other planets. Survival was investigated by evaluating colony forming units, damage inflicted to the 16S rRNA gene by quantitative PCR, and the integrity and detectability of deinoxanthin by Raman spectroscopy. Exposure to space conditions had a strong detrimental effect on the survival of the strains and the 16S rRNA integrity, yet results show that deinoxanthin survives exposure to conditions as they prevail on Mars. Solar radiation is not only strongly detrimental to the survival and 16S rRNA integrity but also to the Raman signal of deinoxanthin. Samples not exposed to solar radiation showed only minuscule signs of deterioration. To test whether deinoxanthin is able to withstand the tested parameters without the protection of the cell, it was extracted from cell homogenate and exposed to high/low temperatures, vacuum, germicidal UV-C radiation, and simulated solar radiation. Results obtained by Raman investigations showed a strong resistance of deinoxanthin against outer space and Mars conditions, with the only exception of the exposure to simulated solar radiation. Therefore, deinoxanthin proved to be a suitable easily detectable biomarker for the search of Earth-like organic pigment-containing life on other planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Leuko
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
| | - Maria Bohmeier
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
| | - Franziska Hanke
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Optical Sensor SystemsBerlin, Germany
| | - Ute Böettger
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Optical Sensor SystemsBerlin, Germany
| | - Elke Rabbow
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
| | - Andre Parpart
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
| | - Petra Rettberg
- German Aerospace Center, Research Group "Astrobiology", Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace MedicineKöln, Germany
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7
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Rummel JD, Beaty DW, Jones MA, Bakermans C, Barlow NG, Boston PJ, Chevrier VF, Clark BC, de Vera JPP, Gough RV, Hallsworth JE, Head JW, Hipkin VJ, Kieft TL, McEwen AS, Mellon MT, Mikucki JA, Nicholson WL, Omelon CR, Peterson R, Roden EE, Sherwood Lollar B, Tanaka KL, Viola D, Wray JJ. A new analysis of Mars "Special Regions": findings of the second MEPAG Special Regions Science Analysis Group (SR-SAG2). Astrobiology 2014; 14:887-968. [PMID: 25401393 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2014.1227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A committee of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) has reviewed and updated the description of Special Regions on Mars as places where terrestrial organisms might replicate (per the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy). This review and update was conducted by an international team (SR-SAG2) drawn from both the biological science and Mars exploration communities, focused on understanding when and where Special Regions could occur. The study applied recently available data about martian environments and about terrestrial organisms, building on a previous analysis of Mars Special Regions (2006) undertaken by a similar team. Since then, a new body of highly relevant information has been generated from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (launched in 2005) and Phoenix (2007) and data from Mars Express and the twin Mars Exploration Rovers (all 2003). Results have also been gleaned from the Mars Science Laboratory (launched in 2011). In addition to Mars data, there is a considerable body of new data regarding the known environmental limits to life on Earth-including the potential for terrestrial microbial life to survive and replicate under martian environmental conditions. The SR-SAG2 analysis has included an examination of new Mars models relevant to natural environmental variation in water activity and temperature; a review and reconsideration of the current parameters used to define Special Regions; and updated maps and descriptions of the martian environments recommended for treatment as "Uncertain" or "Special" as natural features or those potentially formed by the influence of future landed spacecraft. Significant changes in our knowledge of the capabilities of terrestrial organisms and the existence of possibly habitable martian environments have led to a new appreciation of where Mars Special Regions may be identified and protected. The SR-SAG also considered the impact of Special Regions on potential future human missions to Mars, both as locations of potential resources and as places that should not be inadvertently contaminated by human activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Rummel
- 1 Department of Biology, East Carolina University , Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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