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Batty CA, Pearson VK, Olsson-Francis K, Morgan G. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in terrestrial extreme environments: implications for life detection beyond Earth. Nat Prod Rep 2025; 42:93-112. [PMID: 39431456 DOI: 10.1039/d4np00037d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2024]
Abstract
Covering: 1961 to 2024Discovering and identifying unique natural products/biosignatures (signatures that can be used as evidence for past or present life) that are abundant, and complex enough that they indicate robust evidence of life is a multifaceted process. One distinct category of biosignatures being explored is organic compounds. A subdivision of these compounds not yet readily investigated are volatile organic compound (VOCs). When assessing these VOCs as a group (volatilome) a fingerprint of all VOCs within an environment allows the complex patterns in metabolic data to be unravelled. As a technique already successfully applied to many biological and ecological fields, this paper explores how analysis of volatilomes in terrestrial extreme environments could be used to enhance processes (such as metabolomics and metagenomics) already utilised in life detection beyond Earth. By overcoming some of the complexities of collecting VOCs in remote field sites, a variety of lab based analytical equipment and techniques can then be utilised. Researching volatilomics in astrobiology requires time to characterise the patterns of VOCs. They must then be differentiated from abiotic (non-living) signals within extreme environments similar to those found on other planetary bodies (analogue sites) or in lab-based simulated environments or microcosms. Such an effort is critical for understanding data returned from past or upcoming missions, but it requires a step change in approach which explores the volatilome as a vital additional tool to current 'Omics techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A Batty
- The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK.
| | | | | | - Geraint Morgan
- The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK.
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2
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Gfellner SV, Colas C, Gabant G, Groninga J, Cadene M, Milojevic T. Improved protocol for metabolite extraction and identification of respiratory quinones in extremophilic Archaea grown on mineral materials. Front Microbiol 2025; 15:1473270. [PMID: 39845047 PMCID: PMC11750793 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1473270] [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: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 12/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2025] Open
Abstract
We investigated the metabolome of the iron- and sulfur-oxidizing, extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula grown on mineral pyrite (FeS2). The extraction of organic materials from these microorganisms is a major challenge because of the tight contact and interaction between cells and mineral materials. Therefore, we applied an improved protocol to break the microbial cells and separate their organic constituents from the mineral surface, to extract lipophilic compounds through liquid-liquid extraction, and performed metabolomics analyses using MALDI-TOF MS and UHPLC-UHR-Q/TOF. Using this approach, we identified several molecules involved in central carbon metabolism and in the modified Entner-Doudoroff pathway found in Archaea, sulfur metabolism-related compounds, and molecules involved in the adaptation of M. sedula to extreme environments, such as metal tolerance and acid resistance. Furthermore, we identified molecules involved in microbial interactions, i.e., cell surface interactions through biofilm formation and cell-cell interactions through quorum sensing, which relies on messenger molecules for microbial communication. Moreover, we successfully extracted and identified different saturated thiophene-bearing quinones using software for advanced compound identification (MetaboScape). These quinones are respiratory chain electron carriers in M. sedula, with biomarker potential for life detection in extreme environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian V. Gfellner
- UPR4301 Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CBM), Orléans, France
- Université d'Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Cyril Colas
- UPR4301 Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CBM), Orléans, France
- Université d'Orléans, Orléans, France
- UMR7311 Institut de Chimie Organique et Analytique (ICOA), Orléans, France
| | - Guillaume Gabant
- UPR4301 Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CBM), Orléans, France
- Université d'Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Janina Groninga
- Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Martine Cadene
- UPR4301 Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CBM), Orléans, France
- Université d'Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Tetyana Milojevic
- UPR4301 Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CBM), Orléans, France
- Université d'Orléans, Orléans, France
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3
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Mustieles-del-Ser P, Ruano-Gallego D, Parro V. Immunoanalytical Detection of Conserved Peptides: Refining the Universe of Biomarker Targets in Planetary Exploration. Anal Chem 2024; 96:4764-4773. [PMID: 38484023 PMCID: PMC10975014 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Ancient peptides are remnants of early biochemistry that continue to play pivotal roles in current proteins. They are simple molecules yet complex enough to exhibit independent functions, being products of an evolved biochemistry at the interface of life and nonlife. Their adsorption to minerals may contribute to their stabilization and preservation over time. To investigate the feasibility of conserved peptide sequences and structures as target biomarkers for the search for life on Mars or other planetary bodies, we conducted a bioinformatics selection of well-conserved ancient peptides and produced polyclonal antibodies for their detection using fluorescence microarray immunoassays. Additionally, we explored how adsorbing peptides to Mars-representative minerals to form organomineral complexes could affect their immunological detection. The results demonstrated that the selected peptides exhibited autonomous folding, with some of them regaining their structure, even after denaturation. Furthermore, their cognate antibodies detected their conformational features regardless of amino acid sequences, thereby broadening the spectrum of target peptide sequences. While certain antibodies displayed unspecific binding to bare minerals, we validated that peptide-mineral complexes can be detected using sandwich immunoassays, as confirmed through desorption and competitive assays. Consequently, we conclude that the diversity of peptide sequences and structures suitable for use as target biomarkers in astrobiology can be constrained to a few well conserved sets, and they can be detected even if they are adsorbed in organomineral complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Mustieles-del-Ser
- Centro
de Astrobiología (CAB) INTA-CSIC, Torrejón de Ardoz 28850, Spain
- Departments
of Physics and Mathematics, and Automatics, Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), Alcalá de Henares 28805, Spain
| | | | - Víctor Parro
- Centro
de Astrobiología (CAB) INTA-CSIC, Torrejón de Ardoz 28850, Spain
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4
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Aerts JW, Sarbu SM, Brad T, Ehrenfreund P, Westerhoff HV. Microbial Ecosystems in Movile Cave: An Environment of Extreme Life. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2120. [PMID: 38004260 PMCID: PMC10672346 DOI: 10.3390/life13112120] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Movile Cave, situated in Romania close to the Black Sea, constitutes a distinct and challenging environment for life. Its partially submerged ecosystem depends on chemolithotrophic processes for its energetics, which are fed by a continuous hypogenic inflow of mesothermal waters rich in reduced chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide and methane. We sampled a variety of cave sublocations over the course of three years. Furthermore, in a microcosm experiment, minerals were incubated in the cave waters for one year. Both endemic cave samples and extracts from the minerals were subjected to 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The sequence data show specific community profiles in the different subenvironments, indicating that specialized prokaryotic communities inhabit the different zones in the cave. Already after one year, the different incubated minerals had been colonized by specific microbial communities, indicating that microbes in Movile Cave can adapt in a relatively short timescale to environmental opportunities in terms of energy and nutrients. Life can thrive, diversify and adapt in remote and isolated subterranean environments such as Movile Cave.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost W. Aerts
- Molecular Cell Biology, A-LIFE, 01-E-57, Faculty of Science, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorstraat 3, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Serban M. Sarbu
- “Emil Racoviţă” Institute of Speleology, Str. Frumoasă 31, 010986 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Chico, CA 95929, USA
| | - Traian Brad
- “Emil Racoviţă” Institute of Speleology, Clinicilor 5-7, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Pascale Ehrenfreund
- Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, 2333 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Hans V. Westerhoff
- Molecular Cell Biology, A-LIFE, 01-E-57, Faculty of Science, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorstraat 3, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Synthetic Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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5
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Diloreto Z, Ahmad MS, Al Saad Al-Kuwari H, Sadooni F, Bontognali TRR, Dittrich M. Raman Spectroscopic and Microbial Study of Biofilms Hosted Gypsum Deposits in the Hypersaline Wetlands: Astrobiological Perspective. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:991-1005. [PMID: 37672713 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0003] [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: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) has been identified at the surface of Mars, by both orbiters and rovers. Because gypsum mostly forms in the presence of liquid water as an essential element for sustaining microbial life and has a low porosity, which is ideal for preserving organic material, it is a promising target to look for signs of past microbial life. In this article, we studied organic matter preservation within gypsum that precipitates in a salt flat or a so-called coastal sabkha located in Qatar. Sabkha's ecosystem is considered a modern analog to evaporitic environments that may have existed on early Mars. We collected the sediment cores in the areas where gypsum is formed and performed DNA analysis to characterize the community of extremophilic microorganisms that is present at the site of gypsum formation. Subsequently, we applied Raman spectroscopy, a technique available on several rovers that are currently exploring Mars, to evaluate which organic molecules can be detected through the translucent gypsum crystals. We showed that organic material can be encapsulated into evaporitic gypsum and detected via Raman microscopy with simple, straightforward sample preparation. The molecular biology data proved useful for assessing to what extent complex Raman spectra can be linked to the original microbial community, dominated by Halobacteria and methanogenic archaea, providing a reference for a signal that may be detected on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach Diloreto
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mirza Shaharyar Ahmad
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Tomaso R R Bontognali
- Space Exploration Institute, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria Dittrich
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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6
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Wynne JJ, Titus TN, Agha‐Mohammadi A, Azua‐Bustos A, Boston PJ, de León P, Demirel‐Floyd C, De Waele J, Jones H, Malaska MJ, Miller AZ, Sapers HM, Sauro F, Sonderegger DL, Uckert K, Wong UY, Alexander EC, Chiao L, Cushing GE, DeDecker J, Fairén AG, Frumkin A, Harris GL, Kearney ML, Kerber L, Léveillé RJ, Manyapu K, Massironi M, Mylroie JE, Onac BP, Parazynski SE, Phillips‐Lander CM, Prettyman TH, Schulze‐Makuch D, Wagner RV, Whittaker WL, Williams KE. Fundamental Science and Engineering Questions in Planetary Cave Exploration. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. PLANETS 2022; 127:e2022JE007194. [PMID: 36582809 PMCID: PMC9787064 DOI: 10.1029/2022je007194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nearly half a century ago, two papers postulated the likelihood of lunar lava tube caves using mathematical models. Today, armed with an array of orbiting and fly-by satellites and survey instrumentation, we have now acquired cave data across our solar system-including the identification of potential cave entrances on the Moon, Mars, and at least nine other planetary bodies. These discoveries gave rise to the study of planetary caves. To help advance this field, we leveraged the expertise of an interdisciplinary group to identify a strategy to explore caves beyond Earth. Focusing primarily on astrobiology, the cave environment, geology, robotics, instrumentation, and human exploration, our goal was to produce a framework to guide this subdiscipline through at least the next decade. To do this, we first assembled a list of 198 science and engineering questions. Then, through a series of social surveys, 114 scientists and engineers winnowed down the list to the top 53 highest priority questions. This exercise resulted in identifying emerging and crucial research areas that require robust development to ultimately support a robotic mission to a planetary cave-principally the Moon and/or Mars. With the necessary financial investment and institutional support, the research and technological development required to achieve these necessary advancements over the next decade are attainable. Subsequently, we will be positioned to robotically examine lunar caves and search for evidence of life within Martian caves; in turn, this will set the stage for human exploration and potential habitation of both the lunar and Martian subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Judson Wynne
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Adaptable Western LandscapesNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | | | | | - Armando Azua‐Bustos
- Centro de AstrobiologíaCSIC‐INTAUnidad María de MaeztuInstituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Ctra de Torrejón a AjalvirMadridSpain
- Instituto de Ciencias BiomédicasFacultad de Ciencias de la SaludUniversidad Autónoma de ChileSantiagoChile
| | | | - Pablo de León
- Human Spaceflight LaboratoryDepartment of Space StudiesUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksNDUSA
| | | | - Jo De Waele
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Heather Jones
- Robotics InstituteCarnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Michael J. Malaska
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Ana Z. Miller
- Laboratório HERCULESUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y AgrobiologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasSevilleSpain
| | - Haley M. Sapers
- Department of Earth and Space Science and EngineeringYork UniversityTorontoONCanada
| | - Francesco Sauro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Derek L. Sonderegger
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - Kyle Uckert
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | | | - E. Calvin Alexander
- Earth and Environmental Sciences DepartmentUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
| | - Leroy Chiao
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringRice UniversityHoustonTXUSA
| | - Glen E. Cushing
- U.S. Geological SurveyAstrogeology Science CenterFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - John DeDecker
- Center for Mineral Resources ScienceColorado School of MinesGoldenCOUSA
| | - Alberto G. Fairén
- Centro de AstrobiologíaCSIC‐INTAUnidad María de MaeztuInstituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Ctra de Torrejón a AjalvirMadridSpain
- Department of AstronomyCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
| | - Amos Frumkin
- Institute of Earth SciencesThe Hebrew UniversityJerusalemIsrael
| | - Gary L. Harris
- Human Spaceflight LaboratoryDepartment of Space StudiesUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksNDUSA
| | - Michelle L. Kearney
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary SciencesNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - Laura Kerber
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Richard J. Léveillé
- Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- Geosciences DepartmentJohn Abbott CollegeSte‐Anne‐de‐BellevueQCCanada
| | | | - Matteo Massironi
- Dipartimento di GeoscienzeUniversità degli Studi di PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - John E. Mylroie
- Department of GeosciencesMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMSUSA
| | - Bogdan P. Onac
- School of GeosciencesUniversity of South FloridaTampaFLUSA
- Emil G. Racoviță InstituteBabeș‐Bolyai UniversityCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | | | | | | | - Dirk Schulze‐Makuch
- Astrobiology GroupCenter of Astronomy and AstrophysicsTechnische Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
- Section GeomicrobiologyGFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesPotsdamGermany
- Department of Experimental LimnologyLeibniz‐Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)StechlinGermany
| | - Robert V. Wagner
- School of Earth and Space ExplorationArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - William L. Whittaker
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Kaj E. Williams
- U.S. Geological SurveyAstrogeology Science CenterFlagstaffAZUSA
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7
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Escamilla-Roa E, Zorzano MP, Martin-Torres J, Sainz-Díaz CI, Cartwright JHE. Self-Assembled Structures Formed in CO 2-Enriched Atmospheres: A Case-Study for Martian Biomimetic Forms. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:863-879. [PMID: 35613388 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0123] [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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the biomimetic precipitation processes that follow the chemical-garden reaction of brines of CaCl2 and sulfate salts with silicate in alkaline conditions under a Mars-type CO2-rich atmosphere. We characterize the precipitates with environmental scanning electron microscope micrography, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. Our analysis results indicate that self-assembled carbonate structures formed with calcium chloride can have vesicular and filamentary features. With magnesium sulfate as a reactant a tentative assignment with Raman spectroscopy indicates the presence of natroxalate in the precipitate. These morphologies and compounds appear through rapid sequestration of atmospheric CO2 by alkaline solutions of silica and salts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Escamilla-Roa
- Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Granada, Spain
- International Research Centre in Critical Raw Materials-ICCRAM, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - María-Paz Zorzano
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Martin-Torres
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Granada, Spain
- School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Julyan H E Cartwright
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Granada, Spain
- Instituto Carlos I de Física Teórica y Computacional, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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8
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Lezcano MÁ, Sánchez-García L, Quesada A, Carrizo D, Fernández-Martínez MÁ, Cavalcante-Silva E, Parro V. Comprehensive Metabolic and Taxonomic Reconstruction of an Ancient Microbial Mat From the McMurdo Ice Shelf (Antarctica) by Integrating Genetic, Metaproteomic and Lipid Biomarker Analyses. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:799360. [PMID: 35928160 PMCID: PMC9345047 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.799360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Paleobiological reconstructions based on molecular fossils may be limited by degradation processes causing differential preservation of biomolecules, the distinct taxonomic specificity of each biomolecule type, and analytical biases. Here, we combined the analysis of DNA, proteins and lipid biomarkers using 16S and 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding, metaproteomics and lipid analysis to reconstruct the taxonomic composition and metabolisms of a desiccated microbial mat from the McMurdo Ice Shelf (MIS) (Antarctica) dated ~1,000 years BP. The different lability, taxonomic resolution and analytical bias of each biomolecule type led to a distinct microbial community profile. DNA analysis showed selective preservation of DNA remnants from the most resistant taxa (e.g., spore-formers). In contrast, the proteins profile revealed microorganisms missed by DNA sequencing, such as Cyanobacteria, and showed a microbial composition similar to fresh microbial mats in the MIS. Lipid hydrocarbons also confirmed Cyanobacteria and suggested the presence of mosses or vascular plant remnants from a period in Antarctica when the climate was warmer (e.g., Mid-Miocene or Eocene). The combined analysis of the three biomolecule types also revealed diverse metabolisms that operated in the microbial mat before desiccation: oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, sulfur reduction and oxidation, and methanogenesis. Therefore, the joint analysis of DNA, proteins and lipids resulted in a powerful approach that improved taxonomic and metabolic reconstructions overcoming information gaps derived from using individual biomolecules types.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Ángeles Lezcano
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Carretera de Ajalvir, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: María Ángeles Lezcano,
| | | | - Antonio Quesada
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Carretera de Ajalvir, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología, C. Darwin 2, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Carrizo
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Carretera de Ajalvir, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Víctor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Carretera de Ajalvir, Madrid, Spain
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9
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Lalla EA, Konstantinidis M, Veneranda M, Daly MG, Manrique JA, Lymer EA, Freemantle J, Cloutis EA, Stromberg JM, Shkolyar S, Caudill C, Applin D, Vago JL, Rull F, Lopez-Reyes G. Raman Characterization of the CanMars Rover Field Campaign Samples Using the Raman Laser Spectrometer ExoMars Simulator: Implications for Mars and Planetary Exploration. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:416-438. [PMID: 35041521 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0055] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landed on February 18, 2021, and has started ground operations. The ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover will touch down on June 10, 2023. Perseverance will be the first-ever Mars sample caching mission-a first step in sample return to Earth. SuperCam and Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals (SHERLOC) on Perseverance, and Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) on Rosalind Franklin, will comprise the first ever in situ planetary mission Raman spectroscopy instruments to identify rocks, minerals, and potential organic biosignatures on Mars' surface. There are many challenges associated when using Raman instruments and the optimization and quantitative analysis of resulting data. To understand how best to overcome them, we performed a comprehensive Raman analysis campaign on CanMars, a Mars sample caching rover analog mission undertaken in Hanksville, Utah, USA, in 2016. The Hanksville region presents many similarities to Oxia Planum's past habitable conditions, including liquid water, flocculent, and elemental compounds (such as clays), catalysts, substrates, and energy/food sources for life. We sampled and conducted a complete band analysis of Raman spectra as mission validation analysis with the RLS ExoMars Simulator or RLS Sim, a breadboard setup representative of the ExoMars RLS instrument. RLS Sim emulates the operational behavior of RLS on the Rosalind Franklin rover. Given the high fidelity of the Mars analog site and the RLS Sim, the results presented here may provide important information useful for guiding in situ analysis and sample triage for caching relevant for the Perseverance and Rosalind Franklin missions. By using the RLS Sim on CanMars samples, our measurements detected oxides, sulfates, nitrates, carbonates, feldspars, and carotenoids, many with a higher degree of sensitivity than past results. Future work with the RLS Sim will aim to continue developing and improving the capability of the RLS system in the future ExoMars mission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel A Lalla
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Menelaos Konstantinidis
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marco Veneranda
- Unidad Asociada Universidad de Valladolid-CSIC-CAB, Boecillo, Spain
| | - Michael G Daly
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Elizabeth A Lymer
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - James Freemantle
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Edward A Cloutis
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Jessica M Stromberg
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
- CSIRO Mineral Resources, Kensington, Australia
| | - Svetlana Shkolyar
- Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, Maryland, USA
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christy Caudill
- Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration/Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Daniel Applin
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Jorge L Vago
- European Space Agency, ESA/ESTEC (SCI-S), Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - Fernando Rull
- Unidad Asociada Universidad de Valladolid-CSIC-CAB, Boecillo, Spain
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10
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Veneranda M, Lopez-Reyes G, Pascual Sanchez E, Krzesińska AM, Manrique-Martinez JA, Sanz-Arranz A, Lantz C, Lalla E, Moral A, Medina J, Poulet F, Dypvik H, Werner SC, Vago JL, Rull F. ExoMars Raman Laser Spectrometer: A Tool to Semiquantify the Serpentinization Degree of Olivine-Rich Rocks on Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:307-322. [PMID: 33252242 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated the effectiveness of the ExoMars Raman laser spectrometer (RLS) to determine the degree of serpentinization of olivine-rich units on Mars. We selected terrestrial analogs of martian ultramafic rocks from the Leka Ophiolite Complex (LOC) and analyzed them with both laboratory and flight-like analytical instruments. We first studied the mineralogical composition of the samples (mostly olivine and serpentine) with state-of-the-art diffractometric (X-ray diffractometry [XRD]) and spectroscopic (Raman, near-infrared spectroscopy [NIR]) laboratory systems. We compared these results with those obtained using our RLS ExoMars Simulator. Our work shows that the RLS ExoMars Simulator successfully identified all major phases. Moreover, when emulating the automatic operating mode of the flight instrument, the RLS ExoMars Simulator also detected several minor compounds (pyroxene and brucite), some of which were not observed by NIR and XRD (e.g., calcite). Thereafter, we produced RLS-dedicated calibration curves (R2 between 0.9993 and 0.9995 with an uncertainty between ±3.0% and ±5.2% with a confidence interval of 95%) to estimate the relative content of olivine and serpentine in the samples. Our results show that RLS can be very effective in identifying serpentine, a scientific target of primary importance for the potential detection of biosignatures on Mars-the main objective of the ExoMars rover mission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Veneranda
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Guillermo Lopez-Reyes
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Elena Pascual Sanchez
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Agata M Krzesińska
- Department of Geosciences, Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Aurelio Sanz-Arranz
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Cateline Lantz
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS/Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
| | - Emmanuel Lalla
- Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Andoni Moral
- Department of Space Programs, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Medina
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Francois Poulet
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS/Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
| | - Henning Dypvik
- Department of Geosciences, Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephanie C Werner
- Department of Geosciences, Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Fernando Rull
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
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Cheptsov VS, Belov AA, Vorobyova EA, Pavlov AK, Lomasov VN. Effects of Radiation Intensity, Mineral Matrix, and Pre-Irradiation on the Bacterial Resistance to Gamma Irradiation under Low Temperature Conditions. Microorganisms 2021; 9:198. [PMID: 33477915 PMCID: PMC7833375 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ionizing radiation is one of the main factors limiting the survival of microorganisms in extraterrestrial conditions. The survivability of microorganisms under irradiation depends significantly on the conditions, in which the irradiation occurs. In particular, temperature, pressure, oxygen and water concentrations are of great influence. However, the influence of factors such as the radiation intensity (in low-temperature conditions) and the type of mineral matrix, in which microorganisms are located, has been practically unstudied. It has been shown that the radioresistance of bacteria can increase after their exposure to sublethal doses and subsequent repair of damage under favorable conditions, however, such studies are also few and the influence of other factors of extraterrestrial space (temperature, pressure) was not studied in them. The viability of bacteria Arthrobacter polychromogenes, Kocuria rosea and Xanthomonas sp. after irradiation with gamma radiation at a dose of 1 kGy under conditions of low pressure (1 Torr) and low temperature (-50 °C) at different radiation intensities (4 vs. 0.8 kGy/h) with immobilization of bacteria on various mineral matrices (montmorillonite vs. analogue of lunar dust) has been studied. Native, previously non-irradiated strains, and strains that were previously irradiated with gamma radiation and subjected to 10 passages of cultivation on solid media were irradiated. The number of survived cells was determined by culturing on a solid medium. It has been shown that the radioresistance of bacteria depends significantly on the type of mineral matrix, on which they are immobilized, wherein montmorillonite contributes to an increased survivability in comparison with a silicate matrix. Survivability of the studied bacteria was found to increase with decreasing radiation intensity, despite the impossibility of active reparation processes under experimental conditions. Considering the low intensity of radiation on various space objects in comparison with radiobiological experiments, this suggests a longer preservation of the viable microorganisms outside the Earth than is commonly believed. An increase in bacterial radioresistance was revealed even after one cycle of irradiation of the strains and their subsequent cultivation under favourable conditions. This indicates the possibility of hypothetical microorganisms on Mars increasing their radioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir S. Cheptsov
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, 12, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.B.); (E.A.V.)
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya str., 84/32, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds LS7 3RB, UK
| | - Andrey A. Belov
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, 12, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.B.); (E.A.V.)
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds LS7 3RB, UK
| | - Elena A. Vorobyova
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, 12, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.B.); (E.A.V.)
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds LS7 3RB, UK
| | - Anatoli K. Pavlov
- Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Polytechnicheskaya Street, 26, 194021 Saint-Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Vladimir N. Lomasov
- STC “Nuclear Physics”, Peter the Great St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, Polytechnicheskaya Street, 29, 195251 Saint-Petersburg, Russia;
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12
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Kelly H, Spilde MN, Jones DS, Boston PJ. Insights into the Geomicrobiology of Biovermiculations from Rock Billet Incubation Experiments. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11010059. [PMID: 33467599 PMCID: PMC7830032 DOI: 10.3390/life11010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Biovermiculations are uniquely patterned organic rich sediment formations found on the walls of caves and other subterranean environments. These distinctive worm-like features are the combined result of physical and biological processes. The diverse microbial communities that inhabit biovermiculations may corrode the host rock, form secondary minerals, and produce biofilms that stabilize the sediment matrix, thus altering cave surfaces and contributing to the formation of these wall deposits. In this study, we incubated basalt, limestone, and monzonite rock billets in biovermiculation mixed natural community enrichments for 468–604 days, and used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess surface textures and biofilms that developed over the course of the experiment. We observed alteration of rock billet surfaces associated with biofilms and microbial filaments, particularly etch pits and other corrosion features in olivine and other silicates, calcite dissolution textures, and the formation of secondary minerals including phosphates, clays, and iron oxides. We identified twelve distinct biofilm morphotypes that varied based on rock type and the drying method used in sample preparation. These corrosion features and microbial structures inform potential biological mechanisms for the alteration of cave walls, and provide insight into possible small-scale macroscopically visible biosignatures that could augment the utility of biovermiculations and similarly patterned deposits for astrobiology and life detection applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary Kelly
- Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM 87801, USA;
| | - Michael N. Spilde
- Institute of Meteoritics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
| | - Daniel S. Jones
- Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM 87801, USA;
- National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA
- Correspondence: (P.J.B.); (D.S.J.)
| | - Penelope J. Boston
- Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM 87801, USA;
- National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Correspondence: (P.J.B.); (D.S.J.)
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13
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14
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Dong Y, Sanford RA, Inskeep WP, Srivastava V, Bulone V, Fields CJ, Yau PM, Sivaguru M, Ahrén D, Fouke KW, Weber J, Werth CR, Cann IK, Keating KM, Khetani RS, Hernandez AG, Wright C, Band M, Imai BS, Fried GA, Fouke BW. Physiology, Metabolism, and Fossilization of Hot-Spring Filamentous Microbial Mats. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:1442-1458. [PMID: 31038352 PMCID: PMC6918859 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionarily ancient Aquificales bacterium Sulfurihydrogenibium spp. dominates filamentous microbial mat communities in shallow, fast-flowing, and dysoxic hot-spring drainage systems around the world. In the present study, field observations of these fettuccini-like microbial mats at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park are integrated with geology, geochemistry, hydrology, microscopy, and multi-omic molecular biology analyses. Strategic sampling of living filamentous mats along with the hot-spring CaCO3 (travertine) in which they are actively being entombed and fossilized has permitted the first direct linkage of Sulfurihydrogenibium spp. physiology and metabolism with the formation of distinct travertine streamer microbial biomarkers. Results indicate that, during chemoautotrophy and CO2 carbon fixation, the 87-98% Sulfurihydrogenibium-dominated mats utilize chaperons to facilitate enzyme stability and function. High-abundance transcripts and proteins for type IV pili and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) are consistent with their strong mucus-rich filaments tens of centimeters long that withstand hydrodynamic shear as they become encrusted by more than 5 mm of travertine per day. Their primary energy source is the oxidation of reduced sulfur (e.g., sulfide, sulfur, or thiosulfate) and the simultaneous uptake of extremely low concentrations of dissolved O2 facilitated by bd-type cytochromes. The formation of elevated travertine ridges permits the Sulfurihydrogenibium-dominated mats to create a shallow platform from which to access low levels of dissolved oxygen at the virtual exclusion of other microorganisms. These ridged travertine streamer microbial biomarkers are well preserved and create a robust fossil record of microbial physiological and metabolic activities in modern and ancient hot-spring ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Dong
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Robert A. Sanford
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Geology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - William P. Inskeep
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Vaibhav Srivastava
- Division of Glycoscience, School of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vincent Bulone
- Division of Glycoscience, School of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden
- Division School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Christopher J. Fields
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Peter M. Yau
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Mayandi Sivaguru
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Carl Zeiss Labs @ Location Partner, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Dag Ahrén
- Microbial Ecology Group, Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Pufendorf Institute for Advanced Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kyle W. Fouke
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph Weber
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Charles R. Werth
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Isaac K. Cann
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Keating
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Radhika S. Khetani
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Alvaro G. Hernandez
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Chris Wright
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Mark Band
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Brian S. Imai
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Glenn A. Fried
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Carl Zeiss Labs @ Location Partner, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Bruce W. Fouke
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Geology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Carl Zeiss Labs @ Location Partner, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Pufendorf Institute for Advanced Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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15
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Corenblit D, Darrozes J, Julien F, Otto T, Roussel E, Steiger J, Viles H. The Search for a Signature of Life on Mars: A Biogeomorphological Approach. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:1279-1291. [PMID: 31584307 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Geological evidence shows that life on Earth evolved in line with major concomitant changes in Earth surface processes and landforms. Biogeomorphological characteristics, especially those involving microorganisms, are potentially important facets of biosignatures on Mars and are generating increasing interest in astrobiology. Using Earth as an analog provides reasons to suspect that past or present life on Mars could have resulted in recognizable biogenic landforms. Here, we discuss the potential for, and limitations of, a biogeomorphological approach to identifying the subsets of landforms that are modulated or created through biological processes and thus present signatures of life on Mars. Subsets especially involving microorganisms that are potentially important facets of biosignatures on Mars are proposed: (i) weathering features, biocrusts, patinas, and varnishes; (ii) microbialites and microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS); (iii) bioaccumulations of skeletal remains; (iv) degassing landforms; (v) cryoconites; (vi) self-organized patterns; (vii) unclassified non-analog landforms. We propose a biogeomorphological frequency histogram approach to identify anomalies/modulations in landform properties. Such detection of anomalies/modulations will help track a biotic origin and lead to the development of an integrative multiproxy and multiscale approach combining morphological, structural, textural, and geochemical expertise. This perspective can help guide the choice of investigation sites for future missions and the types and scales of observations to be made by orbiters and rovers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dov Corenblit
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB - F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - José Darrozes
- Université Paul Sabatier, CNRS/IRD, GET - F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Frédéric Julien
- CNRS, ECOLAB, Université Paul Sabatier, CNRS, INPT, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Thierry Otto
- CNRS, ECOLAB, Université Paul Sabatier, CNRS, INPT, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Erwan Roussel
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB - F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Johannes Steiger
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB - F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Heather Viles
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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16
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Georgiou CD. Functional Properties of Amino Acid Side Chains as Biomarkers of Extraterrestrial Life. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1479-1496. [PMID: 30129781 PMCID: PMC6211371 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The present study proposes to search our solar system (Mars, Enceladus, Europa) for patterns of organic molecules that are universally associated with biological functions and structures. The functions are primarily catalytic because life could only have originated within volume/space-constrained compartments containing chemical reactions catalyzed by certain polymers. The proposed molecular structures are specific groups in the side chains of amino acids with the highest catalytic propensities related to life on Earth, that is, those that most frequently participate as key catalytic groups in the active sites of enzymes such as imidazole, thiol, guanidinium, amide, and carboxyl. Alternatively, these or other catalytic groups can be searched for on non-amino-acid organic molecules, which can be tested for certain hydrolytic catalytic activities. The first scenario assumes that life may have originated in a similar manner as the terrestrial set of α-amino acids, while the second scenario does not set such a requirement. From the catalytic propensity perspective proposed in the first scenario, life must have invented amino acids with high catalytic propensity (His, Cys, Arg) in order to overcome, and be complemented by, the low catalytic propensity of the initially available abiogenic amino acids. The abiogenic and the metabolically invented amino acids with the lowest catalytic propensity can also serve as markers of extraterrestrial life when searching for patterns on the basis of the following functional propensities related to protein secondary/quaternary structure: (1) amino acids that are able to form α-helical intramembrane peptide domains, which can serve as primitive transporters in protocell membrane bilayers and catalysts of simple biochemical reactions; (2) amino acids that tend to accumulate in extremophile proteins of Earth and possibly extraterrestrial life. The catalytic/structural functional propensity approach offers a new perspective in the search for extraterrestrial life and could help unify previous amino acid-based approaches.
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17
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Barbieri R, Cavalazzi B. Microterracettes in Sabkha Oum Dba (Western Sahara, Morocco): Physical and Biological Interactions in the Formation of a Surface Micromorphology. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1351-1367. [PMID: 30095990 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Small-scale terracing (microterracettes) is a surface geomorphic feature that recurs under a range of environmental settings, such as those existing in high to low temperature geothermal springs and evaporitic environments, through the single or combined action of physicochemical agents and microbiological processes. Such morphology can also be observed in a confined sector of the Sabkha Oum Dba, which is an inland sabkha of the Western Sahara (Morocco), where field and laboratory investigations revealed that they primarily depend on the accumulation of naviculoid diatoms. Through their biofilm production ability, these benthic diatoms are able to stabilize surface morphologies and make organic alveolar frameworks where the precipitation of low Mg calcite occurs in areas subjected to active oxygenic photosynthesis. Because microterracettes arise in a specific set of environmental conditions, they have environmental significance and, thanks to a high fossilization potential due to mineral precipitation, they can be an effective source of biomorphological and chemical evidence for life. The relationship with aqueous environments, considered to be widespread on Mars especially during a period of intense hydrologic activity as in the late Noachian and Hesperian periods, make the understanding of surficial processes useful (such as the formation of microterracettes) whose formation is frequent in terrestrial analogues for martian environments, such as ephemeral saline continental lakes (sabkhas) and related to the products of bacterial and eukaryotic life, as in the case of biofilms, in search for similar life forms beyond Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Barbieri
- 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Cavalazzi
- 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna , Bologna, Italy
- 2 Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg , Johannesburg, South Africa
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18
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Cabrol NA. The Coevolution of Life and Environment on Mars: An Ecosystem Perspective on the Robotic Exploration of Biosignatures. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1-27. [PMID: 29252008 PMCID: PMC5779243 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Earth's biological and environmental evolution are intertwined and inseparable. This coevolution has become a fundamental concept in astrobiology and is key to the search for life beyond our planet. In the case of Mars, whether a coevolution took place is unknown, but analyzing the factors at play shows the uniqueness of each planetary experiment regardless of similarities. Early Earth and early Mars shared traits. However, biological processes on Mars, if any, would have had to proceed within the distinctive context of an irreversible atmospheric collapse, greater climate variability, and specific planetary characteristics. In that, Mars is an important test bed for comparing the effects of a unique set of spatiotemporal changes on an Earth-like, yet different, planet. Many questions remain unanswered about Mars' early environment. Nevertheless, existing data sets provide a foundation for an intellectual framework where notional coevolution models can be explored. In this framework, the focus is shifted from planetary-scale habitability to the prospect of habitats, microbial ecotones, pathways to biological dispersal, biomass repositories, and their meaning for exploration. Critically, as we search for biosignatures, this focus demonstrates the importance of starting to think of early Mars as a biosphere and vigorously integrating an ecosystem approach to landing site selection and exploration. Key Words: Astrobiology-Biosignatures-Coevolution of Earth and life-Mars. Astrobiology 18, 1-27.
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Horneck G, Walter N, Westall F, Grenfell JL, Martin WF, Gomez F, Leuko S, Lee N, Onofri S, Tsiganis K, Saladino R, Pilat-Lohinger E, Palomba E, Harrison J, Rull F, Muller C, Strazzulla G, Brucato JR, Rettberg P, Capria MT. AstRoMap European Astrobiology Roadmap. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:201-43. [PMID: 27003862 PMCID: PMC4834528 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The European AstRoMap project (supported by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme) surveyed the state of the art of astrobiology in Europe and beyond and produced the first European roadmap for astrobiology research. In the context of this roadmap, astrobiology is understood as the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the context of cosmic evolution; this includes habitability in the Solar System and beyond. The AstRoMap Roadmap identifies five research topics, specifies several key scientific objectives for each topic, and suggests ways to achieve all the objectives. The five AstRoMap Research Topics are • Research Topic 1: Origin and Evolution of Planetary Systems • Research Topic 2: Origins of Organic Compounds in Space • Research Topic 3: Rock-Water-Carbon Interactions, Organic Synthesis on Earth, and Steps to Life • Research Topic 4: Life and Habitability • Research Topic 5: Biosignatures as Facilitating Life Detection It is strongly recommended that steps be taken towards the definition and implementation of a European Astrobiology Platform (or Institute) to streamline and optimize the scientific return by using a coordinated infrastructure and funding system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerda Horneck
- European Astrobiology Network Association
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Köln, Germany
| | | | - Frances Westall
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique–Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Orleans, France
| | - John Lee Grenfell
- Institute for Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany
| | - William F. Martin
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Felipe Gomez
- INTA Centre for Astrobiology, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefan Leuko
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Köln, Germany
| | - Natuschka Lee
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Technical University München, München, Germany
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Kleomenis Tsiganis
- Department of Physics, Section of Astrophysics, Astronomy and Mechanics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Department of Agrobiology and Agrochemistry, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | | | - Ernesto Palomba
- INAF–Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology, Rome, Italy
| | - Jesse Harrison
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fernando Rull
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Valladolid University, Valladolid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Petra Rettberg
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Köln, Germany
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