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Ciesielczuk J, Fabiańska MJ, Gaidzik K, Nádudvari Á, Misz-Kennan M, Abramowicz A. Botryoidal and spherulitic hematite as experimental evidence of highly acidic conditions in burning coal-waste dumps and potentially on Mars. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 932:172759. [PMID: 38670352 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
In the extreme setting of burning coal-waste dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in Poland, botryoidal and spherulitic hematite occurs in association with sulphates and chlorides. A series of simple experiments aimed at replicating the conditions leading to the formation of hematite spherules on the burning dumps are described. Goethite synthesised in the laboratory, mixed with various combinations of other reactants, was heated in a heating chamber or a tubular furnace. Temperature, duration of heating, water and oxygen access, and pH were experimental variables. The results show that hematite may form spherules from goethite where access to oxygen is limited and where conditions are strongly acidic. The spherulitic shape of hematite produced due to dynamically changing physicochemical conditions in the burning dumps can be an indicator of an extremely acidic environment during the closing stages of coal-waste self-heating. The conditions of hematitic-spherule formation on burning coal-waste dumps may apply in a variety of other unrelated settings, e.g., waning volcanism, sulphuric acid speleologenesis and even the formation of blueberries on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Ciesielczuk
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland.
| | - Monika J Fabiańska
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Gaidzik
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Ádám Nádudvari
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Magdalena Misz-Kennan
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Anna Abramowicz
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
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Cassaro A, Pacelli C, Onofri S. Survival, metabolic activity, and ultrastructural damages of Antarctic black fungus in perchlorates media. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:992077. [PMID: 36523839 PMCID: PMC9744811 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.992077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence from recent Mars landers identified the presence of perchlorates salts at 1 wt % in regolith and their widespread distribution on the Martian surface that has been hypothesized as a critical chemical hazard for putative life forms. However, the hypersaline environment may also potentially preserve life and its biomolecules over geological timescales. The high concentration of natural perchlorates is scarcely reported on Earth. The presence of perchlorates in soil and ice has been recorded in some extreme environments including the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, one of the best terrestrial analogues for Mars. In the frame of "Life in space" Italian astrobiology project, the polyextremophilic black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus, a eukaryotic test organism isolated from the Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities, has been tested for its resistance, when grown on different hypersaline substrata. In addition, C. antarcticus was grown on Martian relevant perchlorate medium (0.4 wt% of Mg(ClO4)2 and 0.6 wt% of Ca(ClO4)2) to investigate the possibility for the fungus to survive in Martian environment. Here, the results indicate a good survivability and metabolic activity recovery of the black fungus when grown on four Martian relevant perchlorates. A low percentage of damaged cellular membranes have been found, confirming the ultrastructural investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Cassaro
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Claudia Pacelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, Viterbo, Italy
- Human Spaceflight and Scientific Research Unit, Italian Space Agency, via del Politecnico, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, Viterbo, Italy
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3
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Searching Mass-Balance Analysis to Find the Composition of Martian Blueberries. MINERALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/min12060777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Between 2004 and 2018, NASA’s rover Opportunity found huge numbers of small, hematite-rich spherules (commonly called blueberries) on the Meridiani Planum of Mars. The standard oxide composition distributions of blueberries have remained poorly constrained, with previous published analyses leaving hematite content somewhere in the broad range of 24–100 wt%. A searching mass-balance analysis is introduced and applied to constrain possible standard oxide composition distributions of blueberries consistent with the non-detection of silicates in blueberries by Opportunity’s instruments. This analysis found three groups of complete solution sets among the mass-balance ions consistent with the non-detection of silicates; although, a simple extension of the analysis indicates that one larger space of solutions incorporates all three groups of solutions. Enforcing consistency with the non-detection of silicates in blueberries constrains the hematite content in most of blueberry samples to between 79.5 and 99.85 wt%. A feature of the largest group of complete solution sets is that five oxides/elements, MgO, P2O5, Na2O, SO3, and Cl, collectively have a summed weight percentage that averages close to 6 wt%, while the weight percentage of nickel is close to 0.3 wt% in all solutions. Searches over multidimensional spaces of filtering composition distributions of basaltic and dusty soils were a methodological advance.
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Oliver JAW, Kelbrick M, Ramkissoon NK, Dugdale A, Stephens BP, Kucukkilic-Stephens E, Fox-Powell MG, Schwenzer SP, Antunes A, Macey MC. Sulfur Cycling as a Viable Metabolism under Simulated Noachian/Hesperian Chemistries. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12040523. [PMID: 35455014 PMCID: PMC9024814 DOI: 10.3390/life12040523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Water present on the surface of early Mars (>3.0 Ga) may have been habitable. Characterising analogue environments and investigating the aspects of their microbiome best suited for growth under simulated martian chemical conditions is key to understanding potential habitability. Experiments were conducted to investigate the viability of microbes from a Mars analogue environment, Colour Peak Springs (Axel Heiberg Island, Canadian High Arctic), under simulated martian chemistries. The fluid was designed to emulate waters thought to be typical of the late Noachian, in combination with regolith simulant material based on two distinct martian geologies. These experiments were performed with a microbial community from Colour Peak Springs sediment. The impact on the microbes was assessed by cell counting and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Changes in fluid chemistries were tested using ICP-OES. Both chemistries were shown to be habitable, with growth in both chemistries. Microbial communities exhibited distinct growth dynamics and taxonomic composition, comprised of sulfur-cycling bacteria, represented by either sulfate-reducing or sulfur-oxidising bacteria, and additional heterotrophic halophiles. Our data support the identification of Colour Peak Springs as an analogue for former martian environments, with a specific subsection of the biota able to survive under more accurate proxies for martian chemistries.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. W. Oliver
- Biology Department, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK; (J.A.W.O.); (M.K.)
| | - Matthew Kelbrick
- Biology Department, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK; (J.A.W.O.); (M.K.)
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GJ, UK
| | - Nisha K. Ramkissoon
- AstrobiologyOU, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK; (N.K.R.); (B.P.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.G.F.-P.); (S.P.S.)
| | - Amy Dugdale
- AstrobiologyOU, School of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK;
- Biology Department, Maynooth University, Maynooth, W23 F2H6 Kildare, Ireland
| | - Ben P. Stephens
- AstrobiologyOU, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK; (N.K.R.); (B.P.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.G.F.-P.); (S.P.S.)
| | - Ezgi Kucukkilic-Stephens
- AstrobiologyOU, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK; (N.K.R.); (B.P.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.G.F.-P.); (S.P.S.)
| | - Mark G. Fox-Powell
- AstrobiologyOU, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK; (N.K.R.); (B.P.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.G.F.-P.); (S.P.S.)
- School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AJ, UK
| | - Susanne P. Schwenzer
- AstrobiologyOU, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK; (N.K.R.); (B.P.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.G.F.-P.); (S.P.S.)
| | - André Antunes
- State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), Macau, China;
- China National Space Administration (CNSA), Macau Center for Space Exploration and Science, Macau, China
| | - Michael C. Macey
- AstrobiologyOU, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK; (N.K.R.); (B.P.S.); (E.K.-S.); (M.G.F.-P.); (S.P.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Price A, Macey MC, Pearson VK, Schwenzer SP, Ramkissoon NK, Olsson-Francis K. Oligotrophic Growth of Nitrate-Dependent Fe 2+-Oxidising Microorganisms Under Simulated Early Martian Conditions. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:800219. [PMID: 35418959 PMCID: PMC8997339 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.800219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrate-dependent Fe2+ oxidation (NDFO) is a microbially mediated process observed in many anaerobic, low-nutrient (oligotrophic) neutral-alkaline environments on Earth, which describes oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ in tandem with microbial nitrate reduction. Evidence suggests that similar environments existed on Mars during the Noachian epoch (4.1-3.7 Ga) and in periodic, localised environments more recently, indicating that NDFO metabolism could have played a role in a potential early martian biosphere. In this paper, three NDFO microorganisms, Acidovorax sp. strain BoFeN1, Pseudogulbenkiania sp. strain 2002 and Paracoccus sp. strain KS1, were assessed for their ability to grow oligotrophically in simulated martian brines and in a minimal medium with olivine as a solid Fe2+ source. These simulant-derived media were developed from modelled fluids based on the geochemistry of Mars sample locations at Rocknest (contemporary Mars soil), Paso Robles (sulphur-rich soil), Haematite Slope (haematite-rich soil) and a Shergottite meteorite (common basalt). The Shergottite medium was able to support growth of all three organisms, while the contemporary Mars medium supported growth of Acidovorax sp. strain BoFeN1 and Pseudogulbenkiania sp. strain 2002; however, growth was not accompanied by significant Fe2+ oxidation. Each of the strains was also able to grow in oligotrophic minimal media with olivine as the sole Fe2+ source. Biomineralised cells of Pseudogulbenkiania sp. strain 2002 were identified on the surface of the olivine, representing a potential biosignature for NDFO microorganisms in martian samples. The results suggest that NDFO microorganisms could have thrived in early martian groundwaters under oligotrophic conditions, depending on the local lithology. This can guide missions in identifying palaeoenvironments of interest for biosignature detection. Indeed, biomineralised cells identified on the olivine surface provide a previously unexplored mechanism for the preservation of morphological biosignatures in the martian geological record.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Price
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Michael C. Macey
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria K. Pearson
- School of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne P. Schwenzer
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Nisha K. Ramkissoon
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Olsson-Francis
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
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6
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Barkatt A, Okutsu M. Obtaining elemental sulfur for Martian sulfur concrete. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/17475198221080729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A potential candidate material for the construction of Mars habitats is concrete made from the Martian regolith and sulfur extracted from the regolith itself. Sulfur concrete, which has excellent mechanical properties, can be prepared at a low temperature (<150 °) and without water (unlike Portland-cement concrete). The surface of Mars has a much higher concentration of sulfur than those of the Earth, the Moon, or the asteroids. Sulfur on Mars, however, exists not as elemental sulfur—which is needed in concrete production—but as sulfates (usually hydrated) and sulfides. This paper surveys thermochemical and electrochemical methods that might be used to produce elemental sulfur from its compounds contained in the minerals on Mars. Possible methods include chemical or electrochemical oxidation or decomposition of sulfides, which include sulfides that exist naturally on Mars as well as sulfides that are produced via chemical or electrochemical reduction of sulfates. Some of the methods to obtain elemental sulfur—such as chemical or electrochemical oxidation or decomposition of metal sulfides or hydrogen sulfide—have already been demonstrated. The methods of producing elemental sulfur from sulfur-containing minerals on Mars will have the added benefit of generating byproducts (e.g. water, hydrogen, oxygen, and metals) that are useful for explorations of the Red Planet. In the future, chemical processes for the production of elemental sulfur may also have important industrial applications on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Barkatt
- The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA
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Huidobro J, Aramendia J, Arana G, Madariaga JM. Reviewing in situ analytical techniques used to research Martian geochemistry: From the Viking Project to the MMX future mission. Anal Chim Acta 2022; 1197:339499. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2022.339499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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8
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Rolling Ironstones from Earth and Mars: Terrestrial Hydrothermal Ooids as a Potential Analogue of Martian Spherules. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11050460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
High-resolution images of Mars from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) rovers revealed mm-size loose haematite spherulitic deposits (nicknamed “blueberries”) similar to terrestrial iron-ooids, for which both abiotic and biotic genetic hypotheses have been proposed. Understanding the formation mechanism of these haematite spherules can thus improve our knowledge on the possible geologic evolution and links to life development on Mars. Here, we show that shape, size, fabric and mineralogical composition of the Martian spherules share similarities with corresponding iron spherules currently forming on the Earth over an active submarine hydrothermal system located off Panarea Island (Aeolian Islands, Mediterranean Sea). Hydrothermal fluids associated with volcanic activity enable these terrestrial spheroidal grains to form and grow. The recent exceptional discovery of a still working iron-ooid source on the Earth provides indications that past hydrothermal activity on the Red Planet is a possible scenario to be considered as the cause of formation of these enigmatic iron grains.
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Thompson SP, Kennedy H, Day SJ, Baker AR, Butler BM, Safi E, Kelly J, Male A, Potter J, Cobb T, Murray CA, Tang CC, Evans A, Mercado R. A slow-cooling-rate in situ cell for long-duration studies of mineral precipitation in cold aqueous environments on Earth and other planetary bodies. J Appl Crystallogr 2018; 51:1197-1210. [PMID: 30147638 PMCID: PMC6100201 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576718008816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid oceans and ice caps, along with ice crusts, have long been considered defining features of the Earth, but space missions and observations have shown that they are in fact common features among many of the solar system's outer planets and their satellites. Interactions with rock-forming materials have produced saline oceans not dissimilar in many respects to those on Earth, where mineral precipitation within frozen seawater plays a significant role in both determining global properties and regulating the environment in which a complex ecosystem of extremophiles exists. Since water is considered an essential ingredient for life, the presence of oceans and ice on other solar system bodies is of great astrobiological interest. However, the details surrounding mineral precipitation in freezing environments are still poorly constrained, owing to the difficulties of sampling and ex situ preservation for laboratory analysis, meaning that predictive models have limited empirical underpinnings. To address this, the design and performance characterization of a transmission-geometry sample cell for use in long-duration synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction studies of in situ mineral precipitation from aqueous ice-brine systems are presented. The cell is capable of very slow cooling rates (e.g. 0.3°C per day or less), and its performance is demonstrated with the results from a year-long study of the precipitation of the hydrated magnesium sulfate phase meridianiite (MgSO4·11H2O) from the MgSO4-H2O system. Evidence from the Mars Rover mission suggests that this hydrated phase is widespread on the present-day surface of Mars. However, as well as the predicted hexagonal ice and meridianiite phases, an additional hydrated sulfate phase and a disordered phase are observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P. Thompson
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Hilary Kennedy
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Sarah J. Day
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Annabelle R. Baker
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Benjamin M. Butler
- Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
| | - Emmal Safi
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
- Astrophysics Group, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Jon Kelly
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Andrew Male
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Jonathan Potter
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Tom Cobb
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Claire A. Murray
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Chiu C. Tang
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Aneurin Evans
- Astrophysics Group, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Ronaldo Mercado
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
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Maslov I, Bogorodskiy A, Mishin A, Okhrimenko I, Gushchin I, Kalenov S, Dencher NA, Fahlke C, Büldt G, Gordeliy V, Gensch T, Borshchevskiy V. Efficient non-cytotoxic fluorescent staining of halophiles. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2549. [PMID: 29416075 PMCID: PMC5803262 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20839-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on halophilic microorganisms is important due to their relation to fundamental questions of survival of living organisms in a hostile environment. Here we introduce a novel method to stain halophiles with MitoTracker fluorescent dyes in their growth medium. The method is based on membrane-potential sensitive dyes, which were originally used to label mitochondria in eukaryotic cells. We demonstrate that these fluorescent dyes provide high staining efficiency and are beneficial for multi-staining purposes due to the spectral range covered (from orange to deep red). In contrast with other fluorescent dyes used so far, MitoTracker does not affect growth rate, and remains in cells after several washing steps and several generations in cell culture. The suggested dyes were tested on three archaeal (Hbt. salinarum, Haloferax sp., Halorubrum sp.) and two bacterial (Salicola sp., Halomonas sp.) strains of halophilic microorganisms. The new staining approach provides new insights into biology of Hbt. salinarum. We demonstrated the interconversion of rod-shaped cells of Hbt. salinarium to spheroplasts and submicron-sized spheres, as well as the cytoplasmic integrity of giant rod Hbt. salinarum species. By expanding the variety of tools available for halophile detection, MitoTracker dyes overcome long-standing limitations in fluorescence microscopy studies of halophiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Maslov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
| | - Andrey Bogorodskiy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
| | - Alexey Mishin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
| | - Ivan Okhrimenko
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
| | - Ivan Gushchin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
| | - Sergei Kalenov
- Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, 125047, Moscow, Russia
| | - Norbert A Dencher
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
- CSI Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christoph Fahlke
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS), ICS-4: Cellular Biophysics, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Georg Büldt
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
| | - Valentin Gordeliy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS), ICS-6: Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas Gensch
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS), ICS-4: Cellular Biophysics, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Valentin Borshchevskiy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia.
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Moros J, ElFaham MM, Laserna JJ. Dual-Spectroscopy Platform for the Surveillance of Mars Mineralogy Using a Decisions Fusion Architecture on Simultaneous LIBS-Raman Data. Anal Chem 2018; 90:2079-2087. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Moros
- Universidad de Málaga, Departamento de
Química Analítica, UMALASERLAB, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | | | - J. Javier Laserna
- Universidad de Málaga, Departamento de
Química Analítica, UMALASERLAB, 29010 Málaga, Spain
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12
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Perchlorates on Mars enhance the bacteriocidal effects of UV light. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4662. [PMID: 28684729 PMCID: PMC5500590 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04910-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Perchlorates have been identified on the surface of Mars. This has prompted speculation of what their influence would be on habitability. We show that when irradiated with a simulated Martian UV flux, perchlorates become bacteriocidal. At concentrations associated with Martian surface regolith, vegetative cells of Bacillus subtilis in Martian analogue environments lost viability within minutes. Two other components of the Martian surface, iron oxides and hydrogen peroxide, act in synergy with irradiated perchlorates to cause a 10.8-fold increase in cell death when compared to cells exposed to UV radiation after 60 seconds of exposure. These data show that the combined effects of at least three components of the Martian surface, activated by surface photochemistry, render the present-day surface more uninhabitable than previously thought, and demonstrate the low probability of survival of biological contaminants released from robotic and human exploration missions.
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Li X, Danell RM, Brinckerhoff WB, Pinnick VT, van Amerom F, Arevalo RD, Getty SA, Mahaffy PR, Steininger H, Goesmann F. Detection of trace organics in Mars analog samples containing perchlorate by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. ASTROBIOLOGY 2015; 15:104-110. [PMID: 25622133 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2014.1203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Evidence from recent Mars missions indicates the presence of perchlorate salts up to 1 wt % level in the near-surface materials. Mixed perchlorates and other oxychlorine species may complicate the detection of organic molecules in bulk martian samples when using pyrolysis techniques. To address this analytical challenge, we report here results of laboratory measurements with laser desorption mass spectrometry, including analyses performed on both commercial and Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) breadboard instruments. We demonstrate that the detection of nonvolatile organics in selected spiked mineral-matrix materials by laser desorption/ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry is not inhibited by the presence of up to 1 wt % perchlorate salt. The organics in the sample are not significantly degraded or combusted in the LDI process, and the parent molecular ion is retained in the mass spectrum. The LDI technique provides distinct potential benefits for the detection of organics in situ on the martian surface and has the potential to aid in the search for signs of life on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- 1 Center for Space Science and Technology, University of Maryland , Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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14
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Vítek P, Jehlička J, Edwards HGM, Hutchinson I, Ascaso C, Wierzchos J. Miniaturized Raman instrumentation detects carotenoids in Mars-analogue rocks from the Mojave and Atacama deserts. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2014; 372:rsta.2014.0196. [PMID: 25368344 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2014.0196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study is primarily focused on proving the potential of miniaturized Raman systems to detect any biomolecular and mineral signal in natural geobiological samples that are relevant for future application of the technique within astrobiologically aimed missions on Mars. A series of evaporites of varying composition and origin from two extremely dry deserts were studied, namely Atacama and Mojave. The samples represent both dry evaporitic deposits and recent evaporitic efflorescences from hypersaline brines. The samples comprise halite and different types of sulfates and carbonates. The samples were analysed in two different ways: (i) directly as untreated rocks and (ii) as homogenized powders. Two excitation wavelengths of miniaturized Raman spectrometers were compared: 532 and 785 nm. The potential to detect carotenoids as biomarkers on Mars compared with the potential detection of carbonaceous matter using miniaturized instrumentation is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Vítek
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - J Jehlička
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - H G M Edwards
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Space Sciences Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - I Hutchinson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Space Sciences Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - C Ascaso
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, c/ Serrano 115 dpdo., 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - J Wierzchos
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, c/ Serrano 115 dpdo., 28006 Madrid, Spain
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15
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Chloromethane release from carbonaceous meteorite affords new insight into Mars lander findings. Sci Rep 2014; 4:7010. [PMID: 25394222 PMCID: PMC4230006 DOI: 10.1038/srep07010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Controversy continues as to whether chloromethane (CH3Cl) detected during pyrolysis of Martian soils by the Viking and Curiosity Mars landers is indicative of organic matter indigenous to Mars. Here we demonstrate CH3Cl release (up to 8 μg/g) during low temperature (150–400°C) pyrolysis of the carbonaceous chondrite Murchison with chloride or perchlorate as chlorine source and confirm unequivocally by stable isotope analysis the extraterrestrial origin of the methyl group (δ2H +800 to +1100‰, δ13C −19.2 to +10‰,). In the terrestrial environment CH3Cl released during pyrolysis of organic matter derives from the methoxyl pool. The methoxyl pool in Murchison is consistent both in magnitude (0.044%) and isotope signature (δ2H +1054 ± 626‰, δ13C +43.2 ± 38.8‰,) with that of the CH3Cl released on pyrolysis. Thus CH3Cl emissions recorded by Mars lander experiments may be attributed to methoxyl groups in undegraded organic matter in meteoritic debris reaching the Martian surface being converted to CH3Cl with perchlorate or chloride in Martian soil. However we cannot discount emissions arising additionally from organic matter of indigenous origin. The stable isotope signatures of CH3Cl detected on Mars could potentially be utilized to determine its origin by distinguishing between terrestrial contamination, meteoritic infall and indigenous Martian sources.
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16
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Hosein R, Haque S, Beckles DM. Mud volcanoes of trinidad as astrobiological analogs for martian environments. Life (Basel) 2014; 4:566-85. [PMID: 25370529 PMCID: PMC4284458 DOI: 10.3390/life4040566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Eleven onshore mud volcanoes in the southern region of Trinidad have been studied as analog habitats for possible microbial life on Mars. The profiles of the 11 mud volcanoes are presented in terms of their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and soil properties. The mud volcanoes sampled all emitted methane gas consistently at 3% volume. The average pH for the mud volcanic soil was 7.98. The average Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) was found to be 2.16 kg/mol, and the average Percentage Water Content was 34.5%. Samples from three of the volcanoes, (i) Digity; (ii) Piparo and (iii) Devil’s Woodyard were used to culture bacterial colonies under anaerobic conditions indicating possible presence of methanogenic microorganisms. The Trinidad mud volcanoes can serve as analogs for the Martian environment due to similar geological features found extensively on Mars in Acidalia Planitia and the Arabia Terra region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riad Hosein
- Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
| | - Shirin Haque
- Department of Physics, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
| | - Denise M Beckles
- Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
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17
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Río tinto: a geochemical and mineralogical terrestrial analogue of Mars. Life (Basel) 2014; 4:511-34. [PMID: 25370383 PMCID: PMC4206857 DOI: 10.3390/life4030511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The geomicrobiological characterization of the water column and sediments of Río Tinto (Huelva, Southwestern Spain) have proven the importance of the iron and the sulfur cycles, not only in generating the extreme conditions of the habitat (low pH, high concentration of toxic heavy metals), but also in maintaining the high level of microbial diversity detected in the basin. It has been proven that the extreme acidic conditions of Río Tinto basin are not the product of 5000 years of mining activity in the area, but the consequence of an active underground bioreactor that obtains its energy from the massive sulfidic minerals existing in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Two drilling projects, MARTE (Mars Astrobiology Research and Technology Experiment) (2003–2006) and IPBSL (Iberian Pyrite Belt Subsurface Life Detection) (2011–2015), were developed and carried out to provide evidence of subsurface microbial activity and the potential resources that support these activities. The reduced substrates and the oxidants that drive the system appear to come from the rock matrix. These resources need only groundwater to launch diverse microbial metabolisms. The similarities between the vast sulfate and iron oxide deposits on Mars and the main sulfide bioleaching products found in the Tinto basin have given Río Tinto the status of a geochemical and mineralogical Mars terrestrial analogue.
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18
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Marcucci EC, Hynek BM. Laboratory simulations of acid-sulfate weathering under volcanic hydrothermal conditions: Implications for early Mars. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. PLANETS 2014; 119:679-703. [PMID: 26213665 PMCID: PMC4508920 DOI: 10.1002/2013je004439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We have completed laboratory experiments and thermochemical equilibrium models to investigate secondary mineral formation under conditions akin to volcanic, hydrothermal acid-sulfate weathering systems. Our research used the basaltic mineralogy at Cerro Negro Volcano, Nicaragua, characterized by plagioclase, pyroxene, olivine, and volcanic glass. These individual minerals and whole-rock field samples were reacted in the laboratory with 1 molal sulfuric acid at varying temperatures (65, 150, and 200°C), fluid:rock weight ratios (1:1, 4:1, and 10:1), and durations (1-60 days). Thermochemical equilibrium models were developed using Geochemist's Workbench. To understand the reaction products and fluids, we employed scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The results of our experiments and models yielded major alteration minerals that include anhydrite, natroalunite, minor iron oxide, and amorphous Al-Si gel. We found that variations in experimental parameters did not drastically change the suite of minerals produced; instead, abundance, size, and crystallographic shape changed. Our results also suggest that it is essential to separate phases formed during experiments from those formed during fluid evaporation to fully understand the reaction processes. Our laboratory reacted and model predicted products are consistent with the mineralogy observed at places on Mars. However, our results indicate that determination of the formation conditions requires microscopic imagery and regional context, as well as a thorough understanding of contributions from both experiment precipitation and fluid evaporation minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Marcucci
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado, USA
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado, USA
- Now at Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, Alaska, USA
- Correspondence to: E. C. Marcucci,
| | - Brian M Hynek
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado, USA
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado, USA
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19
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Meslin PY, Gasnault O, Forni O, Schröder S, Cousin A, Berger G, Clegg SM, Lasue J, Maurice S, Sautter V, Le Mouélic S, Wiens RC, Fabre C, Goetz W, Bish D, Mangold N, Ehlmann B, Lanza N, Harri AM, Anderson R, Rampe E, McConnochie TH, Pinet P, Blaney D, Léveillé R, Archer D, Barraclough B, Bender S, Blake D, Blank JG, Bridges N, Clark BC, DeFlores L, Delapp D, Dromart G, Dyar MD, Fisk M, Gondet B, Grotzinger J, Herkenhoff K, Johnson J, Lacour JL, Langevin Y, Leshin L, Lewin E, Madsen MB, Melikechi N, Mezzacappa A, Mischna MA, Moores JE, Newsom H, Ollila A, Perez R, Renno N, Sirven JB, Tokar R, de la Torre M, d'Uston L, Vaniman D, Yingst A. Soil diversity and hydration as observed by ChemCam at Gale crater, Mars. Science 2013; 341:1238670. [PMID: 24072924 DOI: 10.1126/science.1238670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The ChemCam instrument, which provides insight into martian soil chemistry at the submillimeter scale, identified two principal soil types along the Curiosity rover traverse: a fine-grained mafic type and a locally derived, coarse-grained felsic type. The mafic soil component is representative of widespread martian soils and is similar in composition to the martian dust. It possesses a ubiquitous hydrogen signature in ChemCam spectra, corresponding to the hydration of the amorphous phases found in the soil by the CheMin instrument. This hydration likely accounts for an important fraction of the global hydration of the surface seen by previous orbital measurements. ChemCam analyses did not reveal any significant exchange of water vapor between the regolith and the atmosphere. These observations provide constraints on the nature of the amorphous phases and their hydration.
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Affiliation(s)
- P-Y Meslin
- Université de Toulouse, UPS-OMP, IRAP, 31028 Toulouse, France.
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20
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Stolper EM, Baker MB, Newcombe ME, Schmidt ME, Treiman AH, Cousin A, Dyar MD, Fisk MR, Gellert R, King PL, Leshin L, Maurice S, McLennan SM, Minitti ME, Perrett G, Rowland S, Sautter V, Wiens RC, Kemppinen O, Bridges N, Johnson JR, Cremers D, Bell JF, Edgar L, Farmer J, Godber A, Wadhwa M, Wellington D, McEwan I, Newman C, Richardson M, Charpentier A, Peret L, Blank J, Weigle G, Li S, Milliken R, Robertson K, Sun V, Edwards C, Ehlmann B, Farley K, Griffes J, Grotzinger J, Miller H, Pilorget C, Rice M, Siebach K, Stack K, Brunet C, Hipkin V, Léveillé R, Marchand G, Sánchez PS, Favot L, Cody G, Steele A, Flückiger L, Lees D, Nefian A, Martin M, Gailhanou M, Westall F, Israël G, Agard C, Baroukh J, Donny C, Gaboriaud A, Guillemot P, Lafaille V, Lorigny E, Paillet A, Pérez R, Saccoccio M, Yana C, Armiens‐Aparicio C, Rodríguez JC, Blázquez IC, Gómez FG, Gómez-Elvira J, Hettrich S, Malvitte AL, Jiménez MM, Martínez-Frías J, Martín-Soler J, Martín-Torres FJ, Jurado AM, Mora-Sotomayor L, Caro GM, López SN, Peinado-González V, Pla-García J, Manfredi JAR, Romeral-Planelló JJ, Fuentes SAS, Martinez ES, Redondo JT, Urqui-O'Callaghan R, Mier MPZ, Chipera S, Lacour JL, Mauchien P, Sirven JB, Manning H, Fairén A, Hayes A, Joseph J, Squyres S, Sullivan R, Thomas P, Dupont A, Lundberg A, Melikechi N, Mezzacappa A, DeMarines J, Grinspoon D, Reitz G, Prats B, Atlaskin E, Genzer M, Harri AM, Haukka H, Kahanpää H, Kauhanen J, Kemppinen O, Paton M, Polkko J, Schmidt W, Siili T, Fabre C, Wray J, Wilhelm MB, Poitrasson F, Patel K, Gorevan S, Indyk S, Paulsen G, Gupta S, Bish D, Schieber J, Gondet B, Langevin Y, Geffroy C, Baratoux D, Berger G, Cros A, d’Uston C, Forni O, Gasnault O, Lasue J, Lee QM, Meslin PY, Pallier E, Parot Y, Pinet P, Schröder S, Toplis M, Lewin É, Brunner W, Heydari E, Achilles C, Oehler D, Sutter B, Cabane M, Coscia D, Israël G, Szopa C, Teinturier S, Dromart G, Robert F, Le Mouélic S, Mangold N, Nachon M, Buch A, Stalport F, Coll P, François P, Raulin F, Cameron J, Clegg S, DeLapp D, Dingler R, Jackson RS, Johnstone S, Lanza N, Little C, Nelson T, Williams RB, Kirkland L, Baker B, Cantor B, Caplinger M, Davis S, Duston B, Edgett K, Fay D, Hardgrove C, Harker D, Herrera P, Jensen E, Kennedy MR, Krezoski G, Krysak D, Lipkaman L, Malin M, McCartney E, McNair S, Nixon B, Posiolova L, Ravine M, Salamon A, Saper L, Stoiber K, Supulver K, Van Beek J, Van Beek T, Zimdar R, French KL, Iagnemma K, Miller K, Summons R, Goesmann F, Goetz W, Hviid S, Johnson M, Lefavor M, Lyness E, Breves E, Fassett C, Blake DF, Bristow T, DesMarais D, Edwards L, Haberle R, Hoehler T, Hollingsworth J, Kahre M, Keely L, McKay C, Wilhelm MB, Bleacher L, Brinckerhoff W, Choi D, Conrad P, Dworkin JP, Eigenbrode J, Floyd M, Freissinet C, Garvin J, Glavin D, Harpold D, Mahaffy P, Martin DK, McAdam A, Pavlov A, Raaen E, Smith MD, Stern J, Tan F, Trainer M, Meyer M, Posner A, Voytek M, Anderson RC, Aubrey A, Beegle LW, Behar A, Blaney D, Brinza D, Calef F, Christensen L, Crisp J, DeFlores L, Ehlmann B, Feldman J, Feldman S, Flesch G, Hurowitz J, Jun I, Keymeulen D, Maki J, Mischna M, Morookian JM, Parker T, Pavri B, Schoppers M, Sengstacken A, Simmonds JJ, Spanovich N, Juarez MDLT, Vasavada A, Webster CR, Yen A, Archer PD, Cucinotta F, Jones JH, Ming D, Morris RV, Niles P, Rampe E, Nolan T, Radziemski L, Barraclough B, Bender S, Berman D, Dobrea EN, Tokar R, Vaniman D, Williams RME, Yingst A, Lewis K, Cleghorn T, Huntress W, Manhès G, Hudgins J, Olson T, Stewart N, Sarrazin P, Grant J, Vicenzi E, Wilson SA, Bullock M, Ehresmann B, Hamilton V, Hassler D, Peterson J, Rafkin S, Zeitlin C, Fedosov F, Golovin D, Karpushkina N, Kozyrev A, Litvak M, Malakhov A, Mitrofanov I, Mokrousov M, Nikiforov S, Prokhorov V, Sanin A, Tretyakov V, Varenikov A, Vostrukhin A, Kuzmin R, Clark B, Wolff M, Botta O, Drake D, Bean K, Lemmon M, Schwenzer SP, Anderson RB, Herkenhoff K, Lee EM, Sucharski R, Hernández MÁDP, Ávalos JJB, Ramos M, Jones A, Kim MH, Malespin C, Plante I, Muller JP, Navarro-González R, Ewing R, Boynton W, Downs R, Fitzgibbon M, Harshman K, Morrison S, Dietrich W, Kortmann O, Palucis M, Sumner DY, Williams A, Lugmair G, Wilson MA, Rubin D, Jakosky B, Balic-Zunic T, Frydenvang J, Jensen JK, Kinch K, Koefoed A, Madsen MB, Stipp SLS, Boyd N, Campbell JL, Pradler I, VanBommel S, Jacob S, Owen T, Atlaskin E, Savijärvi H, Boehm E, Böttcher S, Burmeister S, Guo J, Köhler J, García CM, Mueller-Mellin R, Wimmer-Schweingruber R, Bridges JC, McConnochie T, Benna M, Franz H, Bower H, Brunner A, Blau H, Boucher T, Carmosino M, Atreya S, Elliott H, Halleaux D, Rennó N, Wong M, Pepin R, Elliott B, Spray J, Thompson L, Gordon S, Newsom H, Ollila A, Williams J, Vasconcelos P, Bentz J, Nealson K, Popa R, Kah LC, Moersch J, Tate C, Day M, Kocurek G, Hallet B, Sletten R, Francis R, McCullough E, Cloutis E, ten Kate IL, Kuzmin R, Arvidson R, Fraeman A, Scholes D, Slavney S, Stein T, Ward J, Berger J, Moores JE. The Petrochemistry of Jake_M: A Martian Mugearite. Science 2013; 341:1239463. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1239463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - M. E. Schmidt
- Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2T 3V8, Canada
| | - A. H. Treiman
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX 77058, USA
| | - A. Cousin
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
- Institut de Recherches en Astrophysique et Planétologie, 31028 Toulouse, France
| | - M. D. Dyar
- Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - M. R. Fisk
- Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - R. Gellert
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - P. L. King
- Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - L. Leshin
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - S. Maurice
- Institut de Recherches en Astrophysique et Planétologie, 31028 Toulouse, France
| | - S. M. McLennan
- The State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - M. E. Minitti
- Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 20723, USA
| | - G. Perrett
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - S. Rowland
- University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - V. Sautter
- Laboratoire de Minéralogie et Cosmochimie du Muséum, 75005 Paris, France
| | - R. C. Wiens
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
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21
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Tuff J, Wade J, Wood BJ. Volcanism on Mars controlled by early oxidation of the upper mantle. Nature 2013; 498:342-5. [PMID: 23783628 DOI: 10.1038/nature12225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 04/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Detailed information about the chemical composition and evolution of Mars has been derived principally from the SNC (shergottite-nakhlite-chassignite) meteorites, which are genetically related igneous rocks of Martian origin. They are chemically and texturally similar to terrestrial basalts and cumulates, except that they have higher concentrations of iron and volatile elements such as phosphorus and chlorine and lower concentrations of nickel and other chalcophile (sulphur-loving) elements. Most Martian meteorites have relatively young crystallization ages (1.4 billion years to 180 million years ago) and are considered to be derived from young, lightly cratered volcanic regions, such as the Tharsis plateau. Surface rocks from the Gusev crater analysed by the Spirit rover are much older (about 3.7 billion years old) and exhibit marked compositional differences from the meteorites. Although also basaltic in composition, the surface rocks are richer in nickel and sulphur and have lower manganese/iron ratios than the meteorites. This has led to doubts that Mars can be described adequately using the 'SNC model'. Here we show, however, that the differences between the compositions of meteorites and surface rocks can be explained by differences in the oxygen fugacity during melting of the same sulphur-rich mantle. This ties the sources of Martian meteorites to those of the surface rocks through an early (>3.7 billion years ago) oxidation of the uppermost mantle that had less influence on the deeper regions, which produce the more recent volcanic rocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Tuff
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN, UK
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22
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McKay CP, Stoker CR, Glass BJ, Davé AI, Davila AF, Heldmann JL, Marinova MM, Fairen AG, Quinn RC, Zacny KA, Paulsen G, Smith PH, Parro V, Andersen DT, Hecht MH, Lacelle D, Pollard WH. The Icebreaker Life Mission to Mars: a search for biomolecular evidence for life. ASTROBIOLOGY 2013; 13:334-53. [PMID: 23560417 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2012.0878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The search for evidence of life on Mars is the primary motivation for the exploration of that planet. The results from previous missions, and the Phoenix mission in particular, indicate that the ice-cemented ground in the north polar plains is likely to be the most recently habitable place that is currently known on Mars. The near-surface ice likely provided adequate water activity during periods of high obliquity, ≈ 5 Myr ago. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen are present in the atmosphere, and nitrates may be present in the soil. Perchlorate in the soil together with iron in basaltic rock provides a possible energy source for life. Furthermore, the presence of organics must once again be considered, as the results of the Viking GCMS are now suspect given the discovery of the thermally reactive perchlorate. Ground ice may provide a way to preserve organic molecules for extended periods of time, especially organic biomarkers. The Mars Icebreaker Life mission focuses on the following science goals: (1) Search for specific biomolecules that would be conclusive evidence of life. (2) Perform a general search for organic molecules in the ground ice. (3) Determine the processes of ground ice formation and the role of liquid water. (4) Understand the mechanical properties of the martian polar ice-cemented soil. (5) Assess the recent habitability of the environment with respect to required elements to support life, energy sources, and possible toxic elements. (6) Compare the elemental composition of the northern plains with midlatitude sites. The Icebreaker Life payload has been designed around the Phoenix spacecraft and is targeted to a site near the Phoenix landing site. However, the Icebreaker payload could be supported on other Mars landing systems. Preliminary studies of the SpaceX Dragon lander show that it could support the Icebreaker payload for a landing either at the Phoenix site or at midlatitudes. Duplicate samples could be cached as a target for possible return by a Mars Sample Return mission. If the samples were shown to contain organic biomarkers, interest in returning them to Earth would be high.
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Radiation Resistance in Extremophiles: Fending Off Multiple Attacks. CELLULAR ORIGIN, LIFE IN EXTREME HABITATS AND ASTROBIOLOGY 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6488-0_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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24
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Weitz CM, Noe Dobrea EZ, Lane MD, Knudson AT. Geologic relationships between gray hematite, sulfates, and clays in Capri Chasma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2012je004092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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25
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McGlynn IO, Fedo CM, McSween HY. Soil mineralogy at the Mars Exploration Rover landing sites: An assessment of the competing roles of physical sorting and chemical weathering. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011je003861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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House CH, Beal EJ, Orphan VJ. The Apparent Involvement of ANMEs in Mineral Dependent Methane Oxidation, as an Analog for Possible Martian Methanotrophy. Life (Basel) 2011; 1:19-33. [PMID: 25382054 PMCID: PMC4187123 DOI: 10.3390/life1010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Revised: 09/14/2011] [Accepted: 11/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
On Earth, marine anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) can be driven by the microbial reduction of sulfate, iron, and manganese. Here, we have further characterized marine sediment incubations to determine if the mineral dependent methane oxidation involves similar microorganisms to those found for sulfate-dependent methane oxidation. Through FISH and FISH-SIMS analyses using 13C and 15N labeled substrates, we find that the most active cells during manganese dependent AOM are primarily mixed and mixed-cluster aggregates of archaea and bacteria. Overall, our control experiment using sulfate showed two active bacterial clusters, two active shell aggregates, one active mixed aggregate, and an active archaeal sarcina, the last of which appeared to take up methane in the absence of a closely-associated bacterial partner. A single example of a shell aggregate appeared to be active in the manganese incubation, along with three mixed aggregates and an archaeal sarcina. These results suggest that the microorganisms (e.g., ANME-2) found active in the manganese-dependent incubations are likely capable of sulfate-dependent AOM. Similar metabolic flexibility for Martian methanotrophs would mean that the same microbial groups could inhabit a diverse set of Martian mineralogical crustal environments. The recently discovered seasonal Martian plumes of methane outgassing could be coupled to the reduction of abundant surface sulfates and extensive metal oxides, providing a feasible metabolism for present and past Mars. In an optimistic scenario Martian methanotrophy consumes much of the periodic methane released supporting on the order of 10,000 microbial cells per cm2 of Martian surface. Alternatively, most of the methane released each year could be oxidized through an abiotic process requiring biological methane oxidation to be more limited. If under this scenario, 1% of this methane flux were oxidized by biology in surface soils or in subsurface aquifers (prior to release), a total of about 1020 microbial cells could be supported through methanotrophy with the cells concentrated in regions of methane release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H House
- Department of Geosciences and Penn State Astrobiology Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 220 Deike Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Emily J Beal
- Department of Geosciences and Penn State Astrobiology Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 220 Deike Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Victoria J Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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Wright SP, Christensen PR, Sharp TG. Laboratory thermal emission spectroscopy of shocked basalt from Lonar Crater, India, and implications for Mars orbital and sample data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2010je003785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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28
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McHenry LJ, Chevrier V, Schröder C. Jarosite in a Pleistocene East African saline-alkaline paleolacustrine deposit: Implications for Mars aqueous geochemistry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2010je003680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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29
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Stillman DE, Grimm RE. Radar penetrates only the youngest geological units on Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2010je003661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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30
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Amils R, González-Toril E, Aguilera A, Rodríguez N, Fernández-Remolar D, Gómez F, García-Moyano A, Malki M, Oggerin M, Sánchez-Andrea I, Sanz J. From Río Tinto to Mars: the terrestrial and extraterrestrial ecology of acidophiles. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2011; 77:41-70. [PMID: 22050821 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-387044-5.00002-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The recent geomicrobiological characterization of Río Tinto, Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), has proven the importance of the iron cycle, not only in generating the extreme conditions of the habitat (low pH, high concentration of toxic heavy metals) but also in maintaining the high level of microbial diversity, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, detected in the water column and the sediments. The extreme conditions of the Tinto basin are not the product of industrial contamination but the consequence of the presence of an underground bioreactor that obtains its energy from the massive sulfide minerals of the IPB. To test this hypothesis, a drilling project was carried out to intersect ground waters that interact with the mineral ore in order to provide evidence of subsurface microbial activities and the potential resources to support these activities. The oxidants that drive the system appear to come from the rock matrix, contradicting conventional acid mine drainage models. These resources need only groundwater to launch microbial metabolism. There are several similarities between the vast deposits of sulfates and iron oxides on Mars and the main sulfide-containing iron bioleaching products found in the Tinto. Firstly, the short-lived methane detected both in Mars' atmosphere and in the sediments and subsurface of the IPB and secondly, the abundance of iron, common to both. The physicochemical properties of iron make it a source of energy, a shield against radiation and oxidative stress as well as a natural pH controller. These similarities have led to Río Tinto's status as a Mars terrestrial analogue.
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Navarro-González R, Vargas E, de la Rosa J, Raga AC, McKay CP. Reanalysis of the Viking results suggests perchlorate and organics at midlatitudes on Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2010je003599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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32
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Wiseman SM, Arvidson RE, Morris RV, Poulet F, Andrews-Hanna JC, Bishop JL, Murchie SL, Seelos FP, Des Marais D, Griffes JL. Spectral and stratigraphic mapping of hydrated sulfate and phyllosilicate-bearing deposits in northern Sinus Meridiani, Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009je003354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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33
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Fendrihan S, Musso M, Stan-Lotter H. Raman spectroscopy as a potentialmethod for the detection of extremely halophilic archaea embedded in halite in terrestrial and possibly extraterrestrial samples. JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY : JRS 2009; 40:1996-2003. [PMID: 22058585 PMCID: PMC3207228 DOI: 10.1002/jrs.2357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Evidence for the widespread occurrence of extraterrestrial halite, particularly on Mars, has led to speculations on the possibility of halophilic microbial forms of life; these ideas have been strengthened by reports of viable haloarchaea from sediments of geological age (millions of years). Raman spectroscopy, being a sensitive detection method for future astrobiological investigations onsite, has been used in the current study for the detection of nine different extremely halophilic archaeal strains which had been embedded in laboratory-made halite crystals in order to simulate evaporitic conditions. The cells accumulated preferentially in tiny fluid inclusions, in simulation of the precipitation of salt in natural brines. FT-Raman spectroscopy using laser excitation at 1064 nm and dispersive micro Raman spectroscopy at 514.5 nm were applied. The spectra showed prominent peaks at 1507, 1152 and 1002 cm(-1) which are attributed to haloarchaeal C(50) carotenoid compounds (mainly bacterioruberins). Their intensity varied from strain to strain at 1064-nm laser excitation. Other distinguishable features were peaks due to peptide bonds (amide I, amide III) and to nucleic acids. No evidence for fatty acids was detected, consistent with their general absence in all archaea.These results contribute to a growing database on Raman spectra of terrestrial microorganisms from hypersaline environments and highlight the influence of the different macromolecular composition of diverse strains on these spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergiu Fendrihan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Microbiology, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maurizio Musso
- Department of Materials Engineering and Physics, Division of Physics and Biophysics, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Helga Stan-Lotter
- Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Microbiology, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
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Hecht MH, Kounaves SP, Quinn RC, West SJ, Young SMM, Ming DW, Catling DC, Clark BC, Boynton WV, Hoffman J, DeFlores LP, Gospodinova K, Kapit J, Smith PH. Detection of Perchlorate and the Soluble Chemistry of Martian Soil at the Phoenix Lander Site. Science 2009; 325:64-7. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1172466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 762] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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35
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Kish A, Kirkali G, Robinson C, Rosenblatt R, Jaruga P, Dizdaroglu M, DiRuggiero J. Salt shield: intracellular salts provide cellular protection against ionizing radiation in the halophilic archaeon,Halobacterium salinarumNRC-1. Environ Microbiol 2009; 11:1066-78. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01828.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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36
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Kounaves SP, Hecht MH, West SJ, Morookian JM, Young SMM, Quinn R, Grunthaner P, Wen X, Weilert M, Cable CA, Fisher A, Gospodinova K, Kapit J, Stroble S, Hsu PC, Clark BC, Ming DW, Smith PH. The MECA Wet Chemistry Laboratory on the 2007 Phoenix Mars Scout Lander. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008je003084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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37
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Fendrihan S, Bérces A, Lammer H, Musso M, Rontó G, Polacsek TK, Holzinger A, Kolb C, Stan-Lotter H. Investigating the effects of simulated martian ultraviolet radiation on Halococcus dombrowskii and other extremely halophilic archaebacteria. ASTROBIOLOGY 2009; 9:104-12. [PMID: 19215203 PMCID: PMC3182532 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2007.0234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The isolation of viable extremely halophilic archaea from 250-million-year-old rock salt suggests the possibility of their long-term survival under desiccation. Since halite has been found on Mars and in meteorites, haloarchaeal survival of martian surface conditions is being explored. Halococcus dombrowskii H4 DSM 14522(T) was exposed to UV doses over a wavelength range of 200-400 nm to simulate martian UV flux. Cells embedded in a thin layer of laboratory-grown halite were found to accumulate preferentially within fluid inclusions. Survival was assessed by staining with the LIVE/DEAD kit dyes, determining colony-forming units, and using growth tests. Halite-embedded cells showed no loss of viability after exposure to about 21 kJ/m(2), and they resumed growth in liquid medium with lag phases of 12 days or more after exposure up to 148 kJ/m(2). The estimated D(37) (dose of 37 % survival) for Hcc. dombrowskii was > or = 400 kJ/m(2). However, exposure of cells to UV flux while in liquid culture reduced D(37) by 2 orders of magnitude (to about 1 kJ/m(2)); similar results were obtained with Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1 and Haloarcula japonica. The absorption of incoming light of shorter wavelength by color centers resulting from defects in the halite crystal structure likely contributed to these results. Under natural conditions, haloarchaeal cells become embedded in salt upon evaporation; therefore, dispersal of potential microscopic life within small crystals, perhaps in dust, on the surface of Mars could resist damage by UV radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergiu Fendrihan
- University of Salzburg, Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Microbiology, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Attila Bérces
- Research Group for Biophysics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Helmut Lammer
- Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - Maurizio Musso
- University of Salzburg, Division of Materials Engineering and Physics, Department of Physics and Biophysics, Salzburg, Austria
| | - György Rontó
- Research Group for Biophysics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tatjana K. Polacsek
- University of Salzburg, Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Microbiology, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Anita Holzinger
- University of Salzburg, Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Microbiology, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christoph Kolb
- Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
- On leave from the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - Helga Stan-Lotter
- University of Salzburg, Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Microbiology, Salzburg, Austria
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Calvin WM, Shoffner JD, Johnson JR, Knoll AH, Pocock JM, Squyres SW, Weitz CM, Arvidson RE, Bell JF, Christensen PR, de Souza PA, Farrand WH, Glotch TD, Herkenhoff KE, Jolliff BL, Knudson AT, McLennan SM, Rogers AD, Thompson SD. Hematite spherules at Meridiani: Results from MI, Mini-TES, and Pancam. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007je003048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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39
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Tréguier E, d'Uston C, Pinet PC, Berger G, Toplis MJ, McCoy TJ, Gellert R, Brückner J. Overview of Mars surface geochemical diversity through Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer data multidimensional analysis: First attempt at modeling rock alteration. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007je003010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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40
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Rao MN, Nyquist LE, Wentworth SJ, Sutton SR, Garrison DH. The nature of Martian fluids based on mobile element studies in salt-assemblages from Martian meteorites. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007je002958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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41
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Goetz W, Leer K, Gunnlaugsson HP, Bartlett P, Basso B, Bell J, Bertelsen P, Binau CS, Chu PC, Gorevan S, Hansen MF, Hviid SF, Kinch KM, Klingelhöfer G, Kusack A, Madsen MB, Ming DW, Morris RV, Mumm E, Myrick T, Olsen M, Squyres SW, Wilson J, Yen A. Search for magnetic minerals in Martian rocks: Overview of the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) magnet investigation on Spirit and Opportunity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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42
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Rogers AD, Aharonson O. Mineralogical composition of sands in Meridiani Planum determined from Mars Exploration Rover data and comparison to orbital measurements. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007je002995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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43
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Boynton WV, Taylor GJ, Evans LG, Reedy RC, Starr R, Janes DM, Kerry KE, Drake DM, Kim KJ, Williams RMS, Crombie MK, Dohm JM, Baker V, Metzger AE, Karunatillake S, Keller JM, Newsom HE, Arnold JR, Brückner J, Englert PAJ, Gasnault O, Sprague AL, Mitrofanov I, Squyres SW, Trombka JI, d'Uston L, Wänke H, Hamara DK. Concentration of H, Si, Cl, K, Fe, and Th in the low- and mid-latitude regions of Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2007je002887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Sutter B, Dalton JB, Ewing SA, Amundson R, McKay CP. Terrestrial analogs for interpretation of infrared spectra from the Martian surface and subsurface: Sulfate, nitrate, carbonate, and phyllosilicate-bearing Atacama Desert soils. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006jg000313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Sutter
- SETI Institute; NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
| | - J. B. Dalton
- SETI Institute; NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
| | - S. A. Ewing
- Division of Ecosystem Sciences; University of California; Berkeley California USA
| | - R. Amundson
- Division of Ecosystem Sciences; University of California; Berkeley California USA
| | - C. P. McKay
- NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
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45
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Karunatillake S, Keller JM, Squyres SW, Boynton WV, Brückner J, Janes DM, Gasnault O, Newsom HE. Chemical compositions at Mars landing sites subject to Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer constraints. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - John M. Keller
- Physics Department; California Polytechnic State University; San Luis Obispo California USA
| | | | - William V. Boynton
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona USA
| | | | - Daniel M. Janes
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona USA
| | - Olivier Gasnault
- Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse; Toulouse France
| | - Horton E. Newsom
- Institute of Meteoritics and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
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46
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Zolotov MY, Mironenko MV. Timing of acid weathering on Mars: A kinetic-thermodynamic assessment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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47
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Fishbaugh KE, Poulet F, Chevrier V, Langevin Y, Bibring JP. On the origin of gypsum in the Mars north polar region. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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48
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Glotch TD, Rogers AD. Evidence for aqueous deposition of hematite- and sulfate-rich light-toned layered deposits in Aureum and Iani Chaos, Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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49
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Minitti ME, Weitz CM, Lane MD, Bishop JL. Morphology, chemistry, and spectral properties of Hawaiian rock coatings and implications for Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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50
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Farrand WH, Bell JF, Johnson JR, Jolliff BL, Knoll AH, McLennan SM, Squyres SW, Calvin WM, Grotzinger JP, Morris RV, Soderblom J, Thompson SD, Watters WA, Yen AS. Visible and near-infrared multispectral analysis of rocks at Meridiani Planum, Mars, by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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