Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma Irradiation
Carotenoids are promising targets in our quest to search for life on Mars due to their biogenic origin and easy detection by Raman spectroscopy, especially with a 532 nm excitation thanks to resonance effects. Ionizing radiations reaching the surface and subsurface of Mars are however detrimental fo...
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doaj-2eea6f0cc63a47fa98b8f5e5aca39cca2020-11-25T02:36:39ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292020-06-0110838310.3390/life10060083Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma IrradiationMickael Baqué0Alessandro Napoli1Claudia Fagliarone2Ralf Moeller3Jean-Pierre de Vera4Daniela Billi5German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Department of Planetary Laboratories, Astrobiological Laboratories, 12489-Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Biology, Laboratory of Astrobiology and Molecular Biology of Cyanobacteria, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133-Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biology, Laboratory of Astrobiology and Molecular Biology of Cyanobacteria, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133-Rome, ItalySpace Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147-Cologne, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Department of Planetary Laboratories, Astrobiological Laboratories, 12489-Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Biology, Laboratory of Astrobiology and Molecular Biology of Cyanobacteria, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133-Rome, ItalyCarotenoids are promising targets in our quest to search for life on Mars due to their biogenic origin and easy detection by Raman spectroscopy, especially with a 532 nm excitation thanks to resonance effects. Ionizing radiations reaching the surface and subsurface of Mars are however detrimental for the long-term preservation of biomolecules. We show here that desiccation can protect carotenoid Raman signatures in the desert cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> sp. CCMEE 029 even after high-dose gamma irradiation. Indeed, while the height of the carotenoids Raman peaks was considerably reduced in hydrated cells exposed to gamma irradiation, it remained stable in dried cells irradiated with the highest tested dose of 113 kGy of gamma rays, losing only 15-20% of its non-irradiated intensity. Interestingly, even though the carotenoid Raman signal of hydrated cells lost 90% of its non-irradiated intensity, it was still detectable after exposure to 113 kGy of gamma rays. These results add insights into the preservation potential and detectability limit of carotenoid-like molecules on Mars over a prolonged period of time and are crucial in supporting future missions carrying Raman spectrometers to Mars’ surface.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/6/83biosignaturesextremophilesionizing radiationRaman spectroscopycyanobacteriaMars exploration |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mickael Baqué Alessandro Napoli Claudia Fagliarone Ralf Moeller Jean-Pierre de Vera Daniela Billi |
spellingShingle |
Mickael Baqué Alessandro Napoli Claudia Fagliarone Ralf Moeller Jean-Pierre de Vera Daniela Billi Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma Irradiation Life biosignatures extremophiles ionizing radiation Raman spectroscopy cyanobacteria Mars exploration |
author_facet |
Mickael Baqué Alessandro Napoli Claudia Fagliarone Ralf Moeller Jean-Pierre de Vera Daniela Billi |
author_sort |
Mickael Baqué |
title |
Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma Irradiation |
title_short |
Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma Irradiation |
title_full |
Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma Irradiation |
title_fullStr |
Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma Irradiation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Carotenoid Raman Signatures Are Better Preserved in Dried Cells of the Desert Cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> than in Hydrated Counterparts after High-Dose Gamma Irradiation |
title_sort |
carotenoid raman signatures are better preserved in dried cells of the desert cyanobacterium <i>chroococcidiopsis</i> than in hydrated counterparts after high-dose gamma irradiation |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Life |
issn |
2075-1729 |
publishDate |
2020-06-01 |
description |
Carotenoids are promising targets in our quest to search for life on Mars due to their biogenic origin and easy detection by Raman spectroscopy, especially with a 532 nm excitation thanks to resonance effects. Ionizing radiations reaching the surface and subsurface of Mars are however detrimental for the long-term preservation of biomolecules. We show here that desiccation can protect carotenoid Raman signatures in the desert cyanobacterium <i>Chroococcidiopsis</i> sp. CCMEE 029 even after high-dose gamma irradiation. Indeed, while the height of the carotenoids Raman peaks was considerably reduced in hydrated cells exposed to gamma irradiation, it remained stable in dried cells irradiated with the highest tested dose of 113 kGy of gamma rays, losing only 15-20% of its non-irradiated intensity. Interestingly, even though the carotenoid Raman signal of hydrated cells lost 90% of its non-irradiated intensity, it was still detectable after exposure to 113 kGy of gamma rays. These results add insights into the preservation potential and detectability limit of carotenoid-like molecules on Mars over a prolonged period of time and are crucial in supporting future missions carrying Raman spectrometers to Mars’ surface. |
topic |
biosignatures extremophiles ionizing radiation Raman spectroscopy cyanobacteria Mars exploration |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/10/6/83 |
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