Protein patterns of black fungi under simulated Mars-like conditions

Abstract

Two species of microcolonial fungi – Cryomyces antarcticus and Knufia perforans - and a species of black yeasts–Exophiala jeanselmei - were exposed to thermo-physical Mars-like conditions in the simulation chamber of the German Aerospace Center. In this study the alterations at the protein expression level from various fungi species under Mars-like conditions were analyzed for the first time using 2D gel electrophoresis. Despite of the expectations, the fungi did not express any additional proteins under Mars simulation that could be interpreted as stress induced HSPs. However, up-regulation of some proteins and significant decreasing of protein number were detected within the first 24 hours of the treatment. After 4 and 7 days of the experiment protein spot number was increased again and the protein patterns resemble the protein patterns of biomass from normal conditions. It indicates the recovery of the metabolic activity under Martian environmental conditions after one week of exposure.

UV ‐resistant yeasts isolated from a high‐altitude volcanic area on the Atacama Desert as eukaryotic models for astrobiology

“…Recently, a work by Zakharova et al. () showed that black microcolonial fungi, including an Exophiala strain, were capable of maintaining metabolic activity under a simulated Martian environment, which shows the capability of eukaryotic microorganisms to be also good models for astrobiology, together with the prokaryotes.…”

“…Carotenoids and melanins are known as UV protective pigments (Singaravelan et al 2008;Libkind et al 2009) since they are capable of absorbing UV radiation at different wavelengths, including on the UV-C (Wynn-Williams and Edwards 2002). In addition, carotenoids can scavenge free radicals generated by UV light, protecting the cell against oxidative damage (Moore et al 1989;Schroeder and Johnson 1993).…”

Rock black fungi: excellence in the extremes, from the Antarctic to space

“…It reacts to simulated Martian conditions by down-regulating protein expression and recovers quickly its ability to grow as soon as optimal conditions return (Zakharova et al 2014b). Extraterrestrial parameters do not seem to kill Antarctic RIF, rather they maintain metabolic activity even under Martian conditions.…”

RupestriomycesandSpissiomyces, two new genera of rock-inhabiting fungi from China

“…even Mars-like conditions (Zakharova et al 2014) support the hypothesis that RIF in Dothideomycetes originated from dry climate in the late Devonian and middle…”