The effect of ionizing radiation on the preservation of amino acids on Mars

Kminek, Gerhard; Bada, Jeffrey L.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.03.008

Cited by 196 publications

(182 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Pavlov et al (2002) estimated that in the martian near subsurface complete radiolytic macromolecular breakdown occurs within 10 8 to 10 9 years and eradication of a biogenic 13 C/ 12 C isotopic bias in less than 25 million years. Kminek and Bada (2006) calculated that, to detect the remnant amino acids from Hesperian life, which occurred about 3 billion years ago, it would be necessary to drill to a depth of 1.5-2 m. However, the dependence of biomolecule destruction on radiation dose, particle linear energy transfer (see, e.g., Nelson, 2003), and temperature is not well understood (see discussion by Dartnell et al, 2007b), so there is uncertainty in these estimates.…”

Section: Degradation Of Biosignaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include the destruction rate of amino acids (Kminek and Bada, 2006), racemization of an amino acid enantiomeric excess (Bonner, 2000, and references therein), alteration of biogenic organics (Court et al, 2006), nuclear reactions that lead to the loss of 13 C/ 12 C isotopic bias (Pavlov et al, 2002), and biopolymer fragmentation (Pavlov et al, 2002). The general issue is that after millennia of cosmic irradiation it may be difficult to distinguish between breakdown debris of unambiguous biomolecules, a valid signature of extinct life, and simple abiotic organic species created in situ by prebiotic chemistry or exogenously delivered by meteoritic or cometary infall.…”

Section: Degradation Of Biosignaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ionizing Radiation and Life

2011

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Ionizing radiation is a ubiquitous feature of the Cosmos, from exogenous cosmic rays (CR) to the intrinsic mineral radioactivity of a habitable world, and its influences on the emergence and persistence of life are wideranging and profound. Much attention has already been focused on the deleterious effects of ionizing radiation on organisms and the complex molecules of life, but ionizing radiation also performs many crucial functions in the generation of habitable planetary environments and the origins of life. This review surveys the role of CR and mineral radioactivity in star formation, generation of biogenic elements, and the synthesis of organic molecules and driving of prebiotic chemistry. Another major theme is the multiple layers of shielding of planetary surfaces from the flux of cosmic radiation and the various effects on a biosphere of violent but rare astrophysical events such as supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. The influences of CR can also be duplicitous, such as limiting the survival of surface life on Mars while potentially supporting a subsurface biosphere in the ocean of Europa. This review highlights the common thread that ionizing radiation forms between the disparate component disciplines of astrobiology.

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Section: Degradation Of Biosignaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Degradation Of Biosignaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ionizing Radiation and Life

2011

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“…A major concern in the search for evidence of life on other planetary surfaces is that molecular evidence could be severely compromised by irradiation (Kminek & Bada 2006). Living organic matter within crusts should have adequate protection from …”

Section: Survivability Of Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although other forms of irradiation (solar energetic particles, galactic cosmic radiation, mineral radiation) penetrate rocks further, living organisms may have developed genetic damage repair systems that can cope with it, however in the shallow subsurface (<2 m depth) the biomolecules in fossil organic matter in crusts would experience progressive degradation (Kminek & Bada 2006;Dartnell et al 2007). Fossil organic matter is best sought where shielded from long-term irradiation (recently excavated channels or craters, or sampled by coring).…”

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confidence: 99%

Surface mineral crusts: a potential strategy for sampling for evidence of life on Mars

Brolly

Parnell

Bowden

2018

International Journal of Astrobiology

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Surface mineral crusts on Earth are highly diverse and usually, contain microbial life. Crusts constitute an attractive target to search for life: they require water for their formation, they efficiently entrap organic matter and are relatively easy to sample and process. They hold a record of life in the form of microbial remains, biomolecules and carbon isotope composition. A miniaturized Raman spectrometer is included in the ExoMars 2020 payload as it is sensitive to a range of photosynthetic pigments. Samples from the Haughton Impact Structure, Canadian High Arctic and others, shows the preservation of pigments in a range of crust types, especially supra-permafrost carbonate crusts and cryptogamic crusts. The Raman spectral signatures of these crusts are shown along with biomarker analysis to showcase these techniques prior to the ExoMars 2020 mission. Carotenoids and other photoprotective microbial pigments are identified in the Haughton surface crusts using Raman spectroscopy. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses show a distribution of fatty acids which are most likely from a cyanobacterial source. The successful demonstration of these analyses in the Haughton Impact structure shows the biosignature of surface mineral crusts can be easily extracted and provides an excellent target for sampling evidence of life on Mars.

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“…The failure of the Viking landers to detect meteoritic organic matter in the martian regolith led to suggestions of the presence of an oxidant capable of destroying organic matter upon heating (Biemann et al, 1977;Klein, 1978), with species such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide ions being proposed (Zent and McKay, 1994;Yen et al, 2000), along with mechanisms such as radiolysis and oxidation (e.g., Benner et al, 2000;Kminek and Bada, 2006). In 2008, the presence of perchlorate at 0.5-0.7 wt % in the northern plains was reported by the Phoenix lander (Hecht et al, 2009;Kounaves et al, 2010).…”

Section: The Search For Organic Matter On Marsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Searching for Life on Mars: Degradation of Surfactant Solutions Used in Organic Extraction Experiments

et al. 2014

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Life-detection instruments on future Mars missions may use surfactant solutions to extract organic matter from samples of martian rocks. The thermal and radiation environments of space and Mars are capable of degrading these solutions, thereby reducing their ability to dissolve organic species. Successful extraction and detection of biosignatures on Mars requires an understanding of how degradation in extraterrestrial environments can affect surfactant performance. We exposed solutions of the surfactants polysorbate 80 (PS80), Zonyl FS-300, and poly[dimethylsiloxane-co-[3-(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy)propyl]methylsiloxane] (PDMSHEPMS) to elevated radiation and heat levels, combined with prolonged storage. Degradation was investigated by measuring changes in pH and electrical conductivity and by using the degraded solutions to extract a suite of organic compounds spiked onto grains of the martian soil simulant JSC Mars-1. Results indicate that the proton fluences expected during a mission to Mars do not cause significant degradation of surfactant compounds. Solutions of PS80 or PDMSHEPMS stored at -20°C are able to extract the spiked standards with acceptable recovery efficiencies. Extraction efficiencies for spiked standards decrease progressively with increasing temperature, and prolonged storage at 60°C renders the surfactant solutions ineffective. Neither the presence of ascorbic acid nor the choice of solvent unequivocally alters the efficiency of extraction of the spiked standards. Since degradation of polysorbates has the potential to produce organic compounds that could be mistaken for indigenous martian organic matter, the polysiloxane PDMSHEPMS may be a superior choice of surfactant for the exploration of Mars.

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The effect of ionizing radiation on the preservation of amino acids on Mars

Cited by 196 publications

References 26 publications

Ionizing Radiation and Life

Ionizing Radiation and Life

Surface mineral crusts: a potential strategy for sampling for evidence of life on Mars

Searching for Life on Mars: Degradation of Surfactant Solutions Used in Organic Extraction Experiments

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