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Nucleic acids and melanin pigments after exposure to high doses of gamma rays: a biosignature robustness test

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2022

A. Cassaro Open the ORCID record for A. Cassaro [Opens in a new window] ,
C. Pacelli ,
M. Baqué Open the ORCID record for M. Baqué [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Maturilli ,
U. Boettger ,
R. Moeller ,
A. Fujimori ,
J-P.P. de Vera Open the ORCID record for J-P.P. de Vera [Opens in a new window]  and
S. Onofri
A. Cassaro
Affiliation:
Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
C. Pacelli*
Affiliation:
Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy Human Spaceflight and Scientific Research Unit, Italian Space Agency, via del Politecnico snc, Rome, Italy
M. Baqué
Affiliation:
Planetary Laboratories Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstraße 2, Berlin, Germany
A. Maturilli
Affiliation:
Planetary Laboratories Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstraße 2, Berlin, Germany
U. Boettger
Affiliation:
German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, Rutherfordstraße 2, Berlin, Germany
R. Moeller
Affiliation:
Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne (Köln), Germany Department of Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (BRSU), Rheinbach, Germany
A. Fujimori
Affiliation:
Molecular and Cellular Radiation Biology Group, Department of Basic Medical Sciences for Radiation Damages, NIRS/QST, Chiba, Japan
J-P.P. de Vera
Affiliation:
German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), MUSC, Space Operations and Astronaut Training, Linder Höhe, Cologne, Germany
S. Onofri
Affiliation:
Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
*
Author for correspondence: C. Pacelli, E-mail: claudia.pacelli@asi.it
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Abstract

The question about the stability of certain biomolecules is directly connected to the life-detection missions aiming to search for past or present life beyond Earth. The extreme conditions experienced on extraterrestrial planet surface (e.g. Mars), characterized by ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, CO2-atmosphere and reactive species, may destroy the hypothetical traces of life. In this context, the study of the biomolecules behaviour after ionizing radiation exposure could provide support for the onboard instrumentation and data interpretation of the life exploration missions on other planets. Here, as a part of STARLIFE campaign, we investigated the effects of gamma rays on two classes of fungal biomolecules–nucleic acids and melanin pigments – considered as promising biosignatures to search for during the ‘in situ life-detection’ missions beyond Earth.

Keywords

BiosignaturesExoMarslife-detectionMarsnucleic acidspigments
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 21 , Special Issue 5: Open Question and Next Steps in Astrobiology in Europe – Celebrating 20 Years of EANA , October 2022 , pp. 296 - 307
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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