Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
J. Aramendia, L. Gomez-Nubla, M. L. Tuite, K. H. Williford, K. Castro, J. M. Madariaga
Summary: Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are important biochemical components of life on Earth and potentially in other parts of our solar system. A Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy method has been developed for the detection of maleimide, allowing for semi-quantitative analysis with small sample mass. This non-destructive and effective technique provides a reference for future studies on maleimide and related compounds.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2021)
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Shiladitya DasSarma, Edward W. Schwieterman
Summary: The proposal discusses the early emergence of retinal-based phototrophy in the evolution of life on Earth and its impact on photosynthesis and potential implications for extraterrestrial life. It highlights how the onset of oxygenic photosynthesis altered the Earth's atmosphere and suggests that simpler retinal-based light-harvesting systems may have dominated before the development of photosynthesis. Additionally, it explores the concept of using retinal photopigments as remote biosignatures for exoplanet research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Spectroscopy
Howell G. M. Edwards, Jan Jehlic, Katerina Nemeckova, Adam Culka
Summary: Microbial colonisations of gypsum from Eastern Poland were investigated using Raman microspectrometry with 445 nm excitation. The presence of scytonin in cyanobacterial colonisation of gypsum was observed for the first time, adding a new biomolecular signature to the library of biological pigments for the detection of traces of life in planetary missions.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sergio A. Munoz-Gomez, Martin Kreutz, Sebastian Hess
Summary: This study reports a unique purple-green eukaryote containing a symbiosis of green algae and purple bacteria. The tripartite consortium is physiologically complex but exhibits ecological specialization, preferring hypoxic sediments. The emergent niche of this complex symbiosis is predicted to be defined by each partners' overlapping ecological niches.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
S. Shkolyar, E. Lalla, M. Konstantindis, K. Cote, M. G. Daly, A. Steele
Summary: The study investigated the detection of Ce3+ as a biosignature mimicker using UV Raman-LIF mission instruments, finding that Ce3+ shares similar fluorescent features and lifetimes with organic compounds. However, Raman spectroscopy results showed that Ce-bearing samples are unlikely to be identified due to strong absorption of Raman scattered energy by Ce3+. Thus, distinguishing spectra of organic compounds from Ce-bearing compounds using UV LIF and Raman spectroscopy instrumentation may pose challenges.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Fabian Wunderlich, John Lee Grenfell, Heike Rauer
Summary: By simulating Venus-like conditions and considering the uncertainties in chemical reactions, we found that the abiotic production of PH3 on Venus is limited to a maximum of 2 ppb. Therefore, even if several ppb of PH3 were detected in the atmosphere of Venus, it does not necessarily indicate a biological origin.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2023)
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Victor Abrahamsson, Isik Kanik
Summary: This review article provides an overview of the instrument techniques used in the search for life on Mars and Ocean Worlds, as well as the ongoing developments in these techniques and ion mobility spectrometry. It also reviews the current developments in next-generation instruments for organic biosignature detection, such as capillary electrophoresis, liquid chromatography, biosensors, and nanopore sensing.
FRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
F. Da Pieve, G. Gronoff, J. Guo, C. J. Mertens, L. Neary, B. Gu, N. E. Koval, J. Kohanoff, A. C. Vandaele, F. Cleri
Summary: This study investigates the radiation environment induced by galactic and solar radiation at Oxia Planum and Mawrth Vallis on Mars, revealing similar conditions at different sites during solar minimum and maximum, with slightly enhanced gamma-ray contribution in water-rich regolith. The exposure estimates for different locations show reasonable to large safety margins for long stays and low risk for short stays, with the influence of ground composition on radiation levels highlighted.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jian Wang, Chuang Hao, Lei Cao, Yitong Yao, Yidi Ding, Yong Yang, Xiao-Feng Tang, Bing Tang
Summary: Escherichia coli is commonly used for recombinant protein production, but its limited capacity for producing extracellular proteins is seen as a drawback. A study found that NJ7G_0991, an extracellular protein from the haloarchaeon Natrinema sp. J7-2, can be efficiently released into the culture supernatant of E. coli. By fusing a PelB signal peptide to the N-terminus of the LolA-like domain, the extracellular production level of recombinant proteins can be significantly enhanced.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Eduardo A. Bignon, Kevin R. Chou, Elina Roine, Nicole D. Tischler
Summary: This study demonstrates that the S-layer extract from the host, Hrr. sp. SS7-4, serves as the physiological trigger for HRPV-6 membrane fusion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Lamas-Francis, Manuel Bande-Rodriguez, Maria Jose Blanco-Teijeiro
Summary: Prophylactic peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) reduces the risk of developing postoperative epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation. However, the impact of prophylactic ILM peeling on visual recovery varies across studies, and potential complications need to be considered.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Oezge Yanik, Pinar Aydin Ellialtioglu, Sibel Demirel, Figen Batioglu, Emin Ozmert
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the changes in retinal vascular tortuosity index (RVTI) after pars plana vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) and assess the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on RVTI reduction. The results showed that RVTI was effectively reduced after iERM surgery, but there was no significant difference in postoperative RVTI between cases with or without ILM peeling. Therefore, ILM peeling may only be necessary for recurrent iERM surgeries.
Article
Ophthalmology
Xiaowen Cao, Jianhong An, Yuqing Cao, Juan Lv, Jiawei Wang, Yang Ding, Xinhua Lin, Xiangtian Zhou
Summary: The study showed that Emc3 is widely distributed in the whole retina, and its loss led to retinal rosette degeneration, mislocalization of cell junction molecules, and polarity molecules. The absence of EMC3 promoted the production of photoreceptor cells but resulted in loss of visual function and severe retinal morphological degeneration in 5-week-old mice.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Rene Riedel, Natalie Frese, Fang Yang, Martin Wortmann, Raphael Dalpke, Daniel Rhinow, Norbert Hampp, Armin Goelzhaeuser
Summary: A freestanding ultrathin hybrid membrane was synthesized, consisting of a carbon nanomembrane and a purple membrane containing genetically modified bacteriorhodopsin with a C-terminal His-tag, which were optimized using modifications and electrophoretic sedimentation. This procedure facilitated the oriented fusion of individual PM patches, forming larger membrane areas, and has potential applications as a light-driven two-dimensional proton-pumping membrane for seawater desalination.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zachary R. Cohen, Zoe R. Todd, Nicholas Wogan, Roy A. Black, Sarah L. Keller, David C. Catling
Summary: The first cells may have been bounded by membranes made of fatty acids with at least 8 carbons. The origin and abundance of fatty acids on the early Earth are not certain, but three possible sources are delivery by carbonaceous meteorites, synthesis on metals delivered by impactors, and electrochemical synthesis by spark discharges. Calculations suggest that synthesis on iron-rich surfaces from impactors could have supplied significantly more fatty acids than carbonaceous meteorites or electrochemical synthesis. However, a single carbonaceous meteorite would not deliver a high enough concentration of fatty acids into existing bodies of water to form membranes without further concentration. Further research is needed to understand how fatty acids could have been concentrated to assemble into membranes during the origin of life.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Priya DasSarma, Brian P. Anton, Hedvig A. L. von Ehrenheim, Richard J. Roberts, Shiladitya DasSarma
Summary: Halobacterium sp. GSL-19, an extremely halophilic archaeon, was isolated from the north arm of Great Salt Lake in Utah. Its GC-rich 2.3-Mbp genome was determined using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing, consisting of a circular chromosome and 2 plasmids, with 2,367 predicted genes, including one encoding a CTAG-methylase widely distributed among Haloarchaea.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Priya DasSarma, Brian P. Anton, Jessie M. Griffith, Karina S. Kunka, Richard J. Roberts, Shiladitya DasSarma
Summary: Halobacterium sp. strain NRC-34001 is a red, extremely halophilic archaeon with a genome size of 2.3-Mbp, consisting of a 2-Mbp chromosome and two plasmids. The genome encodes all conserved core haloarchaeal groups (cHOGs) and a highly acidic proteome.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Priya DasSarma, Brian P. Anton, Hedvig A. L. von Ehrenheim, Fabiana L. Martinez, Daniel Guzman, Richard J. Roberts, Shiladitya DasSarma
Summary: Halobacterium sp. strain BOL4-2 was isolated from the Andean salt flat, Salar de Uyuni, in Bolivia, with a 2.4-Mbp genome consisting of a 2.0-Mbp chromosome and four plasmids. Its isolation from an environment experiencing multiple extremes makes the strain interesting for astrobiology.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2021)
Correction
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jong-Myoung Kim, Youn-Sook Kim, Yeo-Reum Kim, Mi-Jin Choi, Priya DasSarma, Shiladitya DasSarma
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jong-Myoung Kim, Youn-Sook Kim, Yeo-Reum Kim, Mi-Jin Choi, Priya DasSarma, Shiladitya DasSarma
Summary: Researchers have developed a method to display exogenously produced protein fusions on haloarchaeal nanoparticles, expanding their capability for biomedical applications.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Tymofii Sokolskyi, Shiladitya DasSarma
Summary: This study examines the evolution of key enzymes in the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle (rTCA) pathway, explores the possibility of alternative carbon fixation pathways, and proposes the inclusion of an ecological perspective in the study of ancient metabolic pathways for a better understanding of the origin of life.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sagorika Nag, Priya DasSarma, David J. Crowley, Rafael Hamawi, Samantha Tepper, Brian P. Anton, Daniel Guzman, Shiladitya DasSarma
Summary: This study compared the ultraviolet (UV) radiation responses of extremophilic and archaeal microorganisms isolated from different environments. The results showed that Haloarchaea from high solar irradiance environments exhibited the highest UV tolerance, while those from subsurface halite deposits had the least UV tolerance due to deviations in key amino acid residues in the DNA photolyase enzyme or the absence of the photolyase gene. This study provides insights into the UV tolerance and survival strategies of Haloarchaea in their respective environments, including ancient halite deposits and potentially on the surface of Mars.
Article
Microbiology
Priya DasSarma, Brian P. Anton, Satyajit L. DasSarma, Hedvig A. L. von Ehrenheim, Fabiana L. Martinez, Daniel Guzman, Richard J. Roberts, Shiladitya DasSarmaa
Summary: This study sequenced the halophilic archaeon Haloterrigena salifodinae BOL5-1 isolated from a Bolivian salt mine using single-molecule real-time sequencing. The GC-rich genome was 5.1 Mbp, consisting of a 4.2-Mbp chromosome and 5 plasmids of varying sizes. Genome annotation was integrated into HaloWeb, and methylation patterns were incorporated into REBASE.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alexey Fomenkov, Priya DasSarma, Sean P. Kennedy, Richard J. Roberts, Shiladitya DasSarma
Summary: The genome of the halophilic archaeon Haloarcula sinaiiensis ATCC 33800 was sequenced and assembled, revealing seven replicons. Using SMRT sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, four m6A and one m4C modified motifs and their corresponding methyltransferase genes were identified in the genome.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Wolf T. Pecher, Fabiana L. Martinez, Priya DasSarma, Daniel Guzman, Shiladitya DasSarma
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Priya DasSarma, Brian P. Anton, Satyajit L. DasSarma, Fabiana L. Martinez, Daniel Guzman, Richard J. Roberts, Shiladitya DasSarma
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Shiladitya DasSarma, Alexey Fomenkov, Satyajit L. DasSarma, Tamas Vincze, Priya DasSarma, Richard J. Roberts
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Priya DasSarma, Brian P. Anton, Satyajit DasSarma, Victoria J. Laye, Daniel Guzman, Richard J. Roberts, Shiladitya DasSarma
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2019)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Priya DasSarma, Andre Antunes, Marta Filipa Simoes, Shiladitya DasSarma
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2020)