Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station.
The black fungi Cryomyces antarcticus and Cryomyces minteri are highly melanized and are resilient to cold, ultra-violet, ionizing radiation and other extreme conditions. These microorganisms were isolated from cryptoendolithic microbial communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (Antarctica) and studie...
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Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
2018
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Online Access: | https://elib.dlr.de/120861/ https://elib.dlr.de/120861/1/life-08-00023.pdf http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/8/2/23 |
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ftdlr:oai:elib.dlr.de:120861 2023-05-15T13:53:09+02:00 Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. Onofri, S. Selbmann, L. Pacelli, C. de Vera, Jean Pierre Paul Horneck, G. Hallsworth, J.E. Zucconi, L. 2018-06-19 application/pdf https://elib.dlr.de/120861/ https://elib.dlr.de/120861/1/life-08-00023.pdf http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/8/2/23 en eng Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) https://elib.dlr.de/120861/1/life-08-00023.pdf Onofri, S. und Selbmann, L. und Pacelli, C. und de Vera, Jean Pierre Paul und Horneck, G. und Hallsworth, J.E. und Zucconi, L. (2018) Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. Life, 8 (2), Seite 23. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). DOI:10.3390/life8020023 <https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023> ISSN 2075-1729 Leitungsbereich PF Strahlenbiologie Zeitschriftenbeitrag PeerReviewed 2018 ftdlr https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023 2020-10-04T23:02:01Z The black fungi Cryomyces antarcticus and Cryomyces minteri are highly melanized and are resilient to cold, ultra-violet, ionizing radiation and other extreme conditions. These microorganisms were isolated from cryptoendolithic microbial communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (Antarctica) and studied in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), using the EXPOSE-E facility on the International Space Station (ISS). Previously, it was demonstrated that C. antarcticus and C. minteri survive the hostile conditions of space (vacuum, temperature fluctuations, and the full spectrum of extraterrestrial solar electromagnetic radiation), as well as Mars conditions that were simulated in space for a 1.5-year period. Here, we qualitatively and quantitatively characterize damage to DNA and cellular ultrastructure in desiccated cells of these two species, within the frame of the same experiment. The DNA and cells of C. antarcticus exhibited a higher resistance than those of C. minteri. This is presumably attributable to the thicker (melanized) cell wall of the former. Generally, DNA was readily detected (by PCR) regardless of exposure conditions or fungal species, but the C. minteri DNA had been more-extensively mutated. We discuss the implications for using DNA, when properly shielded, as a biosignature of recently extinct or extant life. Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica antarcticus McMurdo Dry Valleys German Aerospace Center: elib - DLR electronic library McMurdo Dry Valleys Life 8 2 23 |
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German Aerospace Center: elib - DLR electronic library |
op_collection_id |
ftdlr |
language |
English |
topic |
Leitungsbereich PF Strahlenbiologie |
spellingShingle |
Leitungsbereich PF Strahlenbiologie Onofri, S. Selbmann, L. Pacelli, C. de Vera, Jean Pierre Paul Horneck, G. Hallsworth, J.E. Zucconi, L. Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. |
topic_facet |
Leitungsbereich PF Strahlenbiologie |
description |
The black fungi Cryomyces antarcticus and Cryomyces minteri are highly melanized and are resilient to cold, ultra-violet, ionizing radiation and other extreme conditions. These microorganisms were isolated from cryptoendolithic microbial communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (Antarctica) and studied in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), using the EXPOSE-E facility on the International Space Station (ISS). Previously, it was demonstrated that C. antarcticus and C. minteri survive the hostile conditions of space (vacuum, temperature fluctuations, and the full spectrum of extraterrestrial solar electromagnetic radiation), as well as Mars conditions that were simulated in space for a 1.5-year period. Here, we qualitatively and quantitatively characterize damage to DNA and cellular ultrastructure in desiccated cells of these two species, within the frame of the same experiment. The DNA and cells of C. antarcticus exhibited a higher resistance than those of C. minteri. This is presumably attributable to the thicker (melanized) cell wall of the former. Generally, DNA was readily detected (by PCR) regardless of exposure conditions or fungal species, but the C. minteri DNA had been more-extensively mutated. We discuss the implications for using DNA, when properly shielded, as a biosignature of recently extinct or extant life. |
format |
Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Onofri, S. Selbmann, L. Pacelli, C. de Vera, Jean Pierre Paul Horneck, G. Hallsworth, J.E. Zucconi, L. |
author_facet |
Onofri, S. Selbmann, L. Pacelli, C. de Vera, Jean Pierre Paul Horneck, G. Hallsworth, J.E. Zucconi, L. |
author_sort |
Onofri, S. |
title |
Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. |
title_short |
Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. |
title_full |
Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. |
title_fullStr |
Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. |
title_sort |
integrity of the dna and cellular ultrastructure of cryptoendolithic fungi in space or mars conditions: a 1.5-year study at the international space station. |
publisher |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://elib.dlr.de/120861/ https://elib.dlr.de/120861/1/life-08-00023.pdf http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/8/2/23 |
geographic |
McMurdo Dry Valleys |
geographic_facet |
McMurdo Dry Valleys |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica antarcticus McMurdo Dry Valleys |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica antarcticus McMurdo Dry Valleys |
op_relation |
https://elib.dlr.de/120861/1/life-08-00023.pdf Onofri, S. und Selbmann, L. und Pacelli, C. und de Vera, Jean Pierre Paul und Horneck, G. und Hallsworth, J.E. und Zucconi, L. (2018) Integrity of the DNA and Cellular Ultrastructure of Cryptoendolithic Fungi in Space or Mars Conditions: A 1.5-Year Study at the International Space Station. Life, 8 (2), Seite 23. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). DOI:10.3390/life8020023 <https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023> ISSN 2075-1729 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023 |
container_title |
Life |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
23 |
_version_ |
1766258119855308800 |