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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Published in:Life
Main Authors: Onofri, Silvano, Selbmann, Laura, Pacelli, Claudia, de Vera, Jean Pierre, Horneck, Gerda, Hallsworth, John E., Zucconi, Laura
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/integrity-of-the-dna-and-cellular-ultrastructure-of-cryptoendolithic-fungi-in-space-or-mars-conditions-a-15year-study-at-the-international-space-station(d30d0e03-a514-4282-8312-c9482ef4af77).html
https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023
https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/160007784/Integrity_of_DNA.pdf
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050084082&partnerID=8YFLogxK
id ftqueensubelpubl:oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:publications/d30d0e03-a514-4282-8312-c9482ef4af77
record_format openpolar
spelling ftqueensubelpubl:oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:publications/d30d0e03-a514-4282-8312-c9482ef4af77 2023-05-15T13:56:19+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, Silvano Selbmann, Laura Pacelli, Claudia de Vera, Jean Pierre Horneck, Gerda Hallsworth, John E. Zucconi, Laura 2018-06-19 application/pdf https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/integrity-of-the-dna-and-cellular-ultrastructure-of-cryptoendolithic-fungi-in-space-or-mars-conditions-a-15year-study-at-the-international-space-station(d30d0e03-a514-4282-8312-c9482ef4af77).html https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023 https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/160007784/Integrity_of_DNA.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050084082&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Onofri , S , Selbmann , L , Pacelli , C , de Vera , J P , Horneck , G , Hallsworth , J E & 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 , vol. 8 , no. 2 , 23 . https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023 Cryptoendolithic black fungi DNA and cellular damage EXPOSE-E Ionizing- and ultra-violet radiation LIFE experiment Space exposure and mars conditions /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105 Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300 Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology(all) /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1912 Space and Planetary Science /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1911 Palaeontology article 2018 ftqueensubelpubl https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023 2022-02-09T22:29:05Z 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica antarcticus McMurdo Dry Valleys Queen's University Belfast Research Portal McMurdo Dry Valleys Life 8 2 23
institution Open Polar
collection Queen's University Belfast Research Portal
op_collection_id ftqueensubelpubl
language English
topic Cryptoendolithic black fungi
DNA and cellular damage
EXPOSE-E
Ionizing- and ultra-violet radiation
LIFE experiment
Space exposure and mars conditions
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105
Ecology
Evolution
Behavior and Systematics
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300
Biochemistry
Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1912
Space and Planetary Science
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1911
Palaeontology
spellingShingle Cryptoendolithic black fungi
DNA and cellular damage
EXPOSE-E
Ionizing- and ultra-violet radiation
LIFE experiment
Space exposure and mars conditions
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105
Ecology
Evolution
Behavior and Systematics
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300
Biochemistry
Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1912
Space and Planetary Science
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1911
Palaeontology
Onofri, Silvano
Selbmann, Laura
Pacelli, Claudia
de Vera, Jean Pierre
Horneck, Gerda
Hallsworth, John E.
Zucconi, Laura
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 Cryptoendolithic black fungi
DNA and cellular damage
EXPOSE-E
Ionizing- and ultra-violet radiation
LIFE experiment
Space exposure and mars conditions
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105
Ecology
Evolution
Behavior and Systematics
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300
Biochemistry
Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1912
Space and Planetary Science
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1911
Palaeontology
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 Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Onofri, Silvano
Selbmann, Laura
Pacelli, Claudia
de Vera, Jean Pierre
Horneck, Gerda
Hallsworth, John E.
Zucconi, Laura
author_facet Onofri, Silvano
Selbmann, Laura
Pacelli, Claudia
de Vera, Jean Pierre
Horneck, Gerda
Hallsworth, John E.
Zucconi, Laura
author_sort Onofri, Silvano
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
publishDate 2018
url https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/integrity-of-the-dna-and-cellular-ultrastructure-of-cryptoendolithic-fungi-in-space-or-mars-conditions-a-15year-study-at-the-international-space-station(d30d0e03-a514-4282-8312-c9482ef4af77).html
https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023
https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/160007784/Integrity_of_DNA.pdf
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050084082&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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_source Onofri , S , Selbmann , L , Pacelli , C , de Vera , J P , Horneck , G , Hallsworth , J E & 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 , vol. 8 , no. 2 , 23 . https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023
op_rights info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
op_doi https://doi.org/10.3390/life8020023
container_title Life
container_volume 8
container_issue 2
container_start_page 23
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