Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines
The availability of liquid water is a prerequisite for all lifeforms on Earth. In hyperarid subzero environments like the Dry Valleys in Antarctica or the near-subsurface of Mars liquid water might be provided temporarily by hygroscopic substances that absorb water from the atmosphere and lower the...
Published in: | Life |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2021
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/470781f4-46e4-4e9f-943d-957c1f620d64 https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111194 |
id |
ftumaastrichtcri:oai:cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl:publications/470781f4-46e4-4e9f-943d-957c1f620d64 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftumaastrichtcri:oai:cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl:publications/470781f4-46e4-4e9f-943d-957c1f620d64 2023-05-15T13:34:47+02:00 Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines Heinz, J. Rambags, V. Schulze-Makuch, D. 2021-11-01 https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/470781f4-46e4-4e9f-943d-957c1f620d64 https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111194 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Heinz , J , Rambags , V & Schulze-Makuch , D 2021 , ' Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines ' , Life , vol. 11 , no. 11 , 1194 . https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111194 Mars brines salts microorganisms halotolerance yeast microbial growth water activity chaotropicity WATER-ACTIVITY LIMIT LIQUID WATER PERCHLORATE DELIQUESCENCE TEMPERATURE CHLORATE POINTS STRESS ENVIRONMENTS article 2021 ftumaastrichtcri https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111194 2022-07-19T09:19:32Z The availability of liquid water is a prerequisite for all lifeforms on Earth. In hyperarid subzero environments like the Dry Valleys in Antarctica or the near-subsurface of Mars liquid water might be provided temporarily by hygroscopic substances that absorb water from the atmosphere and lower the freezing point of water. To evaluate the potential of hygroscopic compounds to serve as a habitat, it is necessary to explore the microbial tolerances towards these substances and their life-limiting properties. Here we present a study investigating the tolerances of the halotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii to various solutes. Growth experiments were conducted via counting colony forming units (CFUs) after inoculation of a liquid growth medium containing a specific solute concentration. The lowest water activities (a(w)) enabling growth were determined to be ~0.83 in glycerol and fructose-rich media. For all other solutes the growth-enabling a(w) was higher, due to additional stress factors such as chaotropicity and ionic strength. Additionally, we found that the solute tolerances of D. hansenii correlate with both the eutectic freezing point depressions and the deliquescence relative humidities of the respective solutes. Our findings strongly impact our understanding of the habitability of solute-rich low a(w) environments on Earth and beyond. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Maastricht University Research Publications Life 11 11 1194 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Maastricht University Research Publications |
op_collection_id |
ftumaastrichtcri |
language |
English |
topic |
Mars brines salts microorganisms halotolerance yeast microbial growth water activity chaotropicity WATER-ACTIVITY LIMIT LIQUID WATER PERCHLORATE DELIQUESCENCE TEMPERATURE CHLORATE POINTS STRESS ENVIRONMENTS |
spellingShingle |
Mars brines salts microorganisms halotolerance yeast microbial growth water activity chaotropicity WATER-ACTIVITY LIMIT LIQUID WATER PERCHLORATE DELIQUESCENCE TEMPERATURE CHLORATE POINTS STRESS ENVIRONMENTS Heinz, J. Rambags, V. Schulze-Makuch, D. Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines |
topic_facet |
Mars brines salts microorganisms halotolerance yeast microbial growth water activity chaotropicity WATER-ACTIVITY LIMIT LIQUID WATER PERCHLORATE DELIQUESCENCE TEMPERATURE CHLORATE POINTS STRESS ENVIRONMENTS |
description |
The availability of liquid water is a prerequisite for all lifeforms on Earth. In hyperarid subzero environments like the Dry Valleys in Antarctica or the near-subsurface of Mars liquid water might be provided temporarily by hygroscopic substances that absorb water from the atmosphere and lower the freezing point of water. To evaluate the potential of hygroscopic compounds to serve as a habitat, it is necessary to explore the microbial tolerances towards these substances and their life-limiting properties. Here we present a study investigating the tolerances of the halotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii to various solutes. Growth experiments were conducted via counting colony forming units (CFUs) after inoculation of a liquid growth medium containing a specific solute concentration. The lowest water activities (a(w)) enabling growth were determined to be ~0.83 in glycerol and fructose-rich media. For all other solutes the growth-enabling a(w) was higher, due to additional stress factors such as chaotropicity and ionic strength. Additionally, we found that the solute tolerances of D. hansenii correlate with both the eutectic freezing point depressions and the deliquescence relative humidities of the respective solutes. Our findings strongly impact our understanding of the habitability of solute-rich low a(w) environments on Earth and beyond. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Heinz, J. Rambags, V. Schulze-Makuch, D. |
author_facet |
Heinz, J. Rambags, V. Schulze-Makuch, D. |
author_sort |
Heinz, J. |
title |
Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines |
title_short |
Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines |
title_full |
Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines |
title_fullStr |
Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines |
title_full_unstemmed |
Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines |
title_sort |
physicochemical parameters limiting growth of debaryomyces hansenii in solutions of hygroscopic compounds and their effects on the habitability of martian brines |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/470781f4-46e4-4e9f-943d-957c1f620d64 https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111194 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_source |
Heinz , J , Rambags , V & Schulze-Makuch , D 2021 , ' Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines ' , Life , vol. 11 , no. 11 , 1194 . https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111194 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111194 |
container_title |
Life |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
1194 |
_version_ |
1766057592878006272 |