Glycine Identification in Natural Jarosites Using Laser Desorption Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry: Implications for the Search for Life on Mars

Kotler, J. Michelle; Hinman, Nancy W.; Yan, Beizhan; Stoner, Daphne L.; Scott, Jill R.

doi:10.1089/ast.2006.0102

Cited by 33 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In 2004, jarosite was detected by the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) M6ssbauer spectrometer (KlingelhOfer et al 2004), which has been interpreted as strong evidence for the occurrence of large amounts of water (and possibly life) in the history of Mars. A recent study using laser desorption Fourier transfonn mass spectrometry revealed the presence of organic matters (such as glycine) in several jarosite samples (Kotler et al 2008), thereby validating the hypothesis of possible existence of life on Mars.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Thermal expansion and decomposition of jarosite: a high-temperature neutron diffraction study

Zhao

Vogel

et al. 2009

Phys Chem Minerals

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The structure of deuterated jarosite, KFe3(S04)2(OD)6, was investigated using time-of-flight neutron diffraction up to its dehydroxylation temperature. Rietveld analysis reveals that with increasing temperature, its c dimension expands at a rate ~10 times larger than that for a. This anisotropy of thermal expansion is due to rapid increase in the thickness of the (001) On heating, the hydrogen bonds, 01···D-03, through which the (001) octahedral tetrahedral sheets are held together, become weakened, as reflected by increase in the D···01 distance and concomitant decrease in the 03-D distance with increasing temperature. On further heating to 575 K, jarosite starts to decompose into nanocrystalline yavapaiite and hematite (as well as water vapor), a direct result of the breaking of the hydrogen bonds that hold the jarosite structure together.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Thermal expansion and decomposition of jarosite: a high-temperature neutron diffraction study

Zhao

Vogel

et al. 2009

Phys Chem Minerals

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“…The minerals impact detection; desorption and ionization of the biomarker is dependent on the energy of the laser absorbed by the mineral matrix and converted to heat. Evaporates like halite and jarosite yielded a signal, but hematite did not (Yan et al, 2007;Kotler et al, 2008;Richardson et al, 2008). Amino acids incorporated within halite yielded a better signalto-noise ratio than those applied to its surface (Yan et al, 2007).…”

Section: Impact Of Mineralogy On the Extraction Of Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…However, a systematic evaluation of LDI efficiency in extracting biomarkers appears to be lacking. A few studies have addressed how minerals may act as a geological matrix that aids desorption and ionization of amino acids, fatty acids, and small proteins by a laser, comparable to matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) (Yan et al, 2007;Kotler et al, 2008;Richardson et al, 2008). The minerals impact detection; desorption and ionization of the biomarker is dependent on the energy of the laser absorbed by the mineral matrix and converted to heat.…”

Section: Impact Of Mineralogy On the Extraction Of Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Significance of Microbe-Mineral-Biomarker Interactions in the Detection of Life on Mars and Beyond

Röling¹,

Aerts²,

Patty³

et al. 2015

Astrobiology

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The detection of biomarkers plays a central role in our effort to establish whether there is, or was, life beyond Earth. In this review, we address the importance of considering mineralogy in relation to the selection of locations and biomarker detection methodologies with characteristics most promising for exploration. We review relevant mineral-biomarker and mineral-microbe interactions. The local mineralogy on a particular planet reflects its past and current environmental conditions and allows a habitability assessment by comparison with life under extreme conditions on Earth. The type of mineral significantly influences the potential abundances and types of biomarkers and microorganisms containing these biomarkers. The strong adsorptive power of some minerals aids in the preservation of biomarkers and may have been important in the origin of life. On the other hand, this strong adsorption as well as oxidizing properties of minerals can interfere with efficient extraction and detection of biomarkers. Differences in mechanisms of adsorption and in properties of minerals and biomarkers suggest that it will be difficult to design a single extraction procedure for a wide range of biomarkers. While on Mars samples can be used for direct detection of biomarkers such as nucleic acids, amino acids, and lipids, on other planetary bodies remote spectrometric detection of biosignatures has to be relied upon. The interpretation of spectral signatures of photosynthesis can also be affected by local mineralogy. We identify current gaps in our knowledge and indicate how they may be filled to improve the chances of detecting biomarkers on Mars and beyond.

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“…The Urey instrument, an advanced in situ organic and oxidant detector, originally proposed for the Exomars mission, developed a sub-critical water extraction system to separate and concentrate the organic compounds from the mineral matrix (Aubrey et al 2008). Due to the potential difficulty of extracting organic matter from mineral matrices because of adsorption and/or potential substitution within the mineral structure (Kotler et al 2009), direct laser desorption and ionization techniques (such as those being explored for the Exomars mission) and related techniques for sample return missions (Yan et al 2007;Kotler et al 2008;Richardson et al 2008) may provide the needed methods to release and detect potential biosignatures.…”

Section: Eurogeomars 2009 Campaign: Astrobiology and Habitability Stumentioning

confidence: 99%

Astrobiology and habitability studies in preparation for future Mars missions: trends from investigating minerals, organics and biota

Ehrenfreund

Röling²,

Thiel

et al. 2011

International Journal of Astrobiology

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Several robotic exploration missions will travel to Mars during this decade to investigate habitability and the possible presence of life. Field research at Mars analogue sites such as desert environments can provide important constraints for instrument calibration, landing site strategies and expected life detection targets. We have characterized the mineralogy, organic chemistry and microbiology of ten selected sample sites from the Utah desert in close vicinity to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) during the EuroGeoMars 2009 campaign (organized by International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG), NASA Ames and ESA ESTEC). Compared with extremely arid deserts (such as the Atacama), organic and biological materials can be identified in a larger number of samples and subsequently be used to perform correlation studies. Among the important findings of this field research campaign are the diversity in the mineralogical composition of soil samples even when collected in close proximity, the low abundances of detectable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and amino acids and the presence of biota of all three domains of life with significant heterogeneity. An extraordinary variety of putative extremophiles, mainly Bacteria and also Archaea and Eukarya was observed. The dominant factor in measurable bacterial abundance seems to be soil porosity and lower small (clay-sized) particle content. However, correlations between many measured parameters are difficult to establish. Field research conducted during the EuroGeoMars 2009 campaign shows that the geological history and depositional environment of the region, as well as the mineralogy influence the ability to detect compounds such as amino acids and DNA. Clays are known to strongly absorb and bind organic molecules often preventing extraction by even sophisticated laboratory methods. Our results indicate the need for further development and optimization of extraction procedures that release biological compounds from host matrices to enable the effective detection of biomarkers during future sampling campaigns on Earth and Mars.

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Glycine Identification in Natural Jarosites Using Laser Desorption Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry: Implications for the Search for Life on Mars

Cited by 33 publications

References 34 publications

Thermal expansion and decomposition of jarosite: a high-temperature neutron diffraction study

Thermal expansion and decomposition of jarosite: a high-temperature neutron diffraction study

The Significance of Microbe-Mineral-Biomarker Interactions in the Detection of Life on Mars and Beyond

Astrobiology and habitability studies in preparation for future Mars missions: trends from investigating minerals, organics and biota

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