Metabolomic Profile of the Fungus Cryomyces antarcticus Under Simulated Martian and Space Conditions as Support for Life-Detection Missions on Mars

Abstract

The identification of traces of life beyond Earth (e.g., Mars, icy moons) is a challenging task because terrestrial chemical-based molecules may be destroyed by the harsh conditions experienced on extraterrestrial planetary surfaces. For this reason, studying the effects on biomolecules of extremophilic microorganisms through astrobiological ground-based space simulation experiments is significant to support the interpretation of the data that will be gained and collected during the ongoing and future space exploration missions. Here, the stability of the biomolecules of the cryptoendolithic black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus, grown on two Martian regolith analogues and on Antarctic sandstone, were analysed through a metabolomic approach, after its exposure to Science Verification Tests (SVTs) performed in the frame of the European Space Agency (ESA) Biology and Mars Experiment (BIOMEX) project. These tests are building a set of ground-based experiments performed before the space exposure aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The analysis aimed to investigate the effects of different mineral mixtures on fungal colonies and the stability of the biomolecules synthetised by the fungus under simulated Martian and space conditions. The identification of a specific group of molecules showing good stability after the treatments allow the creation of a molecular database that should support the analysis of future data sets that will be collected in the ongoing and next space exploration missions.

Marine Science Can Contribute to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life

“…One other important term for all three clusters is “biosignature” ( Figure S2 ). Missions seeking bio-signatures in situ on Mars and icy moons of our Solar System are a challenging task because organisms and their metabolic products may be destroyed by the harsh conditions experienced on irradiated planetary and icy-moon surfaces [ 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 ]. Bio-signature search in distant exo-planets is a rather different task and focuses on the spectral analysis of atmospheres.…”

Survival, metabolic activity, and ultrastructural damages of Antarctic black fungus in perchlorates media

“…Recently, it has been demonstrated that osmolytes production increases after simulated space stressors, including dehydration and vacuum ( Gevi et al, 2022 ). Also, other studies demonstrated a predominant production of glycerol as the most abundant osmolytes in Aspergillus wentii after growing on salt media ( Danilova et al, 2022 ).…”

Shedding light on the composition of extreme microbial dark matter: alternative approaches for culturing extremophiles

“…This research paves the way for in situ screening for exoplanetary biosignatures, where microbes could be grown under natural conditions similar to those occurring on other planets, after which their metabolic traits can be tracked as potential biosignatures. Gevi et al (2022) used a similar approach to mimic Martian conditions in vitro and grow the black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus. Metabolomic profiles of the cultures increased the range of possible biosignatures of life on Mars.…”