The solar UV environment and bacterial spore UV resistance: considerations for Earth-to-Mars transport by natural processes and human spaceflight

Nicholson, Wayne L.; Schuerger, Andrew C.; Setlow, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2004.10.012

Cited by 165 publications

(159 citation statements)

References 107 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

154

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Interplanetary UV radiation has been shown to be a significant deleterious factor for organisms in space (Horneck et al 2001b;Nicholson et al 2005;Olsson-Francis et al 2009). A diversity of work has shown that layers of different mineral types can screen UV radiation (Mancinelli and Klovstad 2000;Horneck et al 2001a,b;Schuerger et al 2003;Rettberg et al 2002Rettberg et al , 2004.…”

Section: Interplanetary Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

Planetary targets in the search for extrasolar oxygenic photosynthesis

Cockell

Raven

Kaltenegger

et al. 2009

Plant Ecology & Diversity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background:In the coming decades space telescopes will be constructed that will attempt to find the gaseous products of oxygenic photosynthesis, the most promising biosignatures of life, in the atmospheres of temperate Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars. Aims: This paper aims to provide a synthesis of the range of feasible targets -either planets or their satellites -that could harbour photosynthesis. Methods: We calculated photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) fluxes on a diversity of planetary bodies including those receiving direct light from a single star, similarly to the Earth, and investigated the potential of these fluxes to support photosynthesis. Results: All main sequence stars emit radiation that is capable of supporting photosynthesis on Earth-like planets. We discuss tidally-locked M star planets as a special case. Less conventional targets for searches include large moons orbiting gas giant planets, which receive reflected light from their host planets and from the host star, planets in stable orbits in binary star systems, and the search for two planets within the same star system with photosynthetic signatures. Conclusions: A diversity of planetary bodies are targets in the search for extrasolar photosynthesis. The demonstration that many or none of these candidate planetary bodies harbour photosynthesis would be an important conclusion in understanding the evolution and prevalence of photosynthesis.

show abstract

Section: Interplanetary Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

Planetary targets in the search for extrasolar oxygenic photosynthesis

Cockell

Raven

Kaltenegger

et al. 2009

Plant Ecology & Diversity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As environmental changes induce and select for physiological, metabolic and/or genetic variations in microorganisms (Foster, 2007), it is envisioned that such adaptations will also likely occur under space flight conditions. Indeed, numerous in-flight studies have confirmed that space flight can have a pronounced effect on a variety of microbial parameters including changes in microbial proliferation rate, cell morphology, cell physiology, cell metabolism, genetic transfer among cells and viral reactivation within the cells (reviewed in Leys et al, 2004;Nickerson et al, 2004;Nicholson et al, 2005;Klaus and Howard, 2006). However, previous studies have also shown that the results from space flight and space flight analog experiments can radically differ when using different bacteria or when using the same bacterium but different culture media Leff, 2004, 2006;Benoit and Klaus, 2007;Wilson et al, 2008;Leys et al, in press).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental design and environmental parameters affect Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H response to space flight

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In view of long-haul space exploration missions, the European Space Agency initiated the MicroEcological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA) project targeting the total recycling of organic waste produced by the astronauts into oxygen, water and food using a loop of bacterial and higher plant bioreactors. In that purpose, the a-proteobacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H, was sent twice to the International Space Station and was analyzed post-flight using a newly developed R. rubrum whole genome oligonucleotide microarray and high throughput gel-free proteomics with Isotope-Coded Protein Label technology. Moreover, in an effort to identify a specific response of R. rubrum S1H to space flight, simulation of microgravity and space-ionizing radiation were performed on Earth under identical culture set-up and growth conditions as encountered during the actual space journeys. Transcriptomic and proteomic data were integrated and permitted to put forward the importance of medium composition and culture set-up on the response of the bacterium to space flight-related environmental conditions. In addition, we showed for the first time that a low dose of ionizing radiation (2 mGy) can induce a significant response at the transcriptomic level, although no change in cell viability and only a few significant differentially expressed proteins were observed. From the MELiSSA perspective, we could argue the effect of microgravity to be minimized, whereas R. rubrum S1H could be more sensitive to ionizing radiation during long-term space exploration mission.

show abstract

“…Physical and chemical factors, including UV-A and -B from sunlight, high temperatures, desiccation, and oxidizing chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, have the potential to cause damage to dormant spore DNA (13,15). However, spores of the genus Bacillus counter these potential damaging agents with a number of factors to maintain the integrity of the genome.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of the Nfo and ExoA Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonucleases in Repair of DNA Damage during Outgrowth of Bacillus subtilis Spores

et al. 2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Germination and outgrowth are critical steps for returning Bacillus subtilis spores to life. However, oxidative stress due to full hydration of the spore core during germination and activation of metabolism in spore outgrowth may generate oxidative DNA damage that in many species is processed by apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases. B. subtilis spores possess two AP endonucleases, Nfo and ExoA; the outgrowth of spores lacking both of these enzymes was slowed, and the spores had an elevated mutation frequency, suggesting that these enzymes repair DNA lesions induced by oxidative stress during spore germination and outgrowth. Addition of H 2 O 2 also slowed the outgrowth of nfo exoA spores and increased the mutation frequency, and nfo and exoA mutations slowed the outgrowth of spores deficient in either RecA, nucleotide excision repair (NER), or the DNA-protective ␣/␤-type small acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP). These results suggest that ␣/␤-type SASP protect DNA of germinating spores against damage that can be repaired by Nfo and ExoA, which is generated either spontaneously or promoted by addition of H 2 O 2 . The contribution of RecA and Nfo/ExoA was similar to but greater than that of NER in repair of DNA damage generated during spore germination and outgrowth. However, nfo and exoA mutations increased the spontaneous mutation frequencies of outgrown spores lacking uvrA or recA to about the same extent, suggesting that DNA lesions generated during spore germination and outgrowth are processed by Nfo/ExoA in combination with NER and/or RecA. These results suggest that Nfo/ExoA, RecA, the NER system, and ␣/␤-type SASP all contribute to the repair of and/or protection against oxidative damage of DNA in germinating and outgrowing spores.Due to their ability to survive during long periods of dormancy, spores of Bacillus subtilis are an excellent model system in which to study the consequences of exposure to environmental factors that can cause DNA damage. Physical and chemical factors, including UV-A and -B from sunlight, high temperatures, desiccation, and oxidizing chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, have the potential to cause damage to dormant spore DNA (13, 15). However, spores of the genus Bacillus counter these potential damaging agents with a number of factors to maintain the integrity of the genome. These factors include (i) the spore coats, (ii) the low water content in the spore core, (iii) the low permeability of the spore's inner membrane to hydrophilic small molecules, and (iv) the saturation of spore DNA with ␣/␤-type small acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP) (13,28,29,31). The ␣/␤-type SASP play the most direct role in protecting spore DNA from a variety of types of damage, including depurination-depyrimidination and hydroxyl radical-induced backbone cleavage. As a consequence, these proteins make major contributions to spore resistance to heat and oxidizing agents (13, 31). The ␣/␤-type SASP are also a major factor in the high resistance of B. subtilis spores to UV light (13,14,28,29,31). H...

show abstract

The solar UV environment and bacterial spore UV resistance: considerations for Earth-to-Mars transport by natural processes and human spaceflight

Cited by 165 publications

References 107 publications

Planetary targets in the search for extrasolar oxygenic photosynthesis

Planetary targets in the search for extrasolar oxygenic photosynthesis

Experimental design and environmental parameters affect Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H response to space flight

Role of the Nfo and ExoA Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonucleases in Repair of DNA Damage during Outgrowth of Bacillus subtilis Spores

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About