Nucleic acids and melanin pigments after exposure to high doses of gamma rays: a biosignature robustness test

The question about the stability of certain biomolecules is directly connected to the life-detection missions aiming to search for past or present life beyond Earth. The extreme conditions experienced on extraterrestrial planet surface (e.g. Mars), characterized by ionizing and non-ionizing radiatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of astrobiology 2022-10, Vol.21 (5), p.296-307
Main Authors: Cassaro, A., Pacelli, C., Baqué, M., Maturilli, A., Boettger, U., Moeller, R., Fujimori, A., de Vera, J-P.P., Onofri, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Biomolecules
Carbon dioxide
Cosmic rays
Data interpretation
Detection
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial radiation
Fungi
Gamma radiation
Gamma rays
Instrumentation
Ionizing radiation
Lasers
Mars
Mars missions
Mars surface
Melanin
Microorganisms
Museums
Nucleic acids
Pigments
Planets
Radiation
Radiation effects
Software
Spectrum analysis
Variance analysis
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Summary:The question about the stability of certain biomolecules is directly connected to the life-detection missions aiming to search for past or present life beyond Earth. The extreme conditions experienced on extraterrestrial planet surface (e.g. Mars), characterized by ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, CO2-atmosphere and reactive species, may destroy the hypothetical traces of life. In this context, the study of the biomolecules behaviour after ionizing radiation exposure could provide support for the onboard instrumentation and data interpretation of the life exploration missions on other planets. Here, as a part of STARLIFE campaign, we investigated the effects of gamma rays on two classes of fungal biomolecules–nucleic acids and melanin pigments – considered as promising biosignatures to search for during the ‘in situ life-detection’ missions beyond Earth.
ISSN:1473-5504
1475-3006
DOI:10.1017/S1473550422000180