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Inferring Properties of Ancient Cyanobacteria from Biogeochemical Activity and Genomes of Siderophilic CyanobacteriaInterrelationships between life and the planetary system could have simultaneously left landmarks in genomes of microbes and physicochemical signatures in the lithosphere. Verifying the links between genomic features in living organisms and the mineralized signatures generated by these organisms will help to reveal traces of life on Earth and beyond. Among contemporary environments, iron-depositing hot springs (IDHS) may represent one of the most appropriate natural models [1] for insights into ancient life since organisms may have originated on Earth and probably Mars in association with hydrothermal activity [2,3]. IDHS also seem to be appropriate models for studying certain biogeochemical processes that could have taken place in the late Archean and,-or early Paleoproterozoic eras [4, 5]. It has been suggested that inorganic polyphosphate (PPi), in chains of tens to hundreds of phosphate residues linked by high-energy bonds, is environmentally ubiquitous and abundant [6]. Cyanobacteria (CB) react to increased heavy metal concentrations and UV by enhanced generation of PPi bodies (PPB) [7], which are believed to be signatures of life [8]. However, the role of PPi in oxygenic prokaryotes for the suppression of oxidative stress induced by high Fe is poorly studied. Here we present preliminary results of a new mechanism of Fe mineralization in oxygenic prokaryotes, the effect of Fe on the generation of PPi bodies in CB, as well as preliminary analysis of the diversity and phylogeny of proteins involved in the prevention of oxidative stress in phototrophs inhabiting IDHS.
Document ID
20100001618
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
McKay, David S.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Brown, I. I.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Tringe, S. G.
(Department of Energy Walnut Creek, CA, United States)
Thomas-Keprta, K. E.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Bryant, D. A.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. PA, United States)
Sarkisova, S. S.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Malley, K.
(Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Sosa, O.
(Universities Space Research Association Houston, TX, United States)
Klatt, C. G.
(Montana State Univ. MT, United States)
McKay, D. S.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2010
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-19443
Meeting Information
Meeting: The Astrobiology Science Conference 2010
Location: eague City, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: April 26, 2010
End Date: April 29, 2010
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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