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Identification of Novel Desiccation-Tolerant S. cerevisiae Strains for Deep Space BiosensorsNASA's BioSentinel mission, a secondary payload that will fly on the Space Launch System's first Exploration Mission (EM-1), utilizes the budding yeast S. cerevisiae to study the biological response to the deep space radiation environment. Yeast samples are desiccated prior to launch to suspend growth and metabolism while the spacecraft travels to its target heliocentric orbit beyond Low Earth Orbit. Each sample is then rehydrated at the desired time points to reactivate the cells. A major risk in this mission is the loss of cell viability that occurs in the recovery period following the desiccation and rehydration process. Cell survival is essential for the detection of the biological response to features in the deep space environment, including ionizing radiation. The aim of this study is to mitigate viable cell loss in future biosensors by identifying mutations and genes that confer tolerance to desiccation stress in rad51, a radiation-sensitive yeast strain. We initiated a screen for desiccation-tolerance after rehydrating cells that were desiccated for three years, and selected various clones exhibiting robust growth. To verify retention of radiation sensitivity in the isolated clones - a crucial feature for a successful biosensor - we exposed them to ionizing radiation. Finally, to elucidate the genetic and molecular bases for observed desiccation-tolerance, we will perform whole-genome sequencing of those rad51 clones that exhibit both robust growth and radiation sensitivity following desiccation. The identification and characterization of desiccation-tolerant strains will allow us to engineer a biological model that will be resilient in face of the challenges of the deep space environment, and will thus ensure the experimental success of future biosensor missions.
Document ID
20170011555
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Tieze, Sofia Massaro
(Blue Marble Space Seattle, WA, United States)
Santa Maria, Sergio R.
(Wyle Labs., Inc. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Liddell, Lauren C.
(Wyle Labs., Inc. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Bhattacharya, Sharmila
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
December 6, 2017
Publication Date
October 25, 2017
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Life Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN47966
Meeting Information
Meeting: Annual Meeting American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR 2017)
Location: Seattle, WA
Country: United States
Start Date: October 25, 2017
End Date: October 28, 2017
Sponsors: American Society for Gravitational and Space Research
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX15AG98A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA14AB82C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
S. cerevisiae
desiccation-tolerance
biosenso
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