Raman Spectroscopic and Microbial Study of Biofilms Hosted Gypsum Deposits in the Hypersaline Wetlands: Astrobiological Perspective
Author | Diloreto, Zach |
Author | Ahmad, Mirza Shaharyar |
Author | Al Saad Al-Kuwari, Hamad |
Author | Sadooni, Fadhil |
Author | Bontognali, Tomaso R.R. |
Author | Dittrich, Maria |
Available date | 2024-08-05T05:08:12Z |
Publication Date | 2023 |
Publication Name | Astrobiology |
Resource | Scopus |
ISSN | 15311074 |
Abstract | Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) has been identified at the surface of Mars, by both orbiters and rovers. Because gypsum mostly forms in the presence of liquid water as an essential element for sustaining microbial life and has a low porosity, which is ideal for preserving organic material, it is a promising target to look for signs of past microbial life. In this article, we studied organic matter preservation within gypsum that precipitates in a salt flat or a so-called coastal sabkha located in Qatar. Sabkha's ecosystem is considered a modern analog to evaporitic environments that may have existed on early Mars. We collected the sediment cores in the areas where gypsum is formed and performed DNA analysis to characterize the community of extremophilic microorganisms that is present at the site of gypsum formation. Subsequently, we applied Raman spectroscopy, a technique available on several rovers that are currently exploring Mars, to evaluate which organic molecules can be detected through the translucent gypsum crystals. We showed that organic material can be encapsulated into evaporitic gypsum and detected via Raman microscopy with simple, straightforward sample preparation. The molecular biology data proved useful for assessing to what extent complex Raman spectra can be linked to the original microbial community, dominated by Halobacteria and methanogenic archaea, providing a reference for a signal that may be detected on Mars. |
Sponsor | The authors would like to acknowledge the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation) for the Grant NPRP12S-0313-190349. M.D. was also supported by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC Discovery Grant) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation and Ontario Research Fund (Leaders Opportunity Fund, Grant No. 22404). |
Language | en |
Publisher | Mary Ann Liebert Inc. |
Subject | Gypsum Mars analog Microbial community Pigments Raman spectra Sabkha β-Carotene |
Type | Article |
Pagination | 991-1005 |
Issue Number | 9 |
Volume Number | 23 |
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