Arens, F.L.* ; Uhl, J. ; Schmitt-Kopplin, P. ; Karger, C.* ; Mangelsdorf, K.* ; Sager, C.* ; Airo, A.* ; Valenzuela, B.* ; Zamorano, P.* ; Schulze-Makuch, D.*
Exploring organic compound preservation through long-term in situ experiments in the Atacama desert and the relevance for Mars.
Sci. Rep. 15:29957 (2025)
The preservation of organic compounds under extreme environmental conditions remains a critical challenge for both terrestrial ecology applications on Earth and astrobiology. In a novel long-term field experiment over 8 months, we exposed biomolecules and a model organism to natural hyperarid conditions of the Atacama Desert, one of the best Mars analog environments. We used custom-designed sample plates for long-term exposure to simulate environmental stresses that biomolecules are exposed naturally in a hyperarid environment. The multiple stressors included extreme temperature fluctuations, associated humidity changes, and intense solar irradiation. Our field experiment complements and extends the insights obtained from previously conducted short-term laboratory experiments. To investigate biomolecule stability, we embedded adenosine triphosphate (ATP), chlorophyll-a, and the cyanobacterium Chrooccoccidiopsis in various Mars-relevant sediments with addition of chloride and perchlorate. Our findings, which include the rapid degradation of these biomolecules, the detection of more stable degradation products, and the identification of non-enzymatic degradation pathways, reveal the critical influence of substrate and salt types on biomolecule stability. Valuable insights into biosignature preservation under extreme terrestrial conditions and a better understanding of organic signal interpretations were gained, which will provide critical insights for future Mars missions, especially when searching for past or present life.
Impact Factor
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Times Cited
Scopus
Cited By
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Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Abiotic Degradation ; Atacama Desert ; Biosignatures ; Field Experiment ; Oxychlorines; Amino-acids; Perchlorate; Radiation; Soils; Cyanobacterium; Habitability; Hydrocarbons; Degradation; Molecules; Minerals
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2025
Prepublished im Jahr
0
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2025
ISSN (print) / ISBN
2045-2322
e-ISSN
2045-2322
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 15,
Heft: 1,
Seiten: ,
Artikelnummer: 29957
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
Nature Publishing Group
Verlagsort
London
Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
0000-00-00
Betreuer
Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
Hochschulort
Fakultät
Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
POF Topic(s)
30202 - Environmental Health
Forschungsfeld(er)
Environmental Sciences
PSP-Element(e)
G-504800-001
Förderungen
DFG
Projekt DEAL
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2025-10-24