Metabolomics as an Emerging Tool in the Search for Astrobiologically Relevant Biomarkers
Autor
Seyler, Lauren M.
Kujawinski, Elizabeth B.
Azua-Bustos, Armando
Lee, Michael D.
Marlow, Jeffrey J.
Perl, Scott M.
Cleaves, Henderson James
Resumen
It is now routinely possible to sequence and recover microbial genomes from environmental samples. To the degree it is feasible to assign transcriptional and translational functions to these genomes, it should be possible, in principle, to largely understand the complete molecular inputs and outputs of a microbial community. However, gene-based tools alone are presently insufficient to describe the full suite of chemical reactions and small molecules that compose a living cell. Metabolomic tools have developed quickly and now enable rapid detection and identification of small molecules within biological and environmental samples. The convergence of these technologies will soon facilitate the detection of novel enzymatic activities, novel organisms, and potentially extraterrestrial life-forms on solar system bodies. This review explores the methodological problems and scientific opportunities facing researchers who hope to apply metabolomic methods in astrobiology-related fields, and how present challenges might be overcome.
Colecciones
Ítems relacionados
Mostrando ítems relacionados por Título, autor o materia.
-
Article
Fundamental Science and Engineering Questions in Planetary Cave Exploration (2024)
Wynne, J. Judson; Titus, Timothy N.; Agha-Mohammadi, Ali-akbar; Azua-Bustos, Armando; Boston, Penelope J.; de León, Pablo; Demirel-Floyd, Cansu; De Waele, Jo; Jones, Heather; Malaska, Michael J.; ... (John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2022)Nearly half a century ago, two papers postulated the likelihood of lunar lava tube caves using mathematical models. Today, armed with an array of orbiting and fly-by satellites and survey instrumentation, we have now ... -
Article
An Experimental Approach to Inform Venus Astrobiology Mission Design and Science Objectives (2024)
Duzdevich, Daniel; Petkowski, Janusz J.; Bains, William; Cleaves, H. James; Carr, Christopher E.; Borowska, Ewa I.; Azua-Bustos, Armando; Cable, Morgan L.; Dorrington, Graham E.; Grinspoon, David H.; ... (MDPI, 2022)Exploring how life is distributed in the universe is an extraordinary interdisciplinary challenge, but increasingly subject to testable hypotheses. Biology has emerged and flourished on at least one planet, and that renders ... -
Article
The Atacama Desert in Northern Chile as an Analog Model of Mars (2022)
Azua-Bustos, Armando; González-Silva, Carlos; Fairén, Alberto G. (Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-01-12)The Atacama Desert is by far the driest and oldest desert on Earth, showing a unique combination of environmental extremes (extreme dryness, the highest UV radiation levels on Earth, and highly saline and oxidizing soils), ...