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Raman spectroscopic study of the photoprotection of extremophilic microbes against ultraviolet radiation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2007

H.G.M. Edwards ,
R. Moeller ,
S.E. Jorge Villar ,
G. Horneck  and
E. Stackebrandt
H.G.M. Edwards
Affiliation:
Chemical and Forensic Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK e-mail: h.g.m.edwards@bradford.ac.uk
R. Moeller
Affiliation:
German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Division, Cologne, Germany German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
S.E. Jorge Villar
Affiliation:
Chemical and Forensic Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK e-mail: h.g.m.edwards@bradford.ac.uk Area Geodinamica Interna, Facultad de Humanides y Educacion, Universidad de Burgos, Calle Villadiego s/n, 09001 Burgos, Spain e-mail: susanajorgevillar@hotmail.com, seju@ubu.es
G. Horneck
Affiliation:
German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Division, Cologne, Germany
E. Stackebrandt
Affiliation:
German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
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Abstract

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Extremophiles use a range of pigments for protection against low-wavelength radiation in exposed terrestrial habitats and photoaccessory materials are synthesized for the effective harnessing of photosynthetically active radiation. Raman spectroscopy has been demonstrated to be a useful probe for information on the survival strategies employed by extremophilic bacteria through the identification of key biomolecular signatures of the suite of protective chemicals synthesized by the organisms in stressed environments. Raman spectroscopic analyses of Bacillus spp. spores, Bacillus atrophaeus (DSM 675: deep red) and Bacillus subtilis (DSM 5611: light grey and DSM 7264: dark grey), Deinococcus radiodurans (pink) and Natronomonas pharaonis (red), of visually different pigmentation showed the presence of different carotenoids and other protectant biomolecules, which assist microorganisms against UVA radiation. The implications for the survival of extremophilic microbes in extraterrestrial habitats and for the detection of the protectant biomolecules by remote, robotic Raman spectroscopic instrumentation in an astrobiological search for life context are discussed.

Keywords

astrobiologyBacillus atrophaeusBacillus subtiisDeinococcus radioduransNatronomonas pharaonisRaman spectroscopycarotenoidsendospores
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , October 2006 , pp. 313 - 318
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press