Transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability

Abstract Observations of trace methane (CH4) in the Martian atmosphere are significant to the astrobiology community given the overwhelming contribution of biological methanogenesis to atmospheric CH4 on Earth. Previous studies have shown that methanogenic Archaea can generate CH4 when incubated wit...

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Autores principales:	Rachel L. Harris, Andrew C. Schuerger, Wei Wang, Yuri Tamama, Zachary K. Garvin, Tullis C. Onstott
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/1156251b49564744a19470da61194935
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:1156251b49564744a19470da611949352021-12-02T17:52:23ZTranscriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability10.1038/s41598-021-91882-02045-2322https://doaj.org/article/1156251b49564744a19470da611949352021-06-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91882-0https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Observations of trace methane (CH4) in the Martian atmosphere are significant to the astrobiology community given the overwhelming contribution of biological methanogenesis to atmospheric CH4 on Earth. Previous studies have shown that methanogenic Archaea can generate CH4 when incubated with perchlorates, highly oxidizing chaotropic salts which have been found across the Martian surface. However, the regulatory mechanisms behind this remain completely unexplored. In this study we performed comparative transcriptomics on the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri, which was incubated at 30˚C and 0˚C with 10–20 mM calcium-, magnesium-, or sodium perchlorate. Consistent with prior studies, we observed decreased CH4 production and apparent perchlorate reduction, with the latter process proceeding by heretofore essentially unknown mechanisms. Transcriptomic responses of M. barkeri to perchlorates include up-regulation of osmoprotectant transporters and selection against redox-sensitive amino acids. Increased expression of methylamine methanogenesis genes suggest competition for H2 with perchlorate reduction, which we propose is catalyzed by up-regulated molybdenum-containing enzymes and maintained by siphoning diffused H2 from energy-conserving hydrogenases. Methanogenesis regulatory patterns suggest Mars’ freezing temperatures alone pose greater constraints to CH4 production than perchlorates. These findings increase our understanding of methanogen survival in extreme environments and confers continued consideration of a potential biological contribution to Martian CH4.Rachel L. HarrisAndrew C. SchuergerWei WangYuri TamamaZachary K. GarvinTullis C. OnstottNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-16 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Rachel L. Harris Andrew C. Schuerger Wei Wang Yuri Tamama Zachary K. Garvin Tullis C. Onstott Transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability
description	Abstract Observations of trace methane (CH4) in the Martian atmosphere are significant to the astrobiology community given the overwhelming contribution of biological methanogenesis to atmospheric CH4 on Earth. Previous studies have shown that methanogenic Archaea can generate CH4 when incubated with perchlorates, highly oxidizing chaotropic salts which have been found across the Martian surface. However, the regulatory mechanisms behind this remain completely unexplored. In this study we performed comparative transcriptomics on the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri, which was incubated at 30˚C and 0˚C with 10–20 mM calcium-, magnesium-, or sodium perchlorate. Consistent with prior studies, we observed decreased CH4 production and apparent perchlorate reduction, with the latter process proceeding by heretofore essentially unknown mechanisms. Transcriptomic responses of M. barkeri to perchlorates include up-regulation of osmoprotectant transporters and selection against redox-sensitive amino acids. Increased expression of methylamine methanogenesis genes suggest competition for H2 with perchlorate reduction, which we propose is catalyzed by up-regulated molybdenum-containing enzymes and maintained by siphoning diffused H2 from energy-conserving hydrogenases. Methanogenesis regulatory patterns suggest Mars’ freezing temperatures alone pose greater constraints to CH4 production than perchlorates. These findings increase our understanding of methanogen survival in extreme environments and confers continued consideration of a potential biological contribution to Martian CH4.
format	article
author	Rachel L. Harris Andrew C. Schuerger Wei Wang Yuri Tamama Zachary K. Garvin Tullis C. Onstott
author_facet	Rachel L. Harris Andrew C. Schuerger Wei Wang Yuri Tamama Zachary K. Garvin Tullis C. Onstott
author_sort	Rachel L. Harris
title	Transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability
title_short	Transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability
title_full	Transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability
title_fullStr	Transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability
title_full_unstemmed	Transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability
title_sort	transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen methanosarcina barkeri and implications for martian habitability
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/1156251b49564744a19470da61194935
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Transcriptional response to prolonged perchlorate exposure in the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri and implications for Martian habitability

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