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 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 red

SUBMITTER: Harris RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8196204 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature