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Spaceflight multi-omics reveals vulnerabilities of human germ cell development

ABSTRACT: Exposure to microgravity, cosmic radiation, and other spaceflight conditions induces significant physiological adaptations in biological systems. While prior studies have characterized effects on stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, the biological impacts of spaceflight on human germ cell development remain unexplored. To address this gap, we deployed automated experimental platforms aboard China's Tianzhou-1 (TZ-1) and Tianzhou-6 spacecraft, enabling fluorescent morphological analysis and multi-omics profiling of stem cell derivatives under orbital conditions. These systems incorporated live-cell imaging, remote operation interfaces from Earth, and integrated sample preservation for time-point-specific specimen capture. Our experiments revealed that spaceflight significantly reduced germ cell yields and dysregulated translational profiles, particularly in cytoskeletal organization and extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction pathways. However, whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide methylation analyses confirmed genomic stability, with no statistically significant mutations during short-term spaceflight. This work establishes an automated platform for real-time analysis of human germ cell differentiation in orbital microgravity and provides a foundation for future space biology research.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE307137 | GEO | 2026/06/03

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Space biomanufacturing using engineered microbes provides a promising approach for sustainable production of biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and essential metabolites during long-duration space missions. However, microgravity-induced physiological changes have been reported to alter microbial metabolism, substrate transport, and biosynthetic efficiency. In this study, we investigated the effects of microgravity on melanin biosynthesis in non-motile Escherichia coli aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Melanin was chosen as a model biomanufacturing product due to its visible pigmentation, allowing straightforward assessment of production efficiency. Despite expressing a functional tyrosinase enzyme, ISS-grown E. coli exhibited significantly lower melanin production than ground controls. To uncover the underlying mechanisms, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis confirmed a high extracellular tyrosine concentration in ISS samples, suggesting that substrate was not effectively catalyzed for melanin biosynthesis. Culturing the same strains under Low Shear Modeled Microgravity (LSMMG) conditions in the Rotating Wall Vessel (RWV) bioreactor validated key spaceflight effects, showing reduced melanin production and bacterial viability under low fluid shear conditions. Proteomic profiling of ISS cultures and ground controls identified increased expression of membrane and transport proteins, as well as stress-related proteins involved in oxidative and osmotic stress adaptation. Metabolomic analysis supported these findings, showing an increase in trehalose, a stress response molecule, and a significant decrease in glutathione, indicating perturbed redox homeostasis under microgravity. These findings demonstrate that the microgravity environment of spaceflight affects microbial substrate transport, stress response pathways and cellular metabolism, ultimately impacting biosynthetic efficiency. Understanding these spaceflight-induced metabolic shifts is crucial for optimizing microbial biomanufacturing strategies in extraterrestrial environments. This complete submission is for the proteomics dataset that is described in the following submitted publication: Hennessa TM, VanArsdale ES, Leary D, Yang J, Davis R, Barrila J, Schultzhaus ZJ, Romsdahl J, Smith AD, Scholes AN, Hervey WJ 4th, Compton JR, Katilie CH, Nickerson CA, Wang Z. Microgravity-Induced Constraints on Melanin Bioproduction: Investigating E. coli Metabolic Responses Aboard the International Space Station. submitted to NPG Microgravity 20 AUG 2025, ACCEPTED 07 JAN 2026.

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Spaceflight multi-omics reveals vulnerabilities of human germ cell development

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