Dataset Information

Metabolomics Dataset accompanying Microgravity-Induced Constraints on Melanin Bioproduction: Investigating E. coli Metabolic Responses Aboard the International Space Station

ABSTRACT: ABSTRACT: 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 submission is for the metabolomics 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.

The complete submission for the proteomics dataset is available at MassIVE accession MSV000098933.

INSTRUMENT(S): TripleTOF 5600+

ORGANISM(S): Escherichia Coli (ncbitaxon:562)

SUBMITTER: J Hervey

PROVIDER: MSV000098934 | MassIVE | Mon Aug 25 09:00:00 BST 2025

REPOSITORIES: MassIVE

ACCESS DATA

Dataset's files

Source:

			Action	DRS
		Other

Items per page:

1 - 1 of 1

Similar Datasets

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.

Project description:Background: The International Space Station is an orbiting laboratory for microbial research in space, where microorganisms can be exposed to multiple extremes. Dehydrated cell clusters of extremophilic bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans have survived 3-year exposure outside the International Space Station in frames of the Tanpopo mission. We investigated the robust molecular machinery of Deinococcus radiodurans involved in its recovery after long-term space travel. Methods: The space-exposed and ground control cells of Deinococcus radiodurans were recovered in a complex medium for 5 and 15 h and investigated using integrative –omics techniques combined with electron microscopy tools. Consolidative transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses were performed to investigate molecular kinetics of cell recovery after 3-year exposure to low Earth orbit. Results: Ultrastructure analysis showed that Deinococcus radiodurans cells remained intact after low Earth orbit exposure for 3 years. Multiscale molecular analysis revealed significant alterations in response to long-term space travel. Key adaptations included upregulated DNA repair genes,stress response regulators, and oxidative stress scavenging enzymes. Proteins associated with transmembrane processes, cell division, and stress defence were also upregulated. Metabolomic analysis showed that only a few amino acids, sugars, and specific metabolites were more abundant after low Earth orbit exposure, suggesting energy conservation for molecular repair and regulation.Primordial stress molecule spermidine is also involved in cells recovery, helping combat the stress factors after space travel. Conclusion: Comparative –omics profile of extracted mRNA, proteins and metabolites allowed us to propose a multiscale dynamic molecular response of Deinococcus radiodurans after 3 years of space exposure. The kinetic profile with 2 timepoints during post-exposure analysis enabled the identification of foreground molecular targets employed by this microorganism in recovery after a space journey. Altogether, a multi-omics approach towards space-exposed cells revealed a strong focus on repair mechanisms, stress defence, and the utilization of external resources during the initial recovery phase. These findings expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms employed by extremophiles to survive in space, providing implications for astrobiology and future space exploration.

Dataset Information

Metabolomics Dataset accompanying Microgravity-Induced Constraints on Melanin Bioproduction: Investigating E. coli Metabolic Responses Aboard the International Space Station

Dataset's files

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets