Japan Astrobiology Mars Project (JAMP): Search for Microbes on The Mars Surface with Special Interest in Methane-Oxidizing Bacteria

Akihiko Yamagishi; Shin-ichi Yokobori; Yoshitaka Yoshimura; Masamichi Yamashita; Hirofumi Hashimoto; Takashi Kubota; Hajime Yano; Junichi Haruyama; Makoto Tabata; Kensei Kobayashi; Hajime Honda; Yuichi Utsumi; Tsunemasa Saiki; Takashi Itoh; Atsuo Miyakawa; Kenji Hamase; Takeshi Naganuma; Hajime Mita; Kenichi Tonokura; Sho Sasaki; Hideaki Miyamoto

doi:10.2187/bss.24.67

Akihiko Yamagishi, Shin-ichi Yokobori, Yoshitaka Yoshimura, Masamichi Yamashita, Hirofumi Hashimoto, Takashi Kubota, Hajime Yano, Junichi Haruyama, Makoto Tabata, Kensei Kobayashi, Hajime Honda, Yuichi Utsumi, Tsunemasa Saiki, Takashi Itoh, Atsuo Miyakawa, Kenji Hamase, Takeshi Naganuma, Hajime Mita, Kenichi Tonokura, Sho Sasaki, Hideaki Miyamoto

Author information

Akihiko Yamagishi
Department of Molecular Biology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachiojishi, Tokyo 192-0392 Japan
Shin-ichi Yokobori
Department of Molecular Biology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachiojishi, Tokyo 192-0392 Japan
Yoshitaka Yoshimura
College of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida-shi, Tokyo 194-8610 Japan
Masamichi Yamashita
Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciene /JAXA, 3-1-1, Yoshinodai, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
Hirofumi Hashimoto
Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciene /JAXA, 3-1-1, Yoshinodai, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
Takashi Kubota
Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciene /JAXA, 3-1-1, Yoshinodai, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
Hajime Yano
Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciene /JAXA, 3-1-1, Yoshinodai, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
Junichi Haruyama
Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciene /JAXA, 3-1-1, Yoshinodai, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
Makoto Tabata
Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciene /JAXA, 3-1-1, Yoshinodai, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 Japan
Kensei Kobayashi
Yokohama National University, Kanagawa 240-8501 Japan
Hajime Honda
Nagaoka University of Technology, Nigata 940-2188 Japan
Yuichi Utsumi
Laboratory of Advanced Science and Technology for Industry, University of Hyogo, 3-1-2, Koto, Kamigori, Ako 678-1205 Japan
Tsunemasa Saiki
Laboratory of Advanced Science and Technology for Industry, University of Hyogo, 3-1-2, Koto, Kamigori, Ako 678-1205 Japan
Department of Ecological and Biological Technologies, Hyogo Prefectural Institute of Technology, 3-1-12, Yukihira, Suma, Kobe 654-0037 Japan
Takashi Itoh
Japan Collection of Microorganisms, RIKEN BioResource Center, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
Atsuo Miyakawa
Faculty of Engineering, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Nakaku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka 432-8561 Japan
Kenji Hamase
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582 Japan
Takeshi Naganuma
School of Biosphere Sciemce, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima 739-8528 Japan
Hajime Mita
Department of Life, Environment and Materials Science, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, 3-30-1 Wajiro-Higashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka 811-0295 Japan
Kenichi Tonokura
Environmental Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
Sho Sasaki
RISE Project, NAOJ, Iwate 0232-0861 Japan
Hideaki Miyamoto
The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 Japan

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2010 Volume 24 Issue 2 Pages 67-82

DOI https://doi.org/10.2187/bss.24.67

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Abstract

Liquid water is considered to be critical for life. Gibbs free energy is another factor that is important to sustain life for long durations. Gibbs free energy is obtained by reactions between reductants and oxidants, or from any other non-equilibrium state of matter. As an example, aerobic organisms use carbohydrates and oxygen to obtain energy. Many types of chemoautotrophic mechanisms are known for this process as well. On the surface of Mars, methane and oxidative compounds such as ferric oxide, sulfate and perchloride, which could provide redox-derived Gibbs free energy, have been detected. Iron-dependent methane oxidizing bacteria have been found in marine environments on Earth. This finding suggests the possible presence of methane-oxidizing bacteria on the Mars surface, if the local thermal environment and other resources permit proliferation and metabolism of bacteria. Our project aims to search for methane-oxidizing microbes on the Mars surface. Martian soil will be sampled from a depth of about 5 - 10 cm below the surface, where organisms are expected to be protected from the harsh hyper-oxidative environment of the Mars surface. Small particles less than 0.1 mm or 1 mm will be sieved from the sample, before being transferred to the analysis section by a micro-actuator. The particles will be stained with a cocktail of fluorescent reagents, and examined by fluorescence microscopy. A combination of fluorescent dyes has been selected to identify life forms in samples. A membrane-specific dye or a combination of dyes will be used to detect membranes surrounding the "cell". An intercalating fluorescent dye such as SYBR Green will be used to detect genetic compounds such as DNA. A substrate dye that emits fluorescence upon cleavage by a catalytic reaction will be used to detect the catalytic activity of the "cell". A combination of staining reagents has been chosen based on the definition of life. A membrane separating a cell from the ambient environment may lead to identification of an "individual". DNA or genetic material is required for "replication" of the life form. Catalytic reactions carried out by enzymes drive "metabolism". This combination of strategies will also be useful for detecting pre-biotic organic material as well as remnants of ancient life. Hydrolysis of the polymers in the "cell" followed by HPLC or soft ionization MS for amino acid analysis will be effective for examining whether Martian life is identical to or different from terrestrial life. The number and type of the amino acids as well as their chirality will be analyzed to distinguish whether the polymers are contaminants from Earth.

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