From the Biosphere to the Geosphere: Assessing Lipid Biomarker Taphonomy Through a Lithification Gradient.

IF 2.6 3区 物理与天体物理 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Astrobiology Pub Date : 2025-09-01 Epub Date: 2025-08-26 DOI:10.1177/15311074251366268
Pablo L Finkel, Daniel Carrizo, Victor Parro, Federico A Vignale, María Eugenia Farías, Laura Sánchez-García
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The alteration of biomass into simpler molecular remnants is relevant for the search for ancient and extraterrestrial life, where identifying recurrent taphonomic pathways is crucial for the attribution of biogenicity to otherwise nonbiological molecules. This work evaluates the alteration of lipids-recalcitrant biomarkers derived from cell membranes-across a lithification gradient, from a biologically active microbial mat, through a lithifying mat, to a fully lithified microbialite. Lipids from these samples, obtained from the high-altitude, hypersaline lake of Pozo Bravo (Argentinean Andes), were analyzed at molecular and isotopic levels to reconstruct biological sources and assess preservation along a bio-to-geo transition. Lipids from the lithifying mat and microbialite retained molecular features from the soft microbial mat (e.g., cyano- and purple sulfur bacteria), albeit at lower concentrations and diversity. Moreover, our analysis revealed preferential alteration of labile structural features such as unsaturations, methyl-, and pentacyclic structures, which decreased by ≥91% from soft to lithifying mat and ≥68% from lithifying mat to microbialite. Saturated and linear chains were more resistant, decreasing by ≥64% and ≥29%, respectively. These findings highlight how lipid preservation varies during lithification; thus, they provide valuable insights for biogenicity assessments and can help guide future efforts aimed at detecting ancient life.

从生物圈到地圈:通过岩化梯度评估脂质生物标志物埋藏。
将生物量转化为更简单的分子残迹与寻找古代和地外生命有关,在这些领域,识别重复的地形学途径对于将生物原性归因于其他非生物分子至关重要。本研究评估了脂质(来源于细胞膜的顽固性生物标志物)的变化,从生物活性微生物垫,到石化垫,再到完全石化的微生物岩。研究人员从阿根廷安第斯山脉Pozo Bravo的高海拔高盐湖泊中提取了脂质样品,并对其进行了分子和同位素水平的分析,以重建生物来源,并评估其在生物-地质过渡过程中的保存情况。来自石化垫和微生物岩的脂质保留了软微生物垫的分子特征(例如,氰基硫细菌和紫色硫细菌),尽管浓度和多样性较低。此外,我们的分析还揭示了不饱和、甲基和五环结构等不稳定结构特征的优先变化,从软质到石化席减少≥91%,从石化席到微生物席减少≥68%。饱和链和线性链的抗性更强,分别下降≥64%和≥29%。这些发现强调了在石化过程中脂质保存的变化;因此,它们为生物原性评估提供了有价值的见解,并有助于指导未来旨在探测古代生命的努力。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Astrobiology
Astrobiology 生物-地球科学综合
CiteScore
7.70
自引率
11.90%
发文量
100
审稿时长
3 months
期刊介绍: Astrobiology is the most-cited peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the understanding of life''s origin, evolution, and distribution in the universe, with a focus on new findings and discoveries from interplanetary exploration and laboratory research. Astrobiology coverage includes: Astrophysics; Astropaleontology; Astroplanets; Bioastronomy; Cosmochemistry; Ecogenomics; Exobiology; Extremophiles; Geomicrobiology; Gravitational biology; Life detection technology; Meteoritics; Planetary geoscience; Planetary protection; Prebiotic chemistry; Space exploration technology; Terraforming
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