Cryo-micro-Raman spectroscopy and next generation sequencing for investigation of biomarkers in water ice inclusions of the subglacial antarctic lake
Final Report Abstract
The project aimed to synergize advanced analytics, cryogenic Raman microscopy, and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for stepwise (before and after ice melting) detection and identification of specific biogenic markers in accretion-type deep ice cores from the subglacial Antarctic Lake Vostok. The project was affected by the force majeure events in the years after 2021, which prevented the collection of Lake Vostok samples. As a result, the envisaged research program could not be performed as planned. A mitigation plan was implemented, closely following the initial proposal. Despite these challenges, significant results were obtained: 1. The capability to resolve Raman signals from a few hundred microns in the amorphous ice lattices up to a depth of several mm in the accretion I type monocrystalline ice (the Antarctic subglacial Vostok lake sample from 3607 m depth) has been demonstrated in experiments using a confocal Raman microscopy with a 532 nm excitation laser, i.e., in these experiments, where the excitation and the Stokes shifted emission being in the visible range, water ice matrices are virtually transparent. At this depth, all solid inclusions as well as those frozen and volatile in the ice matrices could be detected. 2. We have built, characterized, and implemented a Raman spectrometer with the potential of single-Raman-photon sensitivity. Our demonstrator utilized a single-pixel superconducting nanowire single-phonon detector and a fiber-dispersive element. Operated in pulsed excitation with femtosecond and picosecond lasers, the demonstrator can achieve a trade-off between time-domain parameters and spectral resolution using commercial silica fibers. Further improvements are possible with dedicated dispersive elements and optimized designs for Raman photons collection. Such ultra-high sensitivity is expected to significantly increase the probability of searching for life in extreme icy environments such as deep subglacial lakes and ice matrices, both on the Earth and in icy moons in the solar system. 3. The strong influence of ultra-low temperatures of a local environment on resistivity of DNA to ionizing radiation have been observed for specific biomolecules under deep freezing conditions (to almost -200°C). The water-free biomolecules, such as a bacterial 16S rRNA gene, have exhibited larger damaging thresholds (>750kGy) as compared to those control groups (less than 7.5kGy) in the matrices which provide a coupling / contact to local water environment. This might open a specific time window, in the order of typical in-situ Raman experiment preparation and performance, for detection of survived biomolecules after their ejection on the surface of atmosphere-less icy moon, a scenario similar to observations from Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
Publications
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Feasibility of fiber-dispersive Raman spectrometer with single-photon sensitivity for detection of biomarkers in rock-forming minerals and ice matrices M. Sidorova, M. Baqué, U. Böttger, S. G. Pavlov, A. D. Semenov, and H‐W. Hübers, GeoRaman International Conference, 29 Aug. – 1 Sept. 2022, Prague, Czech Republic
M. Sidorova, M. Baqué, U. Böttger, S. G. Pavlov, A. D. Semenov & H‐W. Hübers
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On the Detection and Identification of Low-density Organic Matter and Biosignatures using Raman Scattering under Simulated Environments Related to Icy Moons, M. Sidorova, M. Baqué, S. G. Pavlov, S. A. Bulat, U. Böttger, and H.-W. Hübers. The Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon 2022), 15 - 20 May 2022, Atlanta, USA Session: Alternative and agnostic biosignatures, id. 312-02
M. Sidorova, M. Baqué, S. G. Pavlov, S. A. Bulat, U. Böttger & H.-W. Hübers
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Short (100 bp) dsDNA Stretches Can Withstand 1mGy Gamma-Irradiation Dose at Jovian Europa’s Surface. Wiley.
Bulat, Sergey; Tolicheva, Olga; Verbenko, Valera; Yaroshevich, Tatyana; Cheptsov, Vladimir & Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm
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Feasibility of a Fiber-Dispersive Raman Spectrometer for Biomarker Detection. Applied Spectroscopy, 78(10), 1098-1104.
Sidorova, Mariia; Pavlov, Sergey G.; Böttger, Ute; Baqué, Mickael; Semenov, Alexei D. & Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm
