Cyanobacteria are capable of tolerating environmental extremes. To survive in extreme environments, cyanobacteria have developed the capability to adapt to a variety of stresses. For example, cyanobacteria have adopted a number of strategies with which to survive UV stress, including expression of UV-screening pigments and antioxidant systems. We have previously shown that several antioxidants are significantly expressed in Nostoc sp. by UVB irradiation. We report here that the content of UV-responsive biomarkers such as β-carotene and scytonemin can be easily detected by Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy with use of a small sample size and that the content of β-carotene is dependant on the UVB intensity and exposure time. Our results indicate that Raman spectroscopy may be a helpful tool to analyze UV-protective molecules of cyanobacterium in astrobiological studies without access to large sample sizes and complicated extractions, which are needed by other analytical techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Key Words: Nostoc sp.—UVB—Raman spectra—β-carotene. Astrobiology 10, 783–788.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AlbrechtM., SteigerS., SandmannG.2001. Expression of a ketolase gene mediates the synthesis of canthaxanthin in synechococcus leading to tolerance against photoinhibition, pigment degradation and UV-B sensitivity of photosynthesis. Photochem Photobiol, 73:551–555.
2.
BilliD., FriedmannE.I., HoferK.G., Grilli CaiolaM., Ocampo-FriedmannR.2000. Ionizing radiation resistance in the desiccation-tolerant cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis. Appl Environ Microbiol, 66:1489–1492.
3.
BowdenS.A., WilsonR., CooperJ.M., ParnellJ.2010. The use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering for detecting molecular evidence of life in rocks, sediments, and sedimentary deposits. Astrobiology, 10:629–641.
4.
ChenK., FengH., ZhangM., WangX.2003. Nitric oxide alleviates oxidative damage in the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa caused by UV-B radiation. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 48:389–393.
5.
Choo-SmithL.P., MaquelinK., van VreeswijkT., BruiningH.A., PuppelsG.J., ThiN.A.G., KirschnerC., NaumannD., AmiD., VillaA.M., OrsiniF., DogliaS.M., LamfarrajH., SockalingumG.D., ManfaitM., AllouchP., EndtzH.P.2001. Investigating microbial (micro)colony heterogeneity by vibrational spectroscopy. Appl Environ Microbiol, 67:1461–1469.
6.
CockellC.S., CatlingD.C., DavisW.L., SnookK., KepnerR.L., LeeP., McKayC.P.2000. The ultraviolet environment of Mars: biological implications past, present, and future. Icarus, 146:343–359.
7.
CockellC.S., SchuergerA.C., BilliD., FriedmannE.I., PanitzC.2005. Effects of a simulated martian UV flux on the cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp 029. Astrobiology, 5:127–140.
8.
DillonJ.G., CastenholzR.W.2003. The synthesis of the UV-screening pigment, scytonemin, and photosynthetic performance in isolates from closely related natural populations of cyanobacteria (Calothrix sp.)Environ Microbiol, 5:484–491.
9.
DillonJ.G., TatsumiC.M., TandinganP.G., CastenholzR.W.2002. Effect of environmental factors on the synthesis of scytonemin, a UV-screening pigment, in a cyanobacterium (Chroococcidiopsis sp.)Arch Microbiol, 177:322–331.
10.
EdwardsH.G.M., NewtonE.M., DickensheetsD.L., Wynn-WilliamsD.D.2003. Raman spectroscopic detection of biomolecular markers from Antarctic materials: evaluation for putative martian habitats. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc, 59:2277–2290.
11.
EdwardsH.G.M., MoodyC.A., VillarS.E.J., MancinelliR.2004. Raman spectroscopy of desert varnishes and their rock substrata. J Raman Spectrosc, 35:475–479.
12.
EdwardsH.G.M., MoodyC.D., NewtonE.M., VillarS.E.J., RussellM.J.2005. Raman spectroscopic analysis of cyanobacterial colonization of hydromagnesite, a putative martian extremophile. Icarus, 175:372–381.
FlemingE.D., CastenholzR.W.2007. Effects of periodic desiccation on the synthesis of the UV-screening compound, scytonemin, in cyanobacteria. Environ Microbiol, 9:1448–1455.
15.
FriedmannE.I., Ocampo-FriedmannR.1995. A primitive cyanobacterium as pioneer microorganism for terraforming Mars. Adv Space Res, 15:243–246.
16.
GortonH.L., VogelmannT.C.2003. Ultraviolet radiation and the snow alga Chlamydomonas nivalis (Bauer) Wille. Photochem Photobiol, 77:608–615.
17.
GotzT., WindhovelU., BogerP., SandmannG.1999. Protection of photosynthesis against ultraviolet-B radiation by carotenoids in transformants of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC7942. Plant Physiol, 120:599–604.
18.
HeY.Y., HäderD.P.2002. UV-B-induced formation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp.: protective effects of ascorbic acid and N-acetyl-L-cystein. J Photochem Photobiol B, 66:115–124.
19.
HeY.Y., KlischM., HäderD.P.2002. Adaptation of cyanobacteria to UV-B stress correlated with oxidative stress and oxidative damage. Photochem Photobiol, 76:188–196.
20.
HeraudP., BeardallJ., McNaughtonD., WoodB.R.2007. In vivo prediction of the nutrient status of individual microalgal cells using Raman microspectroscopy. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 275:24–30.
21.
HuC.X., ZhangD.L., HuangZ.B., LiuY.D.2003. The vertical microdistribution of cyanobacteria and green algae within desert crusts and the development of the algal crusts. Plant Soil, 257:97–111.
22.
LakatosM., BilgerW., BüdelB.2001. Carotenoid composition of terrestrial cyanobacteria: response to natural light conditions in open rock habitats in Venezuela. Eur J Phycol, 36:367–375.
23.
LaurionI., LamiA., SommarugaR.2002. Distribution of mycosporine-like amino acids and photoprotective carotenoids among freshwater phytoplankton assemblages. Aquat Microb Ecol, 26:283–294.
24.
LiuY.D., CockellC.S., WangG.H., HuC.X., ChenL.Z., De PhilippisR.2008. Control of lunar and martian dust—experimental insights from artificial and natural cyanobacterial and algal crusts in the desert of inner Mongolia, China. Astrobiology, 8:75–86.
25.
MalangaG., KozakR.G., PuntaruloS.1999. N-Acetylcystein-dependent protection against UV-B damage in two photosynthetic organisms. Plant Sci, 141:129–137.
26.
MarshallC.P., LeukoS., CoyleC.M., WalterM.R., BurnsB.P., NeilanB.A.2007. Carotenoid analysis of halophilic archaea by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Astrobiology, 7:631–643.
27.
QuesadaA., VincentW.F.1997. Strategies of adaptation by Antarctic cyanobacteria to ultraviolet radiation. Eur J Phycol, 32:335–342.
28.
RippkaR., DeruellesJ., WaterburyJ.B., HerdmanM., StanierR.Y.1979. Generic assignments, strain histories and properties of pure cultures of cyanobacteria. J Gen Microbiol, 111:1–61.
29.
RothschildL.J., MancinelliR.L.2001. Life in extreme environments. Nature, 409:1092–1101.
30.
SchaferL., SandmannM., WoitschS., SandmannG.2006. Coordinate up-regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis as a response to light stress in Synechococcus PCC7942. Plant Cell Environ, 29:1349–1356.
31.
ShiS., WangG., WangY., ZhangL., ZhangL.2005. Protective effect of nitric oxide against oxidative stress under ultraviolet-B radiation. Nitric Oxide, 13:1–9.
32.
SinhaR., KlischM., GronigerA., HäderD.P.1998. Ultraviolet-absorbing/screening substances in cyanobacteria, phytoplankton and macroalgae. J Photochem Photobiol B, 47:83–94.
33.
TyagiR., KumarA., TyagiM.B., JhaP.N., KumarH.D., SinhaR.P., HäderD.P.2003. Protective role of certain chemicals against UV-B-induced damage in the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, Nostoc muscorum. J Basic Microbiol, 43:137–147.
34.
VillarS.E.J., EdwardsH.G.M.2006. Raman spectroscopy in astrobiology. Anal Bioanal Chem, 384:100–113.
35.
WangG.H., ChenL.Z., HuC.X., LiG.B., LiuY.D.2006. Studies on the adaptation mechanism of desert algae to UV-B irradiance. Orig Life Evol Biosph, 36:319.
36.
WangG.H., HuC.X., LiD.H., ZhangD.L., LiX.Y., ChenK., LiuY.D.2007. The response of antioxidant systems in Nostoc sphaeroides against UV-B radiation and the protective effects of exogenous antioxidants. Adv Space Res, 39:1034–1042.
37.
WangG.H., ChenK., ChenL.Z., HuC.X., ZhangD.L., LiuY.D.2008. The involvement of antioxidant system in protection of desert cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. against UV-B radiation and the effects of exogenous antioxidant. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 69:150–157.
38.
WhiteA.L., JahnkeL.S.2002. Contrasting effects of UV-A and UV-B on photosynthesis and photoprotection of β-carotene in two Dunaliella sp. Plant Cell Physiol, 43:877–884.
39.
XueL.G., ZhangY., ZhangT.G., AnL.Z., WangX.L.2005. Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on algae and cyanobacteria. Crit Rev Microbiol, 31:79–89.
