Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere
To deepen our understanding of lichen adaptation and their potential to colonize extraterrestrial environments, we aimed to identify physiological/biochemical responses of selected lichen species in a metabolically active state to simulated Mars-like conditions in the dark including exposure to X-ra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2025-03-01
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| Series: | IMA Fungus |
| Online Access: | https://imafungus.pensoft.net/article/145477/download/pdf/ |
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| author | Kaja Skubała Karolina Chowaniec Mirosław Kowaliński Tomasz Mrozek Jarosław Bąkała Ewa Latkowska Beata Myśliwa-Kurdziel |
| author_facet | Kaja Skubała Karolina Chowaniec Mirosław Kowaliński Tomasz Mrozek Jarosław Bąkała Ewa Latkowska Beata Myśliwa-Kurdziel |
| author_sort | Kaja Skubała |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To deepen our understanding of lichen adaptation and their potential to colonize extraterrestrial environments, we aimed to identify physiological/biochemical responses of selected lichen species in a metabolically active state to simulated Mars-like conditions in the dark including exposure to X-rays. Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis was active while being in a Mars-like environment. Diploschistes muscorum was able to activate defense mechanisms effectively. In contrast, increased oxidative stress and associated damage were not effectively balanced in C. aculeata, which does not support the melanin’s radioprotective function in this species. The heavy crystalline deposit on D. muscorum thallus might offer protection enhancing lichen resistance to extreme conditions. We concluded that metabolically active D. muscorum can withstand the X-ray dose expected on the Mars surface over one year of strong solar activity. Consequently, X-rays associated with solar flares and SEPs reaching Mars should not affect the potential habitability of lichens on this planet. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5bb4cfe87ac641ef926b43ef38da9ca0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2210-6359 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IMA Fungus |
| spelling | doaj-art-5bb4cfe87ac641ef926b43ef38da9ca02025-08-20T03:03:44ZengPensoft PublishersIMA Fungus2210-63592025-03-011613110.3897/imafungus.16.145477145477Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphereKaja Skubała0Karolina Chowaniec1Mirosław Kowaliński2Tomasz Mrozek3Jarosław Bąkała4Ewa Latkowska5Beata Myśliwa-Kurdziel6Jagiellonian UniversityJagiellonian UniversitySpace Research Centre, Polish Academy of SciencesSpace Research Centre, Polish Academy of SciencesSpace Research Centre, Polish Academy of SciencesJagiellonian UniversityJagiellonian UniversityTo deepen our understanding of lichen adaptation and their potential to colonize extraterrestrial environments, we aimed to identify physiological/biochemical responses of selected lichen species in a metabolically active state to simulated Mars-like conditions in the dark including exposure to X-rays. Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis was active while being in a Mars-like environment. Diploschistes muscorum was able to activate defense mechanisms effectively. In contrast, increased oxidative stress and associated damage were not effectively balanced in C. aculeata, which does not support the melanin’s radioprotective function in this species. The heavy crystalline deposit on D. muscorum thallus might offer protection enhancing lichen resistance to extreme conditions. We concluded that metabolically active D. muscorum can withstand the X-ray dose expected on the Mars surface over one year of strong solar activity. Consequently, X-rays associated with solar flares and SEPs reaching Mars should not affect the potential habitability of lichens on this planet.https://imafungus.pensoft.net/article/145477/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Kaja Skubała Karolina Chowaniec Mirosław Kowaliński Tomasz Mrozek Jarosław Bąkała Ewa Latkowska Beata Myśliwa-Kurdziel Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere IMA Fungus |
| title | Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere |
| title_full | Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere |
| title_fullStr | Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere |
| title_short | Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere |
| title_sort | ionizing radiation resilience how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated mars atmosphere |
| url | https://imafungus.pensoft.net/article/145477/download/pdf/ |
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