Laboratory experiment of ATP measurement using Mars soil simulant: as a method for extraterrestrial life detection

Keigo Enya,Satoshi Sasaki

doi:10.1007/s44211-022-00081-y

Abstract

We present a laboratory experiment of ATP measurement using Mars soil simulant and Escherichia coli (E. coli) with a point of view for future application to searching extraterrestrial life. We used Mars Global Simulant MGS-1 (Exolith Lab) as soil simulant, added E. coli suspension to it, then the soil simulant with E. coli was dried. Various configurations of samples with different E. coli density, 1.75 × 102, 1.75 × 103, 1.75 × 104, 1.75 × 105, and 1.75 × 106 cells (g soil)−1, were prepared together with controls. ATP extraction reagent and luminescence reagent were added to the sample, and bioluminescence measurement was performed. The result suggests significant detection of ATP for samples with E. coli density used in this work. Similar experiments but without the soil simulant were carried out, and results with and without the soil simulant are compared. Based on the ATP measurement studied in this work, we discussed extraterrestrial life search, planetary protection, relation with the panspermia hypothesis, and also other applications.Graphical abstract

Highlights

We consider that detection and analysis of extraterrestrial life is one of the most important issue of space science in this century
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measurement via bioluminescence is widely applied to hygiene management because it can measure ATP contained in microorganisms and organic matter derived and food residues [3]
Because an instrument to be carried to Mars have to be compact, light weighted, and simple, we applied ATP measurement by bioluminescence directly to the mixed soil simulant and E. coli

Summary

Introduction

We consider that detection and analysis of extraterrestrial life is one of the most important issue of space science in this century. Keywords ATP · Mars simulant · Escherichia coli · Experiment · Extraterrestrial life Applicability of ATP measurement to extraterrestrial life search was studied [6]. It is reasonable to use soil samples for life search on Mars as Viking mission did.

Results

Conclusion