Detection of biosphere frontier by using phosphatase activity.
A wide variety of methods have been proposed to detect microbial activities, but most of them can be applied to limited categories of terrestrial organisms. We propose here to use phosphatase activity, which seems to be an essential catalytic activity for all the terrestrial organisms, and possibly for extraterrestrial organisms. We determined phosphatase activity in core samples, chimney samples, and sea water samples obtained in submarine hydrothermal systems located at Suiyo Seamount, Izu-Bonin Arc, and South Mariana. It was shown that phosphatase activity is one of possible biomarkers for extant life.
Kobayashi
Kensei
K
Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Yokohama National University.
Ito
Yuki
Y
Moroi
Arimichi
A
Edazawa
Yae
Y
Kaneko
Takeo
T
Takano
Yoshinori
Y
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012492:Salts; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*
D012492:Salts; C017082:brine; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase