Imperfect Asymmetry of Life: Earth Microbial Communities Prefer D-Lactate but Can Use L-Lactate Also

Details Imperfect Asymmetry of Life: Earth Microbial Communities Prefer D-Lactate but Can Use L-Lactate Also Imperfect Asymmetry of Life: Earth Microbial Communities Prefer D-Lactate but Can Use L-Lactate Also

May 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010asbio..10..397m&link_type=abstract

Astrobiology, Volume 10, Issue 4, pp. 397-402.

Biology

1

Chirality, Homochirality, Life Detection, Atacama Desert

Scientific paper

Asymmetrical utilization of chiral compounds has been sought on Mars as evidence for biological activity. This method was recently validated in glucose. Earth organisms utilize D-glucose, not L-glucose, a perfect asymmetry. In this study, we tested the method in lactate and found utilization of both enantiomers. Soil-, sediment-, and lake-borne microbial communities prefer D-lactate but can consume L-lactate if given extra time to acclimate. This situation is termed imperfect asymmetry. Future life-detection mission investigators need to be aware of imperfect asymmetry so as not to miss relatively subtle signs of life.

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