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El carbono inorgánico disuelto apoya el anabolismo robusto y la metanogénesis en rocas activamente serpentinizantes
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
|September 5, 2025
Resumen
La vida microbiana en las rocas serpentinizantes prospera en el carbono inorgánico disuelto, incluso en condiciones hiperalcalinas. Este hallazgo tiene implicaciones para la astrobiología y las tecnologías geológicas.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Geomicrobiología
- Astrobiología
- Ciencias del medio ambiente
Sus antecedentes:
- Las serpentinitas albergan ecosistemas microbianos subterráneos únicos debido a su agua subterránea [hiper]alcalina, reductora y rica en H2.
- La vida en estos sistemas está limitada por la disponibilidad de oxidantes y carbono, con vías de asimilación de carbono poco comprendidas.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para cuantificar la habitabilidad en entornos subterráneos influenciados por la serpentización.
- Examinar las formas de carbono que soportan el microbioma alojado en la serpentinita, centrándose en el carbono inorgánico disuelto, el acetato y el formato.
- Para medir las tasas de asimilación de carbono a nivel de una sola célula.
Principales métodos:
- Acceso a las aguas subterráneas reaccionadas de un gran cuerpo terrestre serpenteante.
- Medición de la asimilación de carbono a nivel de una sola célula.
- Análisis de la biomasa microbiana y la actividad metanogénica.
Principales resultados:
- Asimilación consistente y robusta del carbono inorgánico disuelto en la biomasa microbiana en todas las condiciones.
- El carbono inorgánico disuelto soporta la mayor parte de la actividad metanogénica, incluso a un pH > 11.
- Los flujos bioenergéticos inferidos indican la relevancia a escala del paisaje del consumo biológico de hidrógeno y la metanogénesis.
Conclusiones:
- Los entornos serpentinizantes subterráneos son habitables, y el carbono inorgánico disuelto es una fuente clave de carbono para la vida microbiana.
- El microbioma muestra potencial de estimulación por el aumento de H2 y CO2, relevante para aplicaciones astrobiológicas y geológicas.
- Los hallazgos informan la búsqueda de vida extraterrestre y el desarrollo de tecnologías como la producción geológica de hidrógeno y la mineralización de carbono.
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