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Follow the Oxygen: Comparative Histories of Planetary Oxygenation and Opportunities for Aerobic Life.

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Title: Follow the Oxygen: Comparative Histories of Planetary Oxygenation and Opportunities for Aerobic Life.
Authors: Ward LM; 1 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California., Stamenković V; 2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California., Hand K; 2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California., Fischer WW; 1 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
Source: Astrobiology [Astrobiology] 2019 Jun; Vol. 19 (6), pp. 811-824.
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101088083 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1557-8070 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15578070 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Astrobiology Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Larchmont, N.Y. : Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., c2001-
MeSH Terms: Cell Respiration* , Evolution, Planetary*, Atmosphere/*analysis , Extraterrestrial Environment/*chemistry , Oxygen/*chemistry, Atmosphere/chemistry ; Ice Cover/chemistry ; Water/chemistry ; Exobiology ; Jupiter ; Mars ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Photochemical Processes ; Temperature
Abstract: Aerobic respiration-the reduction of molecular oxygen (O2) coupled to the oxidation of reduced compounds such as organic carbon, ferrous iron, reduced sulfur compounds, or molecular hydrogen while conserving energy to drive cellular processes-is the most widespread and bioenergetically favorable metabolism on Earth today. Aerobic respiration is essential for the development of complex multicellular life; thus the presence of abundant O2 is an important metric for planetary habitability. O2 on Earth is supplied by oxygenic photosynthesis, but it is becoming more widely understood that abiotic processes may supply meaningful amounts of O2 on other worlds. The modern atmosphere and rock record of Mars suggest a history of relatively high O2 as a result of photochemical processes, potentially overlapping with the range of O2 concentrations used by biology. Europa may have accumulated high O2 concentrations in its subsurface ocean due to the radiolysis of water ice at its surface. Recent modeling efforts suggest that coexisting water and O2 may be common on exoplanets, with confirmation from measurements of exoplanet atmospheres potentially coming soon. In all these cases, O2 accumulates through abiotic processes-independent of water-oxidizing photosynthesis. We hypothesize that abiogenic O2 may enhance the habitability of some planetary environments, allowing highly energetic aerobic respiration and potentially even the development of complex multicellular life which depends on it, without the need to first evolve oxygenic photosynthesis. This hypothesis is testable with further exploration and life-detection efforts on O2-rich worlds such as Mars and Europa, and comparison to O2-poor worlds such as Enceladus. This hypothesis further suggests a new dimension to planetary habitability: "Follow the Oxygen," in which environments with opportunities for energy-rich metabolisms such as aerobic respiration are preferentially targeted for investigation and life detection.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Archean; Europa; Exoplanets; Great Oxygenation Event; Mars; Noachian; Paleoproterozoic; Photolysis; Photosynthesis
Substance Nomenclature: 059QF0KO0R (Water)
S88TT14065 (Oxygen)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20190613 Date Completed: 20200803 Latest Revision: 20200803
Update Code: 20260130
DOI: 10.1089/ast.2017.1779
PMID: 31188035
Database: MEDLINE
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Follow the Oxygen: Comparative Histories of Planetary Oxygenation and Opportunities for Aerobic Life.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Ward+LM%22">Ward LM</searchLink>; 1 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Stamenković+V%22">Stamenković V</searchLink>; 2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Hand+K%22">Hand K</searchLink>; 2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Fischer+WW%22">Fischer WW</searchLink>; 1 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22101088083%22">Astrobiology</searchLink> [Astrobiology] 2019 Jun; Vol. 19 (6), pp. 811-824.
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  Data: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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  Data: <i>Publisher: </i><searchLink fieldCode="PB" term="%22Mary+Ann+Liebert%2C+Inc%22">Mary Ann Liebert, Inc </searchLink><i>Country of Publication: </i>United States <i>NLM ID: </i>101088083 <i>Publication Model: </i>Print <i>Cited Medium: </i>Internet <i>ISSN: </i>1557-8070 (Electronic) <i>Linking ISSN: </i><searchLink fieldCode="IS" term="%2215578070%22">15578070 </searchLink><i>NLM ISO Abbreviation: </i>Astrobiology <i>Subsets: </i>MEDLINE
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  Data: <i>Original Publication</i>: Larchmont, N.Y. : Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., c2001-
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Cell+Respiration%22">Cell Respiration*</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Evolution%2C+Planetary%22">Evolution, Planetary*</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Atmosphere%22">Atmosphere</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Atmosphere+analysis%22">*analysis</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Extraterrestrial+Environment%22">Extraterrestrial Environment</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Extraterrestrial+Environment+chemistry%22">*chemistry</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Oxygen%22">Oxygen</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Oxygen+chemistry%22">*chemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Atmosphere%22">Atmosphere</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Atmosphere+chemistry%22">chemistry</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Ice+Cover%22">Ice Cover</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Ice+Cover+chemistry%22">chemistry</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Water%22">Water</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Water+chemistry%22">chemistry</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Exobiology%22">Exobiology</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Jupiter%22">Jupiter</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Mars%22">Mars</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Oxidation-Reduction%22">Oxidation-Reduction</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Photochemical+Processes%22">Photochemical Processes</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Temperature%22">Temperature</searchLink>
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  Data: Aerobic respiration-the reduction of molecular oxygen (O<subscript>2</subscript>) coupled to the oxidation of reduced compounds such as organic carbon, ferrous iron, reduced sulfur compounds, or molecular hydrogen while conserving energy to drive cellular processes-is the most widespread and bioenergetically favorable metabolism on Earth today. Aerobic respiration is essential for the development of complex multicellular life; thus the presence of abundant O<subscript>2</subscript> is an important metric for planetary habitability. O<subscript>2</subscript> on Earth is supplied by oxygenic photosynthesis, but it is becoming more widely understood that abiotic processes may supply meaningful amounts of O<subscript>2</subscript> on other worlds. The modern atmosphere and rock record of Mars suggest a history of relatively high O<subscript>2</subscript> as a result of photochemical processes, potentially overlapping with the range of O<subscript>2</subscript> concentrations used by biology. Europa may have accumulated high O<subscript>2</subscript> concentrations in its subsurface ocean due to the radiolysis of water ice at its surface. Recent modeling efforts suggest that coexisting water and O<subscript>2</subscript> may be common on exoplanets, with confirmation from measurements of exoplanet atmospheres potentially coming soon. In all these cases, O<subscript>2</subscript> accumulates through abiotic processes-independent of water-oxidizing photosynthesis. We hypothesize that abiogenic O<subscript>2</subscript> may enhance the habitability of some planetary environments, allowing highly energetic aerobic respiration and potentially even the development of complex multicellular life which depends on it, without the need to first evolve oxygenic photosynthesis. This hypothesis is testable with further exploration and life-detection efforts on O<subscript>2</subscript>-rich worlds such as Mars and Europa, and comparison to O<subscript>2</subscript>-poor worlds such as Enceladus. This hypothesis further suggests a new dimension to planetary habitability: "Follow the Oxygen," in which environments with opportunities for energy-rich metabolisms such as aerobic respiration are preferentially targeted for investigation and life detection.
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  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Archean; Europa; Exoplanets; Great Oxygenation Event; Mars; Noachian; Paleoproterozoic; Photolysis; Photosynthesis
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  Data: 059QF0KO0R (Water)<br />S88TT14065 (Oxygen)
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  Data: <i>Date Created: </i>20190613 <i>Date Completed: </i>20200803 <i>Latest Revision: </i>20200803
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  Data: 10.1089/ast.2017.1779
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PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=cmedm&AN=31188035
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1089/ast.2017.1779
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        StartPage: 811
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Atmosphere chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ice Cover chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Water chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Exobiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Jupiter
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      – SubjectFull: Mars
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      – SubjectFull: Photochemical Processes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Temperature
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cell Respiration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Evolution, Planetary
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmosphere analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Extraterrestrial Environment chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Oxygen chemistry
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Follow the Oxygen: Comparative Histories of Planetary Oxygenation and Opportunities for Aerobic Life.
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            NameFull: Ward LM
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            NameFull: Stamenković V
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              Text: 2019 Jun
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            – TitleFull: Astrobiology
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