Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors







Heifer International

Wikipedia Affiliate Button


Home > Press > NanoSIMS suggests arsenic as a life building block

LLNL's Jennifer Pett-Ridge, right, runs the NanoSIMS and analyzes some arsenic-grown cells from Mono Lake as NASA/USGS's Felisa Wolfe-Simon observes.
LLNL's Jennifer Pett-Ridge, right, runs the NanoSIMS and analyzes some arsenic-grown cells from Mono Lake as NASA/USGS's Felisa Wolfe-Simon observes.

Abstract:
Arsenic -- an element that triggers death for most Earthly life forms -- is actually allowing for bacterium to thrive and reproduce.

NanoSIMS suggests arsenic as a life building block

Livermore, CA | Posted on January 12th, 2011

In a study that may prompt the rewriting of textbooks, a team of astrobiologists and chemists has found the first known living organism that can use arsenic in place of phosphorus in its major macromolecules. The new findings, published in the Dec. 2 issue of Science Express, could redefine origins of life research and alter the way we describe life as we know it.

Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorous are the six basic building blocks of life on Earth. These elements make up nucleic acids, proteins and lipids -- the bulk of living matter.

The new study by DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and led by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey has found that a bacterium isolated from Mono Lake may substitute arsenic for phosphorus to sustain its growth.

Mono Lake, located in eastern California, is an alkaline and hypersaline lake with high dissolved arsenic concentrations and is believed to have formed more than 760,000 years ago from neighboring volcanic eruptions.

LLNL's Jennifer Pett-Ridge and Peter Weber were able to identify low concentrations of arsenic found in individual cells of bacteria and extracted DNA by using the Lab's Nano SIMS.

NanoSIMS is a tool which allows precise, spatially explicit, elemental and isotopic analysis down to the 50-nanomenter scale; it also offers a range of advantages for sensitive and high-resolution measurements.

NanoSIMS not only measures the elemental concentrations, but it also images them. It collects a picture of the image and identifies how much of a specific element is found in the sample. "We found that arsenic was higher in the cells than in the environment outside the cells," Pett-Ridge said.

####

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Lynda Seaver
925.423.3103

Copyright © Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related News Press

News and information

Xmark Media announces the 2013 Vacuum Expo & Vacuum Symposium, Ricoh Arena - Coventry 16-17 October May 21st, 2013

INSCX™ exchange announces substantial increase in capital designated to provide Trade Finance for registered Nanomaterial Producers May 21st, 2013

JPK reports on single molecule research at IISER Pune in India using AFM and CellHesion techniques May 21st, 2013

Imec and GLOBALFOUNDRIES collaborate to advance high-density memory technology: STT-MRAM offers enhanced performance and scalability for embedded and standalone applications May 21st, 2013

Announcements

JPK reports on single molecule research at IISER Pune in India using AFM and CellHesion techniques May 21st, 2013

Imec and GLOBALFOUNDRIES collaborate to advance high-density memory technology: STT-MRAM offers enhanced performance and scalability for embedded and standalone applications May 21st, 2013

International survey supports need for built-in water protection on smartphones and tablets May 21st, 2013

Rice unveils method for tailoring optical processors: Arranging nanoparticles in geometric patterns allows for control of light with light May 21st, 2013

Tools

Xmark Media announces the 2013 Vacuum Expo & Vacuum Symposium, Ricoh Arena - Coventry 16-17 October May 21st, 2013

JPK reports on single molecule research at IISER Pune in India using AFM and CellHesion techniques May 21st, 2013

Penn engineers' nanoantennas improve infrared sensing May 20th, 2013

Kinks and curves at the nanoscale: New research shows 'perfect twin boundaries' are not so perfect May 20th, 2013

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE





  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoTech-Transfer
University Technology Transfer & Patents
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More












ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project








abbigliamento uomo
Computer Accessories
© Copyright 1999-2013 7th Wave, Inc. All Rights Reserved PRIVACY POLICY :: CONTACT US :: STATS :: SITE MAP :: ADVERTISE