# Presentation: 285236

## Spaceward Bound 2008

**Spaceward Bound 2008**
**Rakesh Mogul**
**California Polytechnic University, Pomona**

## Who and What am I :

**Assistant Professor (CPP)**
**Courses Taught :****  Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Bioinorganic Chemistry, General Chemistry... **
** **
**Education :****	****Ph.D.  UC Davis [1998]  **
**	****	****	****	****B.S.  University of Redlands [1992]**
**	****	**
**Research Interests :**
**	****	****Enzyme Kinetics, Protein Structure, Effects of ****	****	****	****Radiation Exposure, Microbial Resistance, ****	****	****	****Molecular Detection (Recognition)**

## Astrobiology and Earth-Based Science :

_**Astrobiology and Astrochemistry**__** **_
** ****the biology and chemistry related to space/astronomy**
** ****what are the biological parameters of space?**
** ****is there any biochemistry that occurs on other planets?**
** ****what is the chemistry of space?**
** ****does this chemistry relate to evolution?**

_**Earth-Based Astrobiology and Astrochemistry**_
** ****Do conditions on Earth relate to other planets?**
** ****If so, what can biology, biochemistry, and chemistry tell us about the potential of Life on other planets?**
** ****Example places include deserts, hot springs, caves, and more...**

## Field Science in the Mojave :

**Purpose :**
**To detect soil enzymes, microorganisms, and chemicals using simple chemical techniques. **
**Objective :**
**To relate soil properties, such as dryness and exposure, to enzyme, microbial, and chemical content.**
**Methods :**
**- Solution-based colorimetric techniques.**
**- Quantification using spectrometry.**

## Our Experimental Strategy :

**Get familiar with the experiments and techniques.**
**Literature search on ideas related to purpose and objectives**
**Development of simple experiments...**
**Perform example experiments in lab with **_**KNOWN**_** samples.**
**Alcohol Dehydrogenase from yeast**
**Catalase from fungus**
**Soil from well irrigated and landscaped land**
**Preparation of materials for transport (SAFETY).**
**Execution of experiments in field (Mojave Desert).**

## Background :

**Enzymes**

**example :****  ****Dehydrogenase Enzymes**

** ****they remove or add hydrogen (H = 1 proton and ****1 electron****).**
** ****hence, they catalyze ****redox**** reactions.**

**example :****  ****Catalase Enzymes**

** ****they degrade hydrogen peroxide into water and O****2****.**
** ****this reaction is also a ****redox**** reaction.**
** ****H****2****O****2**** is often found in soil with high levels of oxidants...**

## Dehydrogenases:

_**example reaction**_

**substrate    ****oxidized**** cofactor****	****        product       ****reduced**** cofactor****	**
**(****reduced****)****	****	****	****       (****oxidized****)****	**

**hijack electrons**

**add **
**indicator dye**

**color **
**reaction**

## Colorimetric Reactions :

**Benefit :****	****easy to observe and quantify in the field...**
**How :****  ****	****must use enzyme compatible indicator dyes...**
**Application :****  ultimately portable and easy to use...**
**Teaching :****  ****	****great for demonstration experiments...**
**Examples :****	****blue bottle experiment**
**Dyes :****	****	****indigo carmine, methylene blue, DCIP, etc...**

## Conclusion :

** ****Strategy of execution will also be applied to catalase enzymes.**
** ****The redox properties of microbes will also be measured...**
** ****This involves similar experiments and dyes...**
** ****In essence, electrons from respiration will be ‘hijacked’.**
** ****In all cases, the formation or loss of color will be measured.**
** ****Will be working with an undergraduate student.**
** ****Will be working with other scientists...**
** ****As to build a ‘bigger picture’ of soil biology/chemistry...**