@article{BeyeOebergXinetal.2016, author = {Beye, Martin and {\"O}berg, Henrik and Xin, Hongliang and Dakovski, Georgi L. and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Gladh, Jorgen and Hantschmann, Markus and Hieke, Florian and Kaya, Sarp and K{\"u}hn, Danilo and LaRue, Jerry and Mercurio, Giuseppe and Minitti, Michael P. and Mitra, Ankush and Moeller, Stefan P. and Ng, May Ling and Nilsson, Anders and Nordlund, Dennis and Norskov, Jens and {\"O}str{\"o}m, Henrik and Ogasawara, Hirohito and Persson, Mats and Schlotter, William F. and Sellberg, Jonas A. and Wolf, Martin and Abild-Pedersen, Frank and Pettersson, Lars G. M. and Wurth, Wilfried}, title = {Chemical Bond Activation Observed with an X-ray Laser}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, volume = {7}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1948-7185}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01543}, pages = {3647 -- 3651}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The concept of bonding and antibonding orbitals is fundamental in chemistry. The population of those orbitals and the energetic difference between the two reflect the strength of the bonding interaction. Weakening the bond is expected to reduce this energetic splitting, but the transient character of bond-activation has so far prohibited direct experimental access. Here we apply time-resolved soft X-ray spectroscopy at a free electron laser to directly observe the decreased bonding antibonding splitting following bond-activation using an ultrashort optical laser pulse.}, language = {en} } @article{EngeserRheinbergMoeller2009, author = {Engeser, Stefan and Rheinberg, Falko and Moeller, Matthias}, title = {Achievement motive imagery in German schoolbooks : a pilot study testing McClelland's hypothesis}, issn = {0092-6566}, doi = {10.1016/j.jrp.2008.12.001}, year = {2009}, abstract = {McClelland [McClelland, D.C. (1961). The achieving society. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand] observed that the amount of achievement imagery in children's books predicted the economic development of societies. He argued that achievement imagery is an indicator of a motivational climate, and when children grow up in a society that emphasizes the striving for achievement, they will be more economically productive later on. We tested McClelland's hypothesis by coding school textbooks for achievement imagery from two German federal states (Baden-Wurttemberg and Bremen) with pronounced differences in economic and educational conditions. As expected, the schoolbooks from the state with the more advantageous conditions contained more achievement imagery.}, language = {en} } @article{HertrampfLedwigKullingetal.2009, author = {Hertrampf, Torsten and Ledwig, C. and Kulling, Sabine and Molzberger, Almut and Moeller, Frank J. and Zierau, Oliver and Vollmer, G{\"u}nter and Moors, Stefan and Degen, Gisela H. and Diel, Patrick}, title = {Responses of estrogen sensitive tissues in female Wistar rats to pre- and postnatal isoflavone exposure}, issn = {0378-4274}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxlet.2009.08.019}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Effects of isoflavones on estrogen sensitive tissues are discussed controversially This study was designed to investigate tissue specific effects of an isoflavone exposure through different periods of life in female Wistar rats and to compare the effects of genistein (GEN) to those of mixed dietary isoflavones, GEN and daidzein (DAI). One group received an isoflavone-free diet (IDD). another was fed an isoflavone-rich diet (IRD) and the third group an IDD supplemented with GEN (GEN(d)) prior to mating. throughout pregnancy and up to weaning The offspring were kept on the respective diets during growth. puberty and adulthood The weight of the uterus, the height of the uterine and vaginal epithelium, the bone mineral density of the tibia, and the expression of the estrogen sensitive gene CaBP9K in the liver were determined. At d21, the uterine weight, the uterine epithelium and the expression of CaBP9K in the liver were significantly stimulated in GEN(d) animals compared to IDD and IRD Interestingly, bone mineral density was increased in GEN(d) and in IRD animals Around puberty (d50) neither uterine wet weights nor trabecular bone density differed significantly among the isoflavone groups and the IDD control. At d80 nosignificant differences in uterine weight were observed among IDD. GEN(d) and IRD animals. However, bone mineral density was increased in GEN(d) and IRD animals In summary, Our results demonstrate that lifelong dietary exposure to isoflavones can affect estrogen sensitive tissues, apparently in a tissue selective manner With respect to health risk and benefit our data indicate that an increased bone mineral density can be achieved by lifelong exposure to an IRD. which, in contrast to GEN supplementation, does not seem to stimulate the proliferation of the uterine epithelium}, language = {en} } @article{SchildknechtPapeMeiseretal.2015, author = {Schildknecht, Stefan and Pape, Regina and Meiser, Johannes and Karreman, Christiaan and Strittmatter, Tobias and Odermatt, Meike and Cirri, Erica and Friemel, Anke and Ringwald, Markus and Pasquarelli, Noemi and Ferger, Boris and Brunner, Thomas and Marx, Andreas and Moeller, Heiko M. and Hiller, Karsten and Leist, Marcel}, title = {Preferential Extracellular Generation of the Active Parkinsonian Toxin MPP+ by Transporter-Independent Export of the Intermediate MPDP+}, series = {Antioxidants \& redox signaling}, volume = {23}, journal = {Antioxidants \& redox signaling}, number = {13}, publisher = {Liebert}, address = {New Rochelle}, issn = {1523-0864}, doi = {10.1089/ars.2015.6297}, pages = {1001 -- 1016}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Aims: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is among the most widely used neurotoxins for inducing experimental parkinsonism. MPTP causes parkinsonian symptoms in mice, primates, and humans by killing a subpopulation of dopaminergic neurons. Extrapolations of data obtained using MPTP-based parkinsonism models to human disease are common; however, the precise mechanism by which MPTP is converted into its active neurotoxic metabolite, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+), has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to address two unanswered questions related to MPTP toxicology: (1) Why are MPTP-converting astrocytes largely spared from toxicity? (2) How does MPP+ reach the extracellular space? Results: In MPTP-treated astrocytes, we discovered that the membrane-impermeable MPP+, which is generally assumed to be formed inside astrocytes, is almost exclusively detected outside of these cells. Instead of a transporter-mediated export, we found that the intermediate, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyridinium (MPDP+), and/or its uncharged conjugate base passively diffused across cell membranes and that MPP+ was formed predominately by the extracellular oxidation of MPDP+ into MPP+. This nonenzymatic extracellular conversion of MPDP+ was promoted by O-2, a more alkaline pH, and dopamine autoxidation products. Innovation and Conclusion: Our data indicate that MPTP metabolism is compartmentalized between intracellular and extracellular environments, explain the absence of toxicity in MPTP-converting astrocytes, and provide a rationale for the preferential formation of MPP+ in the extracellular space. The mechanism of transporter-independent extracellular MPP+ formation described here indicates that extracellular genesis of MPP+ from MPDP is a necessary prerequisite for the selective uptake of this toxin by catecholaminergic neurons.}, language = {en} } @article{KubinKernGuletal.2017, author = {Kubin, Markus and Kern, Jan and Gul, Sheraz and Kroll, Thomas and Chatterjee, Ruchira and Loechel, Heike and Fuller, Franklin D. and Sierra, Raymond G. and Quevedo, Wilson and Weniger, Christian and Rehanek, Jens and Firsov, Anatoly and Laksmono, Hartawan and Weninger, Clemens and Alonso-Mori, Roberto and Nordlund, Dennis L. and Lassalle-Kaiser, Benedikt and Glownia, James M. and Krzywinski, Jacek and Moeller, Stefan and Turner, Joshua J. and Minitti, Michael P. and Dakovski, Georgi L. and Koroidov, Sergey and Kawde, Anurag and Kanady, Jacob S. and Tsui, Emily Y. and Suseno, Sandy and Han, Zhiji and Hill, Ethan and Taguchi, Taketo and Borovik, Andrew S. and Agapie, Theodor and Messinger, Johannes and Erko, Alexei and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Bergmann, Uwe and Mitzner, Rolf and Yachandra, Vittal K. and Yano, Junko and Wernet, Philippe}, title = {Soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy of metalloproteins and high-valent metal-complexes at room temperature using free-electron lasers}, series = {Structural dynamics}, volume = {4}, journal = {Structural dynamics}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {2329-7778}, doi = {10.1063/1.4986627}, pages = {16}, year = {2017}, abstract = {X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the L-edge of 3d transition metals provides unique information on the local metal charge and spin states by directly probing 3d-derived molecular orbitals through 2p-3d transitions. However, this soft x-ray technique has been rarely used at synchrotron facilities for mechanistic studies of metalloenzymes due to the difficulties of x-ray-induced sample damage and strong background signals from light elements that can dominate the low metal signal. Here, we combine femtosecond soft x-ray pulses from a free-electron laser with a novel x-ray fluorescence-yield spectrometer to overcome these difficulties. We present L-edge absorption spectra of inorganic high-valent Mn complexes (Mn similar to 6-15 mmol/l) with no visible effects of radiation damage. We also present the first L-edge absorption spectra of the oxygen evolving complex (Mn4CaO5) in Photosystem II (Mn < 1 mmol/l) at room temperature, measured under similar conditions. Our approach opens new ways to study metalloenzymes under functional conditions. (C) 2017 Author(s).}, language = {en} } @article{KrollKernKubinetal.2016, author = {Kroll, Thomas and Kern, Jan and Kubin, Markus and Ratner, Daniel and Gul, Sheraz and Fuller, Franklin D. and L{\"o}chel, Heike and Krzywinski, Jacek and Lutman, Alberto and Ding, Yuantao and Dakovski, Georgi L. and Moeller, Stefan and Turner, Joshua J. and Alonso-Mori, Roberto and Nordlund, Dennis L. and Rehanek, Jens and Weniger, Christian and Firsov, Alexander and Brzhezinskaya, Maria and Chatterjee, Ruchira and Lassalle-Kaiser, Benedikt and Sierra, Raymond G. and Laksmono, Hartawan and Hill, Ethan and Borovik, Andrew S. and Erko, Alexei and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Mitzner, Rolf and Yachandra, Vittal K. and Yano, Junko and Wernet, Philippe and Bergmann, Uwe}, title = {X-ray absorption spectroscopy using a self-seeded soft X-ray free-electron laser}, series = {Optics express : the international electronic journal of optics}, volume = {24}, journal = {Optics express : the international electronic journal of optics}, publisher = {Optical Society of America}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1094-4087}, doi = {10.1364/OE.24.022469}, pages = {22469 -- 22480}, year = {2016}, abstract = {X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) enable unprecedented new ways to study the electronic structure and dynamics of transition metal systems. L-edge absorption spectroscopy is a powerful technique for such studies and the feasibility of this method at XFELs for solutions and solids has been demonstrated. However, the required x-ray bandwidth is an order of magnitude narrower than that of self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE), and additional monochromatization is needed. Here we compare L-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of a prototypical transition metal system based on monochromatizing the SASE radiation of the linac coherent light source (LCLS) with a new technique based on self-seeding of LCLS. We demonstrate how L-edge XAS can be performed using the self-seeding scheme without the need of an additional beam line monochromator. We show how the spectral shape and pulse energy depend on the undulator setup and how this affects the x-ray spectroscopy measurements. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America}, language = {en} } @article{EckertNorellMiedemaetal.2017, author = {Eckert, Sebastian and Norell, Jesper and Miedema, Piter S. and Beye, Martin and Fondell, Mattis and Quevedo, Wilson and Kennedy, Brian and Hantschmann, Markus and Pietzsch, Annette and van Kuiken, Benjamin and Ross, Matthew and Minitti, Michael P. and Moeller, Stefan P. and Schlotter, William F. and Khalil, Munira and Odelius, Michael and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Untersuchung unabh{\"a}ngiger N-H- und N-C-Bindungsverformungen auf ultrakurzen Zeitskalen mit resonanter inelastischer R{\"o}ntgenstreuung}, series = {Angewandte Chemie}, volume = {129}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie}, number = {22}, issn = {1521-3757}, doi = {10.1002/ange.201700239}, pages = {6184 -- 6188}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Die Femtosekundendynamik nach resonanten Photoanregungen mit optischen und R{\"o}ntgenpulsen erm{\"o}glicht eine selektive Verformung von chemischen N-H- und N-C-Bindungen in 2-Thiopyridon in w{\"a}ssriger L{\"o}sung. Die Untersuchung der orbitalspezifischen elektronischen Struktur und ihrer Dynamik auf ultrakurzen Zeitskalen mit resonanter inelastischer R{\"o}ntgenstreuung an der N1s-Resonanz am Synchrotron und dem Freie-Elektronen-Laser LCLS in Kombination mit quantenchemischen Multikonfigurationsberechnungen erbringen den direkten Nachweis dieser kontrollierten photoinduzierten Molek{\"u}lverformungen und ihrer ultrakurzen Zeitskala.}, language = {de} } @article{EckertNorellMiedemaetal.2017, author = {Eckert, Sebastian and Norell, Jesper and Miedema, Piter S. and Beye, Martin and Fondell, Mattis and Quevedo, Wilson and Kennedy, Brian and Hantschmann, Markus and Pietzsch, Annette and Van Kuiken, Benjamin E. and Ross, Matthew and Minitti, Michael P. and Moeller, Stefan P. and Schlotter, William F. and Khalil, Munira and Odelius, Michael and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Ultrafast Independent N-H and N-C Bond Deformation Investigated with Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering}, series = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition}, volume = {56}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1433-7851}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201700239}, pages = {6088 -- 6092}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The femtosecond excited-state dynamics following resonant photoexcitation enable the selective deformation of N-H and N-C chemical bonds in 2-thiopyridone in aqueous solution with optical or X-ray pulses. In combination with multiconfigurational quantum-chemical calculations, the orbital-specific electronic structure and its ultrafast dynamics accessed with resonant inelastic X-ray scattering at the N 1s level using synchrotron radiation and the soft X-ray free-electron laser LCLS provide direct evidence for this controlled photoinduced molecular deformation and its ultrashort time-scale.}, language = {en} } @article{JayNorellEckertetal.2018, author = {Jay, Raphael M. and Norell, Jesper and Eckert, Sebastian and Hantschmann, Markus and Beye, Martin and Kennedy, Brian and Quevedo, Wilson and Schlotter, William F. and Dakovski, Georgi L. and Minitti, Michael P. and Hoffmann, Matthias C. and Mitra, Ankush and Moeller, Stefan P. and Nordlund, Dennis and Zhang, Wenkai and Liang, Huiyang W. and Kunnus, Kristian and Kubicek, Katharina and Techert, Simone A. and Lundberg, Marcus and Wernet, Philippe and Gaffney, Kelly and Odelius, Michael and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Disentangling Transient Charge Density and Metal-Ligand Covalency in Photoexcited Ferricyanide with Femtosecond Resonant Inelastic Soft X-ray Scattering}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, volume = {9}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry letters}, number = {12}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1948-7185}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b01429}, pages = {3538 -- 3543}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Soft X-ray spectroscopies are ideal probes of the local valence electronic structure of photocatalytically active metal sites. Here, we apply the selectivity of time resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering at the iron L-edge to the transient charge distribution of an optically excited charge-transfer state in aqueous ferricyanide. Through comparison to steady-state spectra and quantum chemical calculations, the coupled effects of valence-shell closing and ligand-hole creation are experimentally and theoretically disentangled and described in terms of orbital occupancy, metal-ligand covalency, and ligand field splitting, thereby extending established steady-state concepts to the excited-state domain. pi-Back-donation is found to be mainly determined by the metal site occupation, whereas the ligand hole instead influences sigma-donation. Our results demonstrate how ultrafast resonant inelastic X-ray scattering can help characterize local charge distributions around catalytic metal centers in short-lived charge-transfer excited states, as a step toward future rationalization and tailoring of photocatalytic capabilities of transition-metal complexes.}, language = {en} } @article{EckertBeyePietzschetal.2015, author = {Eckert, Sebastian and Beye, Martin and Pietzsch, Annette and Quevedo, Wilson and Hantschmann, Markus and Ochmann, Miguel and Ross, Matthew and Minitti, Michael P. and Turner, Joshua J. and Moeller, Stefan P. and Schlotter, William F. and Dakovski, Georgi L. and Khalil, Munira and Huse, Nils and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Principles of femtosecond X-ray/optical cross-correlation with X-ray induced transient optical reflectivity in solids}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {106}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, number = {6}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/1.4907949}, pages = {4}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The discovery of ultrafast X-ray induced optical reflectivity changes enabled the development of X-ray/optical cross correlation techniques at X-ray free electron lasers worldwide. We have now linked through experiment and theory the fundamental excitation and relaxation steps with the transient optical properties in finite solid samples. Therefore, we gain a thorough interpretation and an optimized detection scheme of X-ray induced changes to the refractive index and the X-ray/optical cross correlation response. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.}, language = {en} } @article{SchreckBeyeSellbergetal.2014, author = {Schreck, Simon and Beye, Martin and Sellberg, Jonas A. and McQueen, Trevor and Laksmono, Hartawan and Kennedy, Brian and Eckert, Sebastian and Schlesinger, Daniel and Nordlund, Dennis and Ogasawara, Hirohito and Sierra, Raymond G. and Segtnan, Vegard H. and Kubicek, Katharina and Schlotter, William F. and Dakovski, Georgi L. and Moeller, Stefan P. and Bergmann, Uwe and Techert, Simone and Pettersson, Lars G. M. and Wernet, Philippe and Bogan, Michael J. and Harada, Yoshihisa and Nilsson, Anders and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Reabsorption of soft x-ray emission at high x-ray free-electron laserfluences}, series = {Physical review letters}, volume = {113}, journal = {Physical review letters}, number = {15}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {0031-9007}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.153002}, pages = {6}, year = {2014}, abstract = {We report on oxygen K-edge soft x-ray emission spectroscopy from a liquid water jet at the Linac Coherent Light Source. We observe significant changes in the spectral content when tuning over a wide range of incident x-ray fluences. In addition the total emission yield decreases at high fluences. These modifications result from reabsorption of x-ray emission by valence-excited molecules generated by the Auger cascade. Our observations have major implications for future x-ray emission studies at intense x-ray sources. We highlight the importance of the x-ray pulse length with respect to the core-hole lifetime.}, language = {en} } @misc{EckertNorellMiedemaetal.2017, author = {Eckert, Sebastian and Norell, Jesper and Miedema, Piter S. and Beye, Martin and Fondell, Mattis and Quevedo, Wilson and Kennedy, Brian and Hantschmann, Markus and Pietzsch, Annette and van Kuiken, Benjamin E. and Ross, Matthew and Minitti, Michael P. and Moeller, Stefan P. and Schlotter, William F. and Khalil, Munira and Odelius, Michael and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Untersuchung unabh{\"a}ngiger N-H- und N-C-Bindungsverformungen auf ultrakurzen Zeitskalen mit resonanter inelastischer R{\"o}ntgenstreuung}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {1121}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-43668}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-436688}, pages = {7}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Die Femtosekundendynamik nach resonanten Photoanregungen mit optischen und R{\"o}ntgenpulsen erm{\"o}glicht eine selektive Verformung von chemischen N-H- und N-C-Bindungen in 2-Thiopyridon in w{\"a}ssriger L{\"o}sung. Die Untersuchung der orbitalspezifischen elektronischen Struktur und ihrer Dynamik auf ultrakurzen Zeitskalen mit resonanter inelastischer R{\"o}ntgenstreuung an der N1s-Resonanz am Synchrotron und dem Freie-Elektronen-Laser LCLS in Kombination mit quantenchemischen Multikonfigurationsberechnungen erbringen den direkten Nachweis dieser kontrollierten photoinduzierten Molek{\"u}lverformungen und ihrer ultrakurzen Zeitskala.}, language = {de} } @misc{EckertNorellMiedemaetal.2017, author = {Eckert, Sebastian and Norell, Jesper and Miedema, Piter S. and Beye, Martin and Fondell, Mattis and Quevedo, Wilson and Kennedy, Brian and Hantschmann, Markus and Pietzsch, Annette and van Kuiken, Benjamin E. and Ross, Matthew and Minitti, Michael P. and Moeller, Stefan P. and Schlotter, William F. and Khalil, Munira and Odelius, Michael and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Ultrafast Independent N-H and N-C Bond Deformation Investigated with Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {1115}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-43687}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-436873}, pages = {7}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The femtosecond excited-state dynamics following resonant photoexcitation enable the selective deformation of N-H and N-C chemical bonds in 2-thiopyridone in aqueous solution with optical or X-ray pulses. In combination with multiconfigurational quantum-chemical calculations, the orbital-specific electronic structure and its ultrafast dynamics accessed with resonant inelastic X-ray scattering at the N 1s level using synchrotron radiation and the soft X-ray free-electron laser LCLS provide direct evidence for this controlled photoinduced molecular deformation and its ultrashort time-scale.}, language = {en} } @misc{deVeraAlawiBackhausetal.2019, author = {de Vera, Jean-Pierre Paul and Alawi, Mashal and Backhaus, Theresa and Baque, Mickael and Billi, Daniela and Boettger, Ute and Berger, Thomas and Bohmeier, Maria and Cockell, Charles and Demets, Rene and de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa and Edwards, Howell and Elsaesser, Andreas and Fagliarone, Claudia and Fiedler, Annelie and Foing, Bernard and Foucher, Frederic and Fritz, J{\"o}rg and Hanke, Franziska and Herzog, Thomas and Horneck, Gerda and H{\"u}bers, Heinz-Wilhelm and Huwe, Bj{\"o}rn and Joshi, Jasmin Radha and Kozyrovska, Natalia and Kruchten, Martha and Lasch, Peter and Lee, Natuschka and Leuko, Stefan and Leya, Thomas and Lorek, Andreas and Martinez-Frias, Jesus and Meessen, Joachim and Moritz, Sophie and Moeller, Ralf and Olsson-Francis, Karen and Onofri, Silvano and Ott, Sieglinde and Pacelli, Claudia and Podolich, Olga and Rabbow, Elke and Reitz, G{\"u}nther and Rettberg, Petra and Reva, Oleg and Rothschild, Lynn and Garcia Sancho, Leo and Schulze-Makuch, Dirk and Selbmann, Laura and Serrano, Paloma and Szewzyk, Ulrich and Verseux, Cyprien and Wadsworth, Jennifer and Wagner, Dirk and Westall, Frances and Wolter, David and Zucconi, Laura}, title = {Limits of life and the habitability of Mars}, series = {Astrobiology}, volume = {19}, journal = {Astrobiology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Liebert}, address = {New Rochelle}, issn = {1531-1074}, doi = {10.1089/ast.2018.1897}, pages = {145 -- 157}, year = {2019}, abstract = {BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports-among others-the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.}, language = {en} }