Abstract EANA2025-102

In the boundless expanse of the cosmos, humanity's journey among the stars beckons us towards new frontiers of exploration and discovery. As we embark on our celestial odyssey, the quest for sustainable life support systems becomes paramount, and within the intricate tapestry of synthetic biology lies a useful tool to confront this challenge. In this context, desert cyanobacteria with their unique attributes essential for space applications, including tolerance to dehydration and radiation, as well as the ability to fix CO2 and produce oxygen, justify efforts to render them suitable chassis for extraterrestrial biotechnologies. The focus of our project will be to develop a genetic toolkit to harness the potential of Chroococcidiopsis spp. strains capable of acclimatization to Mars, as they promise to enhance photosynthetic efficiency in space environments. To truly sculpt these microorganisms into resilient biotechnological chassis for extraterrestrial life support, we must delve deeper—into the realm of transcriptomics. Harnessing the power of next-generation sequencing, we will undertake a comprehensive transcriptomic profiling of selected Chroococcidiopsis strains exposed to differential light regimes: visible light as a terrestrial baseline, and far‑red light as a photonic cue relevant not only for Mars but also for exoplanets orbiting M‑ and K‑type stars. Through differential gene expression analysis, we aim to uncover the latent regulatory networks and photoadaptive responses that orchestrate the cellular machinery under far-red light, including the modulation of photosynthetic pathways and stress-resilience circuits. Such high-resolution insight will illuminate the transcriptional plasticity and phenotypic recalibration these extremophiles undergo when confronted with extraterrestrial-like stimuli. In this symphony of gene expression, we seek not only patterns, but potential—hidden harmonies written in the language of life. Leveraging high-resolution computational frameworks capable of decoding the cryptic syntax of regulatory sequences, we strive to characterize regulatory motifs, light-inducible promoters, and novel operons— that can be repurposed or refined to enhance synthetic control over metabolic fluxes. The transcriptome thus becomes our starmap: a cartography of cellular intention, namely, the functional priorities it adopts in response to a specific condition, guiding us toward rational strain improvement. Ultimately, this integrative approach—at the nexus of synthetic biology, light-responsive genomics, and space biotechnology—will empower the transformation of Chroococcidiopsis into living engines of survival and sustainability. In decoding their molecular voice under alien light, we move one step closer to translating the dream of human permanence beyond Earth into biological reality.