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Ishikawa A, Kebukawa Y, Kobayashi K, Yoda I. Gamma-Ray-Induced Amino Acid Formation during Aqueous Alteration in Small Bodies: The Effects of Compositions of Starting Solutions. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:103. [PMID: 38255718 PMCID: PMC10817335 DOI: 10.3390/life14010103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Organic compounds, such as amino acids, are essential for the origin of life, and they may have been delivered to the prebiotic Earth from extra-terrestrial sources, such as carbonaceous chondrites. In the parent bodies of carbonaceous chondrites, the radioactive decays of short-lived radionuclides, such as 26Al, cause the melting of ice, and aqueous alteration occurs in the early stages of solar system formation. Many experimental studies have shown that complex organic matter, including amino acids and high-molecular-weight organic compounds, is produced by such hydrothermal processes. On the other hand, radiation, particularly gamma rays from radionuclides, can contribute to the formation of amino acids from simple molecules such as formaldehyde and ammonia. In this study, we investigated the details of gamma-ray-induced amino acid formation, focusing on the effects of different starting materials on aqueous solutions of formaldehyde, ammonia, methanol, and glycolaldehyde with various compositions, as well as hexamethylenetetramine. Alanine and glycine were the most abundantly formed amino acids after acid hydrolysis of gamma-ray-irradiated products. Amino acid formation increased with increasing gamma-ray irradiation doses. Lower amounts of ammonia relative to formaldehyde produced more amino acids. Glycolaldehyde significantly increased amino acid yields. Our results indicated that glycolaldehyde formation from formaldehyde enhanced by gamma rays is key for the subsequent production of amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akari Ishikawa
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan (K.K.)
| | - Yoko Kebukawa
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan (K.K.)
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Kensei Kobayashi
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan (K.K.)
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Isao Yoda
- Co60 Irradiation Facility, Laboratory for Zero-Carbon Energy, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
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2
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Joshi PR, Lee YP. A chemical link between methylamine and methylene imine and implications for interstellar glycine formation. Commun Chem 2022; 5:62. [PMID: 36697745 PMCID: PMC9814145 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00677-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Methylamine CH3NH2 is considered to be an important precursor of interstellar amino acid because hydrogen abstraction might lead to the aminomethyl radical •CH2NH2 that can react with •HOCO to form glycine, but direct evidence of the formation and spectral identification of •CH2NH2 remains unreported. We performed the reaction H + CH3NH2 in solid p-H2 at 3.2 K and observed IR spectra of •CH2NH2 and CH2NH upon irradiation and when the matrix was maintained in darkness. Previously unidentified IR spectrum of •CH2NH2 clearly indicates that •CH2NH2 can be formed from the reaction H + CH3NH2 in dark interstellar clouds. The observed dual-cycle mechanism containing two consecutive H-abstraction and two H-addition steps chemically connects CH3NH2 and CH2NH in interstellar media and explains their quasi-equilibrium. Experiments on CD3NH2 produced CD2HNH2, in addition to •CD2NH2 and CD2NH, confirming the occurrence of H addition to •CD2NH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad Ramesh Joshi
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Pern Lee
- grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ,grid.260539.b0000 0001 2059 7017Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ,grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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3
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Javelle T, Righezza M, Danger G. Identify low mass volatile organic compounds from cometary ice analogs using gas chromatography coupled to an Orbitrap mass spectrometer associated to electron and chemical ionizations. J Chromatogr A 2021; 1652:462343. [PMID: 34174716 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of organic matter extracted from meteorites showed that solar system objects present an important molecular diversity. To improve our understanding of such organic matter, new analytical technologies must be developed. The present study displays the first experiments using a GC-FT-Orbitrap-MS to decipher the molecular diversity observed in experiments simulating the evolution of cometary ices. The proposed analytical strategy focuses on the analysis of 110 volatile organic compounds (VOC) with mainly 1 to 6 carbon atoms generated in such cometary ice analogs. Electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) modes with methane (CH4) or ammonia (NH3) were optimized and compared. Those developments maximized the intensity of molecular, protonated or deprotonated ions, and improved high-resolution molecular formula unambiguous identification: EI mode is too energetic to provides there detection, while it is not the case in CI mode. Particularly, NH3 as a reagent gas improves amine identification in positive mode (PCI), and esters, alcohols, carbonyls, amides, carboxylic acids and nitriles in negative mode (NCI). The combination of both EI and CI mass spectrum analysis improves molecular identification, thanks to the detection of molecular, deprotonated or protonated ion of highest intensity and fragment formula assignments. The EI and NCI NH3 combination allows formula assignments up to 94% of our database with limit of detection up to 7 ppm. This procedure has been validated for untargeted GC-FT-Orbitrap-MS analysis of VOC coming from the processing of cometary ice analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Javelle
- Aix-Marseille Université, Laboratoire de Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires, UMR 7345, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Michel Righezza
- Aix-Marseille Université, Laboratoire de Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires, UMR 7345, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Grégoire Danger
- Aix-Marseille Université, Laboratoire de Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires, UMR 7345, CNRS, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), France.
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4
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Ertem G. The Role of Minerals in Events That Led to the Origin of Life. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:137-150. [PMID: 33544652 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The role of minerals in the events that led to the origin of life is discussed with regard to (1) their catalytic role for the formation of RNA-like oligomers from their monomers and (2) their protective role for organic molecules formed in space that were delivered to planetary surfaces. Results obtained in the laboratory demonstrate that minerals do catalyze the oligomerization of ribonucleic acid (RNA) monomers to produce short RNA chains. Furthermore, and more importantly, these synthetic RNA chains formed by mineral catalysis serve as a template for the formation of complementary RNA chains, which is a significant finding that demonstrates the role of minerals in the origin of life. Simulation experiments run under Mars-like conditions have also shown that Mars analog minerals can shield the precursors of RNA and proteins against the harmful effects of UV and gamma radiation at the martian surface and 5 cm below the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gözen Ertem
- Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, USA
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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5
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The Role of Glycerol and Its Derivatives in the Biochemistry of Living Organisms, and Their Prebiotic Origin and Significance in the Evolution of Life. Catalysts 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/catal11010086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence and evolution of prebiotic biomolecules on the early Earth remain a question that is considered crucial to understanding the chemistry of the origin of life. Amongst prebiotic molecules, glycerol is significant due to its ubiquity in biochemistry. In this review, we discuss the significance of glycerol and its various derivatives in biochemistry, their plausible roles in the origin and evolution of early cell membranes, and significance in the biochemistry of extremophiles, followed by their prebiotic origin on the early Earth and associated catalytic processes that led to the origin of these compounds. We also discuss various scenarios for the prebiotic syntheses of glycerol and its derivates and evaluate these to determine their relevance to early Earth biochemistry and geochemistry, and recapitulate the utilization of various minerals (including clays), condensation agents, and solvents that could have led to the successful prebiotic genesis of these biomolecules. Furthermore, important prebiotic events such as meteoritic delivery and prebiotic synthesis reactions under astrophysical conditions are also discussed. Finally, we have also highlighted some novel features of glycerol, including glycerol nucleic acid (GNA), in the origin and evolution of the life.
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6
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Precometary organic matter: A hidden reservoir of water inside the snow line. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7755. [PMID: 32385395 PMCID: PMC7211008 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64815-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin and evolution of solar system bodies, including water on the Earth, have been discussed based on the assumption that the relevant ingredients were simply silicates and ices. However, large amounts of organic matter have been found in cometary and interplanetary dust, which are recognized as remnants of interstellar/precometary grains. Precometary organic matter may therefore be a potential source of water; however, to date, there have been no experimental investigations into this possibility. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that abundant water and oil are formed via the heating of a precometary-organic-matter analog under conditions appropriate for the parent bodies of meteorites inside the snow line. This implies that H2O ice is not required as the sole source of water on planetary bodies inside the snow line. Further, we can explain the change in the oxidation state of the Earth from an initially reduced state to a final oxidized state. Our study also suggests that petroleum was present in the asteroids and is present in icy satellites and dwarf planets.
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7
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Materese CK, Nuevo M, Sandford SA, Bera PP, Lee TJ. The Production and Potential Detection of Hexamethylenetetramine-Methanol in Space. ASTROBIOLOGY 2020; 20:601-616. [PMID: 32105506 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2019.2147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Numerous laboratory studies of astrophysical ice analogues have shown that their exposure to ionizing radiation leads to the production of large numbers of new, more complex compounds, many of which are of astrobiological interest. We show here that the irradiation of astrophysical ice analogues containing H2O, CH3OH, CO, and NH3 yields quantities of hexamethylenetetramine-methanol (hereafter HMT-methanol; C7N4H14O) that are easily detectible in the resulting organic residues. This molecule differs from simple HMT, which is known to be abundant in similar ice photolysis residues, by the replacement of a peripheral H atom with a CH2OH group. As with HMT, HMT-methanol is likely to be an amino acid precursor. HMT has tetrahedral (Td) symmetry, whereas HMT-methanol has C1 symmetry. We report the computed expected infrared spectra for HMT and HMT-methanol obtained using ab initio quantum chemistry methods and show that there is a good match between the observed and computed spectra for regular HMT. Since HMT-methanol lacks the high symmetry of HMT, it produces rotational transitions that could be observed at longer wavelengths, although establishing the exact positions of these transitions may be challenging. It is likely that HMT-methanol represents an abundant member of a larger family of functionalized HMT molecules that may be present in cold astrophysical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher K Materese
- NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-6, Moffett Field, California 94035
- BAER Institute, NASA Research Park, MS 18-4, Moffett Field, California 94035
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 691, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
| | - Michel Nuevo
- NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-6, Moffett Field, California 94035
- BAER Institute, NASA Research Park, MS 18-4, Moffett Field, California 94035
| | - Scott A Sandford
- NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-6, Moffett Field, California 94035
| | - Partha P Bera
- NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-6, Moffett Field, California 94035
- BAER Institute, NASA Research Park, MS 18-4, Moffett Field, California 94035
| | - Timothy J Lee
- NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-3, Moffett Field, California 94035
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8
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Chakraborty D, Giri A, Nandi D. Dissociation dynamics in low energy electron attachment to ammonia using velocity slice imaging. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:21908-21917. [PMID: 31553032 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03973b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The complete dissociation dynamics of low energy electron attachment to the ammonia molecule has been studied using velocity slice imaging (VSI) spectrometry. One low energy resonant peak around 5.5 eV and a broad resonance around 10.5 eV incident electron energies have been observed. The resonant states mainly dissociate via H- and NH2- fragments, though for the upper resonant state, the signature of NH- fragments is also predicted due to a three-body dissociation process. Kinetic energy and angular distributions of the NH2- fragment anions are measured simultaneously around the two resonances. Based on our experimental observations, we conclude that a temporary negative ion (TNI) state with A1 symmetry is responsible for the lower resonance. Whereas, we find strong evidence for the existence of a TNI state having A1 symmetry at the 10.5 eV resonance for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipayan Chakraborty
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India.
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9
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Garcia AD, Meinert C, Sugahara H, Jones NC, Hoffmann SV, Meierhenrich UJ. The Astrophysical Formation of Asymmetric Molecules and the Emergence of a Chiral Bias. Life (Basel) 2019; 9:E29. [PMID: 30884807 PMCID: PMC6463258 DOI: 10.3390/life9010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The biomolecular homochirality in living organisms has been investigated for decades, but its origin remains poorly understood. It has been shown that circular polarized light (CPL) and other energy sources are capable of inducing small enantiomeric excesses (ees) in some primary biomolecules, such as amino acids or sugars. Since the first findings of amino acids in carbonaceous meteorites, a scenario in which essential chiral biomolecules originate in space and are delivered by celestial bodies has arisen. Numerous studies have thus focused on their detection, identification, and enantiomeric excess calculations in extraterrestrial matrices. In this review we summarize the discoveries in amino acids, sugars, and organophosphorus compounds in meteorites, comets, and laboratory-simulated interstellar ices. Based on available analytical data, we also discuss their interactions with CPL in the ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) regions, their abiotic chiral or achiral synthesis, and their enantiomeric distribution. Without doubt, further laboratory investigations and upcoming space missions are required to shed more light on our potential extraterrestrial molecular origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien D Garcia
- Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7272, 06108 Nice, France.
| | - Cornelia Meinert
- Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7272, 06108 Nice, France.
| | - Haruna Sugahara
- Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7272, 06108 Nice, France.
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency⁻Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan.
| | - Nykola C Jones
- ISA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Søren V Hoffmann
- ISA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Uwe J Meierhenrich
- Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7272, 06108 Nice, France.
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10
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Kaur R, Rani N, Vikas. Gas-Phase Stereoinversion in Aspartic Acid: Reaction Pathways, Computational Spectroscopic Analysis, and Its Astrophysical Relevance. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:14431-14447. [PMID: 31458129 PMCID: PMC6645146 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Noncatalytic reaction pathways for the gas-phase stereoinversion in aspartic acid are mapped employing a global reaction route mapping strategy using quantum mechanical computations. The species including the transition states (TSs) traced along the stereoinversion pathways are characterized using rotational and vibrational computational spectroscopic analysis while accounting for the vibrational corrections to rotational constants and anharmonic effects. Notably, the TS structures traced along the stereochemical pathways resemble the achiral ammonium ylide and imine intermediates as observed in the Strecker synthesis of chiral amino acids. A few of the probable stereoinversion pathways proposed proceed through the proton or hydrogen atom transfer. The feasibility of the pathways under conditions akin to interstellar medium (ISM) is further discussed in terms of natural bond orbital analysis. The stereoinversion pathways proposed in this work may proceed via photoirradiation in the ISM, which though can be revealed by exploring the excited-state potential energy surface. In this context, the spectroscopic data generated in this work can provide valuable assistance toward the astrophysical detection of chiral molecules in outer space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramanpreet Kaur
- Quantum Chemistry Group, Department
of Chemistry & Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Namrata Rani
- Quantum Chemistry Group, Department
of Chemistry & Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Vikas
- Quantum Chemistry Group, Department
of Chemistry & Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
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11
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The Amino Acid Distribution in Laboratory Analogs of Extraterrestrial Organic Matter: A Comparison to CM Chondrites. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aada8a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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12
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Tachibana S, Kouchi A, Hama T, Oba Y, Piani L, Sugawara I, Endo Y, Hidaka H, Kimura Y, Murata KI, Yurimoto H, Watanabe N. Liquid-like behavior of UV-irradiated interstellar ice analog at low temperatures. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:eaao2538. [PMID: 28975154 PMCID: PMC5621975 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aao2538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Interstellar ice is believed to be a cradle of complex organic compounds, commonly found within icy comets and interstellar clouds, in association with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and subsequent warming. We found that UV-irradiated amorphous ices composed of H2O, CH3OH, and NH3 and of pure H2O behave like liquids over the temperature ranges of 65 to 150 kelvin and 50 to 140 kelvin, respectively. This low-viscosity liquid-like ice may enhance the formation of organic compounds including prebiotic molecules and the accretion of icy dust to form icy planetesimals under certain interstellar conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shogo Tachibana
- Department of Natural History Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Akira Kouchi
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hama
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Oba
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan
| | - Laurette Piani
- Department of Natural History Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Iyo Sugawara
- Department of Natural History Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Yukiko Endo
- Department of Natural History Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hidaka
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan
| | - Yuki Kimura
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan
| | - Ken-ichiro Murata
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan
| | - Hisayoshi Yurimoto
- Department of Natural History Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan
| | - Naoki Watanabe
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0819, Japan
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13
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Keane TC. Mechanism for the Coupled Photochemistry of Ammonia and Acetylene: Implications for Giant Planets, Comets and Interstellar Organic Synthesis. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2017; 47:223-248. [PMID: 28791552 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-017-9545-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory studies provide a fundamental understanding of photochemical processes in planetary atmospheres. Photochemical reactions taking place on giant planets like Jupiter and possibly comets and the interstellar medium are the subject of this research. Reaction pathways are proposed for the coupled photochemistry of NH3 (ammonia) and C2H2 (acetylene) within the context Jupiter's atmosphere. We then extend the discussion to the Great Red Spot, Extra-Solar Giant Planets, Comets and Interstellar Organic Synthesis. Reaction rates in the form of quantum yields were measured for the decomposition of reactants and the formation of products and stable intermediates: HCN (hydrogen cyanide), CH3CN (acetonitrile), CH3CH = N-N = CHCH3 (acetaldazine), CH3CH = N-NH2 (acetaldehyde hydrazone), C2H5NH2 (ethylamine), CH3NH2 (methylamine) and C2H4 (ethene) in the photolysis of NH3/C2H2 mixtures. Some of these compounds, formed in our investigation of pathways for HCN synthesis, were not encountered previously in observational, theoretical or laboratory photochemical studies. The quantum yields obtained allowed for the formulation of a reaction mechanism that attempts to explain the observed results under varying experimental conditions. In general, the results of this work are consistent with the initial observations of Ferris and Ishikawa (1988). However, their proposed reaction pathway which centers on the photolysis of CH3CH = N-N = CHCH3 does not explain all of the results obtained in this study. The formation of CH3CH = N-N = CHCH3 by a radical combination reaction of CH3CH = N• was shown in this work to be inconsistent with other experiments where the CH3CH = N• radical is thought to form but where no CH3CH = N-N = CHCH3 was detected. The importance of the role of H atom abstraction reactions was demonstrated and an alternative pathway for CH3CH = N-N = CHCH3 formation involving nucleophilic reaction between N2H4 and CH3CH = NH is advanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Keane
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Studies and Emerging Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Russell Sage College, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
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14
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Kobayashi K, Geppert WD, Carrasco N, Holm NG, Mousis O, Palumbo ME, Waite JH, Watanabe N, Ziurys LM. Laboratory Studies of Methane and Its Relationship to Prebiotic Chemistry. ASTROBIOLOGY 2017; 17:786-812. [PMID: 28727932 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2016.1492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
To examine how prebiotic chemical evolution took place on Earth prior to the emergence of life, laboratory experiments have been conducted since the 1950s. Methane has been one of the key molecules in these investigations. In earlier studies, strongly reducing gas mixtures containing methane and ammonia were used to simulate possible reactions in the primitive atmosphere of Earth, producing amino acids and other organic compounds. Since Earth's early atmosphere is now considered to be less reducing, the contribution of extraterrestrial organics to chemical evolution has taken on an important role. Such organic molecules may have come from molecular clouds and regions of star formation that created protoplanetary disks, planets, asteroids, and comets. The interstellar origin of organics has been examined both experimentally and theoretically, including laboratory investigations that simulate interstellar molecular reactions. Endogenous and exogenous organics could also have been supplied to the primitive ocean, making submarine hydrothermal systems plausible sites of the generation of life. Experiments that simulate such hydrothermal systems where methane played an important role have consequently been conducted. Processes that occur in other Solar System bodies offer clues to the prebiotic chemistry of Earth. Titan and other icy bodies, where methane plays significant roles, are especially good targets. In the case of Titan, methane is both in the atmosphere and in liquidospheres that are composed of methane and other hydrocarbons, and these have been studied in simulation experiments. Here, we review the wide range of experimental work in which these various terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments have been modeled, and we examine the possible role of methane in chemical evolution. Key Words: Methane-Interstellar environments-Submarine hydrothermal systems-Titan-Origin of life. Astrobiology 17, 786-812.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kensei Kobayashi
- 1 Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University , Yokohama, Japan
| | - Wolf D Geppert
- 2 Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University , Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nathalie Carrasco
- 3 LATMOS, Université Versailles St-Quentin , UPMC, CNRS, Guyancourt, France
| | - Nils G Holm
- 2 Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University , Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olivier Mousis
- 4 Aix Marseille Université , CNRS, LAM (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille) UMR 7326, Marseille, France
| | | | - J Hunter Waite
- 6 Southwest Research Institute , San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Naoki Watanabe
- 7 Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University , Sapporo, Japan
| | - Lucy M Ziurys
- 8 Department of Astronomy, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Steward Observatory, University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona, USA
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15
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Cometary Materials Originating from Interstellar Ices: Clues from Laboratory Experiments. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aa618a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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16
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DEUTERIUM FRACTIONATION DURING AMINO ACID FORMATION BY PHOTOLYSIS OF INTERSTELLAR ICE ANALOGS CONTAINING DEUTERATED METHANOL. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.3847/2041-8205/827/1/l18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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17
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Zeffiro A, Lazzaroni S, Merli D, Profumo A, Buttafava A, Serpone N, Dondi D. Formation of Hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) from HCHO and NH3--Relevance to Prebiotic Chemistry and B3LYP Consideration. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2016; 46:223-31. [PMID: 26680445 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-015-9479-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Despite its importance in the prebiotic and biochemical fields, a complete theoretical study of the formation of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) starting from its precursors ammonia and formaldehyde has not received due considerations in the literature with regard to the thermodynamic feasibility of many of the mechanistically proposed intermediates in its formation. Most of the studies in this area have been mostly concerned with the initial steps of the reaction between formaldehyde and ammonia, while poor attention is dedicated to successive steps. In this article, different results from published literature were critically considered and the most probable hypothesis regarding the mechanism of HMT formation is discussed on the basis of B3LYP calculations of free energies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Zeffiro
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, V.le Taramelli 12, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Simone Lazzaroni
- Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Unità di Radiochimica e Spettroscopia, c/o Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, V.le Taramelli 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Daniele Merli
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, V.le Taramelli 12, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Antonella Profumo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, V.le Taramelli 12, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Armando Buttafava
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, V.le Taramelli 12, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Nick Serpone
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, V.le Taramelli 10, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Daniele Dondi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, V.le Taramelli 12, Pavia, 27100, Italy
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18
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Abstract
In the recent years revolutionary results concerning the nature of icy dust particles have been obtained with the help of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) and ground based observations. To date interstellar ice features of H2O, CO, CO2, CH3OH, CH4, H2CO, OCS and HCOOH as well as other minor species are observed. Interstellar grains act as important catalysts in the interstellar medium. Processes such as UV irradiation, cosmic ray processing and temperature variations determine the grain mantle growth and chemical evolution. ISO has revealed that ice segregation is an important and ubiquitous process in the vicinity of massive protostars and reflects the extensive thermal processing of grains in such environments.In this paper a recent view on the inventory of interstellar ices is presented. Constraints on the reservoirs of oxygen in dense clouds are discussed, taking into account recent measurements of oxygen-bearing species. Large abundances of CO2 and CH3OH in dense molecular clouds provide challenging perspectives to investigate the differences of ice chemistry in the vicinity of high and low-mass protostars. Accurate abundances of ice species and knowledge on the ice distribution in the protostellar regions are an important tool to define the environmental conditions in molecular clouds. A global understanding of interstellar ice chemistry also allows monitoring the incorporation and evolution of volatiles in planetesimals and comets and to reveal processes predominant in the early Solar System.
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Abstract
AbstractInfrared observations, combined with realistic laboratory simulations, have revolutionized our understanding of interstellar ice and dust, the building blocks of comets. Since comets are thought to be a major source of the volatiles on the primative earth, their organic inventory is of central importance to questions concerning the origin of life. Ices in molecular clouds contain the very simple molecules H2O, CH3OH, CO, CO2, CH4, H2, and probably some NH3and H2CO, as well as more complex species including nitriles, ketones, and esters. The evidence for these, as well as carbonrich materials such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), microdiamonds, and amorphous carbon is briefly reviewed. This is followed by a detailed summary of interstellar/precometary ice photochemical evolution based on laboratory studies of realistic polar ice analogs. Ultraviolet photolysis of these ices produces H2, H2CO, CO2, CO, CH4, HCO, and the moderately complex organic molecules: CH3CH2OH (ethanol), HC(= O)NH2(formamide), CH3C(= O)NH2(acetamide), R-CN (nitriles), and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT, C6H12N4), as well as more complex species including polyoxymethylene and related species (POMs), amides, and ketones. The ready formation of these organic species from simple starting mixtures, the ice chemistry that ensues when these ices are mildly warmed, plus the observation that the more complex refractory photoproducts show lipid-like behavior and readily self organize into droplets upon exposure to liquid water suggest that comets may have played an important role in the origin of life.
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Lavado N, Ávalos M, Babiano R, Cintas P, Light ME, Jiménez JL, Palacios JC. On the Plausibility of Pseudosugar Formation in Cometary Ices and Oxygen-rich Tholins. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2016; 46:31-49. [PMID: 26428515 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-015-9456-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We revisit herein the formation and structure of dihydroxy dioxanes, which can be obtained from prebiotically available precursors and can be regarded as primeval sugar surrogates. Previous studies dealing with the heterogeneous composition of interstellar bodies point to the existence of significant amounts of small polyalcohols along with oxygen-containing oligomers. Even though such derivatives did not give rise to nucleosides and oligonucleotides, nor they were incorporated into subsequent metabolic routes, molecular chimeras based on sugar-like species could be opportunistic scaffolds in pre-evolutionary scenarios. We could figure out that pseudosugars, assembled by hemiacetalic bonds from available precursors in both interstellar and terrestrial scenarios, were presumably more abundant than thought. Moreover, these species share some key features with naturally-occurring sugar rings, such as anomeric preferences, coordinating ability, and the prevalent occurrence of racemic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Lavado
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-UEX, Avenida de Elvas s/n, E-06006, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Martín Ávalos
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-UEX, Avenida de Elvas s/n, E-06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Reyes Babiano
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-UEX, Avenida de Elvas s/n, E-06006, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Pedro Cintas
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-UEX, Avenida de Elvas s/n, E-06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Mark E Light
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - José Luis Jiménez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-UEX, Avenida de Elvas s/n, E-06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Juan C Palacios
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-UEX, Avenida de Elvas s/n, E-06006, Badajoz, Spain
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21
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Oba Y, Watanabe N, Osamura Y, Kouchi A. Chiral glycine formation on cold interstellar grains by quantum tunneling hydrogen–deuterium substitution reactions. Chem Phys Lett 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2015.05.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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22
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de Marcellus P, Meinert C, Myrgorodska I, Nahon L, Buhse T, d'Hendecourt LLS, Meierhenrich UJ. Aldehydes and sugars from evolved precometary ice analogs: importance of ices in astrochemical and prebiotic evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:965-70. [PMID: 25583475 PMCID: PMC4313837 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1418602112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolved interstellar ices observed in dense protostellar molecular clouds may arguably be considered as part of precometary materials that will later fall on primitive telluric planets, bringing a wealth of complex organic compounds. In our laboratory, experiments reproducing the photo/thermochemical evolution of these ices are routinely performed. Following previous amino acid identifications in the resulting room temperature organic residues, we have searched for a different family of molecules of potential prebiotic interest. Using multidimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we have detected 10 aldehydes, including the sugar-related glycolaldehyde and glyceraldehyde--two species considered as key prebiotic intermediates in the first steps toward the synthesis of ribonucleotides in a planetary environment. The presence of ammonia in water and methanol ice mixtures appears essential for the recovery of these aldehydes in the refractory organic residue at room temperature, although these products are free of nitrogen. We finally point out the importance of detecting aldehydes and sugars in extraterrestrial environments, in the gas phase of hot molecular clouds, and, more importantly, in comets and in primitive meteorites that have most probably seeded the Earth with organic material as early as 4.2 billion years ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre de Marcellus
- Université Paris-Sud, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, UMR 8617, CNRS, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Cornelia Meinert
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Institut de Chimie de Nice, UMR 7272, CNRS, F-06108 Nice, France;
| | - Iuliia Myrgorodska
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Institut de Chimie de Nice, UMR 7272, CNRS, F-06108 Nice, France; Synchrotron SOLEIL, F-91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; and
| | - Laurent Nahon
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, F-91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; and
| | - Thomas Buhse
- Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62209 Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | | | - Uwe J Meierhenrich
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Institut de Chimie de Nice, UMR 7272, CNRS, F-06108 Nice, France
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23
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Myrgorodska I, Meinert C, Martins Z, Le Sergeant d'Hendecourt L, Meierhenrich UJ. Molekülchiralität in Meteoriten und interstellarem Eis und das Chiralitätsexperiment an Bord der Kometenmission Rosetta der ESA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201409354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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24
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Myrgorodska I, Meinert C, Martins Z, Le Sergeant d'Hendecourt L, Meierhenrich UJ. Molecular chirality in meteorites and interstellar ices, and the chirality experiment on board the ESA cometary Rosetta mission. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 54:1402-12. [PMID: 25431250 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201409354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Life, as it is known to us, uses exclusively L-amino acid and D-sugar enantiomers for the molecular architecture of proteins and nucleic acids. This Minireview explores current models of the original symmetry-breaking influence that led to the exogenic delivery to Earth of prebiotic molecules with a slight enantiomeric excess. We provide a short overview of enantiomeric enhancements detected in bodies of extraterrestrial origin, such as meteorites, and interstellar ices simulated in the laboratory. Data are interpreted from different points of view, namely, photochirogenesis, parity violation in the weak nuclear interaction, and enantioenrichment through phase transitions. Photochemically induced enantiomeric imbalances are discussed more specifically in the topical context of the "chirality module" on board the cometary Rosetta spacecraft of the ESA. This device will perform the first enantioselective in situ analyses of samples taken from a cometary nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Myrgorodska
- Institut de Chimie de Nice ICN, UMR CNRS 7272, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, Faculté des Sciences, Parc Valrose, 06108, Nice (France) http://www.unice.fr/meierhenrich/
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25
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Kaiser RI, Maity S, Jones BM. Synthesis of Prebiotic Glycerol in Interstellar Ices. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201408729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf I. Kaiser
- Department of Chemistry, W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822 (USA)
| | - Surajit Maity
- Department of Chemistry, W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822 (USA)
| | - Brant M. Jones
- Department of Chemistry, W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822 (USA)
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26
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Kaiser RI, Maity S, Jones BM. Synthesis of prebiotic glycerol in interstellar ices. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 54:195-200. [PMID: 25363714 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201408729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Contemporary mechanisms for the spontaneous formation of glycerol have not been able to explain its existence on early Earth. The exogenous origin and delivery of organic molecules to early Earth presents an alternative route to their terrestrial in situ formation since biorelevant molecules like amino acids, carboxylic acids, and alkylphosphonic acids have been recovered from carbonaceous chondrites. Reported herein is the first in situ identification of glycerol, the key building block of all cellular membranes, formed by exposure of methanol-based - interstellar model ices to ionizing radiation in the form of energetic electrons. These results provide compelling evidence that the radiation-induced formation of glycerol in low-temperature interstellar model ices is facile. Synthesized on interstellar grains and eventually incorporated into the "building material" of solar systems, biorelevant molecules such as glycerol could have been dispensed to habitable planets such as early Earth by comets and meteorites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf I Kaiser
- Department of Chemistry, W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822 (USA).
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27
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Paardekooper DM, Bossa JB, Isokoski K, Linnartz H. Laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry of ultraviolet photo-processed ices. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2014; 85:104501. [PMID: 25362425 DOI: 10.1063/1.4896754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A new ultra-high vacuum experiment is described that allows studying photo-induced chemical processes in interstellar ice analogues. MATRI(2)CES - a Mass Analytical Tool to study Reactions in Interstellar ICES applies a new concept by combining laser desorption and time-of-flight mass spectrometry with the ultimate goal to characterize in situ and in real time the solid state evolution of organic compounds upon UV photolysis for astronomically relevant ice mixtures and temperatures. The performance of the experimental setup is demonstrated by the kinetic analysis of the different photoproducts of pure methane (CH4) ice at 20 K. A quantitative approach provides formation yields of several new species with up to four carbon atoms. Convincing evidence is found for the formation of even larger species. Typical mass resolutions obtained range from M/ΔM ∼320 to ∼400 for CH4 and argon, respectively. Additional tests show that the typical detection limit (in monolayers) is ⩽0.02 ML, substantially more sensitive than the regular techniques used to investigate chemical processes in interstellar ices.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Paardekooper
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - J-B Bossa
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - K Isokoski
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - H Linnartz
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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28
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Jeilani YA, Orlando TM, Pope A, Pirim C, Nguyen MT. Prebiotic synthesis of triazines from urea: a theoretical study of free radical routes to melamine, ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra03717k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prebiotic formation of triazines from urea was studied using density functional theory methods with the aim of understanding some of the neutral precursors that can lead to a mixture of triazines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas M. Orlando
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta, USA
| | - Albryona Pope
- Department Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Spelman College
- Atlanta, USA
| | - Claire Pirim
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta, USA
| | - Minh Tho Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Leuven
- B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
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29
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Muñoz Caro GM, Dartois E. Prebiotic chemistry in icy grain mantles in space. An experimental and observational approach. Chem Soc Rev 2013; 42:2173-85. [PMID: 23340705 DOI: 10.1039/c2cs35425j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A compendium of different solid carbonaceous materials detected in space is presented, focussing on the search for organic matter of prebiotic interest. This journey takes us from the carbon grains likely formed in the atmospheres of evolved stars to organic grain mantles made from ice processing thought to be present in dense interstellar clouds and circumstellar regions, making a stop in solar system objects that could have delivered organic species to the early Earth. The most abundant carbon materials detected to date in space appear to be of little biological relevance. On the other hand, organic refractory residues, made in the laboratory from UV-photoprocessing followed by warm-up of interstellar ice analogs, are a hydrocarbon material rich in O and N containing chemical compounds that could act as initiators of prebiotic chemistry. A similar material might be present in dust grains inside dense clouds or circumstellar regions, some comets, and as a minor component in carbonaceous chondrites. We use infrared spectroscopy as a tool to spot organic refractory matter in various space environments. The delivery of organic materials via comets, (micro-) meteorites, and interplanetary dust particles to the primitive Earth might have contributed as a starting material for prebiotic chemistry. To test this hypothesis, it is first essential to characterize the composition of exogenous organic matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo M Muñoz Caro
- Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, Ctra. de Ajalvir, km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain.
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30
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Beyoğlu D, Idle JR. The glycine deportation system and its pharmacological consequences. Pharmacol Ther 2012; 135:151-67. [PMID: 22584143 PMCID: PMC3665358 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The glycine deportation system is an essential component of glycine catabolism in man whereby 400 to 800mg glycine per day are deported into urine as hippuric acid. The molecular escort for this deportation is benzoic acid, which derives from the diet and from gut microbiota metabolism of dietary precursors. Three components of this system, involving hepatic and renal metabolism, and renal active tubular secretion help regulate systemic and central nervous system levels of glycine. When glycine levels are pathologically high, as in congenital nonketotic hyperglycinemia, the glycine deportation system can be upregulated with pharmacological doses of benzoic acid to assist in normalization of glycine homeostasis. In congenital urea cycle enzymopathies, similar activation of the glycine deportation system with benzoic acid is useful for the excretion of excess nitrogen in the form of glycine. Drugs which can substitute for benzoic acid as substrates for the glycine deportation system have adverse reactions that may involve perturbations of glycine homeostasis. The cancer chemotherapeutic agent ifosfamide has an unacceptably high incidence of encephalopathy. This would appear to arise as a result of the production of toxic aldehyde metabolites which deplete ATP production and sequester NADH in the mitochondrial matrix, thereby inhibiting the glycine deportation system and causing de novo glycine synthesis by the glycine cleavage system. We hypothesize that this would result in hyperglycinemia and encephalopathy. This understanding may lead to novel prophylactic strategies for ifosfamide encephalopathy. Thus, the glycine deportation system plays multiple key roles in physiological and neurotoxicological processes involving glycine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diren Beyoğlu
- Hepatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jeffrey R. Idle
- Hepatology Research Group, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
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31
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Vinogradoff V, Rimola A, Duvernay F, Danger G, Theulé P, Chiavassa T. The mechanism of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) formation in the solid state at low temperature. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2012; 14:12309-20. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cp41963g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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32
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Giri C, Goesmann F, Meinert C, Evans AC, Meierhenrich UJ. Synthesis and Chirality of Amino Acids Under Interstellar Conditions. BIOCHIRALITY 2012; 333:41-82. [DOI: 10.1007/128_2012_367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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33
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Osterrothová K, Jehlička J. Investigation of biomolecules trapped in fluid inclusions inside halite crystals by Raman spectroscopy. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2011; 83:288-296. [PMID: 21930419 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2011.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2011] [Accepted: 08/19/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Raman spectroscopy was tested for the identification of biomolecules (glycine, L-alanine, β-alanine, L-serine, and γ-aminobutyric acid) trapped in fluid inclusions inside halite model crystals. The investigated biomolecules represent important targets for future astrobiological missions. We know from terrestrial conditions that organic molecules and microorganisms can be sealed within fluid inclusions and can survive intact even for hundreds of millions of years. Raman spectroscopy is currently being miniaturized for future extraterrestrial planetary exploration (ExoMars 2018). Raman spectroscopy has shown the ability to detect investigated aminoacids nondestructively without any sample preparation, in short measurement times, and in relatively low concentrations. The number of registered Raman bands of investigated aminoacids and their intensity clearly correlate with the given concentration of biomolecules within fluid inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Osterrothová
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
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34
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Meinert C, de Marcellus P, d'Hendecourt LLS, Nahon L, Jones NC, Hoffmann SV, Bredehöft JH, Meierhenrich UJ. Photochirogenesis: photochemical models on the absolute asymmetric formation of amino acids in interstellar space. Phys Life Rev 2011; 8:307-30. [PMID: 21924690 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2011.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2011] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Proteins of all living organisms including plants, animals, and humans are made up of amino acid monomers that show identical stereochemical L-configuration. Hypotheses for the origin of this symmetry breaking in biomolecules include the absolute asymmetric photochemistry model by which interstellar ultraviolet (UV) circularly polarized light (CPL) induces an enantiomeric excess in chiral organic molecules in the interstellar/circumstellar media. This scenario is supported by a) the detection of amino acids in the organic residues of UV-photo-processed interstellar ice analogues, b) the occurrence of L-enantiomer-enriched amino acids in carbonaceous meteorites, and c) the observation of CPL of the same helicity over large distance scales in the massive star-forming region of Orion. These topics are of high importance in topical biophysical research and will be discussed in this review. Further evidence that amino acids and other molecules of prebiotic interest are asymmetrically formed in space comes from studies on the enantioselective photolysis of amino acids by UV-CPL. Also, experiments have been performed on the absolute asymmetric photochemical synthesis of enantiomer-enriched amino acids from mixtures of astrophysically relevant achiral precursor molecules using UV-circularly polarized photons. Both approaches are based on circular dichroic transitions of amino acids that will be highlighted here as well. These results have strong implications on our current understanding of how life's precursor molecules were possibly built and how life selected the left-handed form of proteinogenic amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Meinert
- Faculté des Sciences, UMR 6001 CNRS, LCMBA, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, 28 Avenue Valrose, 06108 Nice, France.
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35
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Photochirogenesis: Photochemical Models on the Origin of Biomolecular Homochirality. Symmetry (Basel) 2010. [DOI: 10.3390/sym2021055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Nuevo M, Bredehöft JH, Meierhenrich UJ, d'Hendecourt L, Thiemann WHP. Urea, glycolic acid, and glycerol in an organic residue produced by ultraviolet irradiation of interstellar/pre-cometary ice analogs. ASTROBIOLOGY 2010; 10:245-256. [PMID: 20402585 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2009.0358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
More than 50 stable organic molecules have been detected in the interstellar medium (ISM), from ground-based and onboard-satellite astronomical observations, in the gas and solid phases. Some of these organics may be prebiotic compounds that were delivered to early Earth by comets and meteorites and may have triggered the first chemical reactions involved in the origin of life. Ultraviolet irradiation of ices simulating photoprocesses of cold solid matter in astrophysical environments have shown that photochemistry can lead to the formation of amino acids and related compounds. In this work, we experimentally searched for other organic molecules of prebiotic interest, namely, oxidized acid labile compounds. In a setup that simulates conditions relevant to the ISM and Solar System icy bodies such as comets, a condensed CH(3)OH:NH(3) = 1:1 ice mixture was UV irradiated at approximately 80 K. The molecular constituents of the nonvolatile organic residue that remained at room temperature were separated by capillary gas chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry. Urea, glycolic acid, and glycerol were detected in this residue, as well as hydroxyacetamide, glycerolic acid, and glycerol amide. These organics are interesting target molecules to be searched for in space. Finally, tentative mechanisms of formation for these compounds under interstellar/pre-cometary conditions are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Nuevo
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France.
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Zaia DAM, Zaia CTBV, De Santana H. Which amino acids should be used in prebiotic chemistry studies? ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2008; 38:469-88. [PMID: 18925425 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-008-9150-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2008] [Accepted: 09/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The adsorption of amino acids on minerals and their condensation under conditions that resemble those of prebiotic earth is a well studied subject. However, which amino acids should be used in these experiments is still an open question. The main goal of this review is to attempt to answer this question. There were two sources of amino acids for the prebiotic earth: (1) exogenous -- meaning that the amino acids were synthesized outside the earth and delivered to our planet by interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), meteorites, comets, etc. and (2) endogenous -- meaning that they were synthesized on earth in atmospheric mixtures, hydrothermal vents, etc. For prebiotic chemistry studies, the use of a mixture of amino acids from both endogenous and exogenous sources is suggested. The exogenous contribution of amino acids to this mixture is very different from the average composition of proteins, and contains several non-protein amino acids. On the other hand, the mixture of amino acids from endogenous sources is seems to more closely resemble the amino acid composition of terrestrial proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimas A M Zaia
- Departamento de Química-CCE, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
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Abstract
Amino acids were most likely available on the primitive Earth, produced in the primitive atmosphere or in hydrothermal vents. Import of extraterrestrial amino acids may have represented the major supply, as suggested by micrometeorite collections and simulation experiments in space and in the laboratory. Selective condensation of amino acids in water has been achieved via N-carboxy anydrides. Homochiral peptides with an alternating sequence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids adopt stereoselective and thermostable beta-pleated sheet structures. Some of the homochiral beta-sheets strongly accelerate the hydrolysis of oligoribonucleotides. The beta-sheet-forming peptides have also been shown to protect their amino acids from racemization. Even if peptides are not able to self-replicate, i.e., to replicate a complete sequence from the mixture of amino acids, the accumulation of chemically active peptides on the primitive Earth appears plausible via thermostable and stereoselective beta-sheets made of alternating sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Brack
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS, rue Charles Sadron, F-45071 Orléans Cedex 2.
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Meierhenrich UJ, Muñoz Caro GM, Schutte WA, Thiemann WHP, Barbier B, Brack A. Precursors of Biological Cofactors from Ultraviolet Irradiation of Circumstellar/Interstellar Ice Analogues. Chemistry 2005; 11:4895-900. [PMID: 15900538 DOI: 10.1002/chem.200500074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Biological cofactors include functionalized derivatives of cyclic tetrapyrrole structures that incorporate different metal ions. They build up structural partnerships with proteins, which play a crucial role in biochemical reactions. Porphyrin, chlorin, bacteriochlorin, and corrin are the basic structures of cofactors (heme, chlorophyll, bacteriochlorophyll, siroheme, F 430, and vitamin B12). Laboratory and theoretical work suggest that the molecular building blocks of proteins (alpha-amino acids) and nucleic acids (carbohydrates, purines, and pyrimidines) were generated under prebiotic conditions. On the other hand, experimental data on the prebiotic chemistry of cofactors are rare. We propose to search directly for the pathways of the formation of cofactors in the laboratory. Herein we report on the detection of N-heterocycles and amines in the room-temperature residue obtained after photo- and thermal processing of an interstellar ice analogue under high vacuum at 12 K. Among them, hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine and its derivatives, together with monopyrrolic molecules, are precursors of porphinoid cofactors. Hexahydropyrimidine was also detected. This is the first detection of these compounds in experiments simulating circumstellar/interstellar conditions. Except for 2-aminopyrrole and 2,4-diaminofuran, which were only found in 13C-labeled experiments, all the reported species were detected in both 12C- and 13C-labeled experiments, excluding contamination. The molecules reported here might be present in circumstellar/interstellar grains and cometary dust and could be detected by the Stardust and Rosetta missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe J Meierhenrich
- Laboratoire des Arômes, Synthèses et Interactions and Laboratoire de Chimie Bioorganique, UMR 6001 CNRS-UNSA, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Faculté des Sciences, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice, France
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Leach S, Jochims HW, Baumgärtel H. VUV Photodissociation of ammonia: a dispersed fluorescence excitation spectral study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2005; 7:900-11. [DOI: 10.1039/b409046m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Li J, Han KL, He GZ. Computational study on the addition of HCN to methanimine catalyzed by formamidine and formamide. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theochem.2004.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Comets: Potential Sources of Prebiotic Molecules for the Early Earth. LECTURES IN ASTROBIOLOGY 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/10913406_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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Takano Y, Tsuboi T, Kaneko T, Kobayashi K, Marumo K. Pyrolysis of High-Molecular-Weight Complex Organics Synthesized from a Simulated Interstellar Gas Mixture Irradiated with 3 MeV Proton Beam. BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 2004. [DOI: 10.1246/bcsj.77.779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Duvernay F, Chiavassa T, Borget F, Aycard J. Infrared matrix isolation and ab initio/DFT studies on carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrazine (N2H4) complexes. Chem Phys 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2003.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Jochims HW, Schwell M, Chotin JL, Clemino M, Dulieu F, Baumgärtel H, Leach S. Photoion mass spectrometry of five amino acids in the 6–22 eV photon energy range. Chem Phys 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2003.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Takano Y, Ushio K, Kaneko T, Kobayashi K, Hashimoto H. Amino Acid Precursors from Carbon Monoxide in Simulated Interstellar Dust Ice Mantle by UV Irradiation at 10 K. CHEM LETT 2003. [DOI: 10.1246/cl.2003.612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Takano Y, Masuda H, Kaneko T, Kobayashi K. Formation of Amino Acids from Possible Interstellar Media by γ-rays and UV Irradiation. CHEM LETT 2002. [DOI: 10.1246/cl.2002.986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Muñoz Caro GM, Meierhenrich UJ, Schutte WA, Barbier B, Arcones Segovia A, Rosenbauer H, Thiemann WHP, Brack A, Greenberg JM. Amino acids from ultraviolet irradiation of interstellar ice analogues. Nature 2002; 416:403-6. [PMID: 11919624 DOI: 10.1038/416403a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 326] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Amino acids are the essential molecular components of living organisms on Earth, but the proposed mechanisms for their spontaneous generation have been unable to account for their presence in Earth's early history. The delivery of extraterrestrial organic compounds has been proposed as an alternative to generation on Earth, and some amino acids have been found in several meteorites. Here we report the detection of amino acids in the room-temperature residue of an interstellar ice analogue that was ultraviolet-irradiated in a high vacuum at 12 K. We identified 16 amino acids; the chiral ones showed enantiomeric separation. Some of the identified amino acids are also found in meteorites. Our results demonstrate that the spontaneous generation of amino acids in the interstellar medium is possible, supporting the suggestion that prebiotic molecules could have been delivered to the early Earth by cometary dust, meteorites or interplanetary dust particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Muñoz Caro
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics at Leiden Observatory, PO Box 9513, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Meierhenrich UJ, Thiemann WH, Munoz Caro GM, Schutte WA, Greenberg JM. Simulated cometary matter as a test for enantiomer separating chromatography for use on comet 46P/Wirtanen. ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) 2001; 27:329-334. [PMID: 11642294 DOI: 10.1016/s0273-1177(01)00065-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The Cometary Sampling and Composition Experiment on board of European Space Agency's cornerstone mission ROSETTA is designed to identify organic molecules in cometary matter in situ by a combined pyrolysis gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric technique. Its capillary columns coated with chiral stationary phases received considerable attention, because they are designed for separations of non-complex enantiomers to allow the determination of enantiomeric ratios of cometary chiral organic compounds and consequently to provide information about the origin of molecular parity violation in biomolecules. To get gas chromatographic access to organic compounds on the comet, where macromolecules and complex organic polymers of low volatility are expected to make up the main organic ingredients, the combination of two injection techniques will be applied. The pyrolysis technique performed by heating cometary samples stepwise to defined temperatures in specific ovens resulting in thermochemolysis reactions of polymers and a chemical derivatization technique, in which the reagent dimethylformamide dimethylacetal assists pyrolysis derivatization reactions in producing methyl esters of polar monomers. The combination of the reagent assisted pyrolysis gas chromatographic technique with enantiomer separating chromatography was tested with laboratory-produced simulated cometary matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- U J Meierhenrich
- Dept. Phys. Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobenerstrasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
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