Science Advances: the emergence of molecules important for life in space has been proven
Scientists in France and Germany have received new evidence that organic molecules important for the emergence of life may have originally arisen in space. Research results published in the journal Science Advances.
During the experiment, which simulated the conditions of the space environment inside circumstellar dust disks, peptides were synthesized – short chains of amino acids (from two to several hundred), which are the precursors of proteins. The formation of peptides occurred due to the combination of numerous aminoketene molecules. In turn, aminoketenes are formed with the participation of ammonia, carbon monoxide and carbon atoms.
It is believed that peptide synthesis can occur on the surface of dust particles. This material is then incorporated into the denser phases of molecular clouds and circumstellar disks, where stars, planets and comets form. In this case, comets, asteroids and meteorites can play the role of delivering organic substances to the habitable zones around stars.
Dust disks also contain a large number of various volatile compounds that can negatively affect the formation of peptides. The researchers assessed how the efficiency of peptide synthesis changes in the presence of water, which triggers hydrolysis reactions that break down peptide bonds. It turned out that, despite a slight decrease in the rate of reactions, water still does not prevent the appearance of protein precursors in the circumstellar cloud.
It is known that several types of biomolecules can be formed in space, such as amino acids, nucleic acid bases, sugars, phosphates and lipids, which are important for various biological functions. These molecules have been discovered in meteorites and comets. The massive delivery of biomolecules during the meteorite bombardment of the Earth some four billion years ago is believed to have played a key role in the origin of life in the solar system.
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