Pyrolysis of simple amino acids and nucleobases: survivability limits and implications for extraterrestrial delivery |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratorio de Qumica de Plasmas y Estudios Planetarios, Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Circuito Exterior C.U., A.Postal 70-543, 04510 Mexico, D.F., Mexico;1. J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolej?kova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic;2. Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, B?ehová 78/7, 11519 Prague 1, Czech Republic;3. Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom;1. Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan;2. ARES, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058, USA;3. Geochemical Research Center, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan;4. Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;5. Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;6. Jacobs – NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA;7. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Road, NW, Washington, DC 20015, USA;1. National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Donath Street, No. 65-103, RO-400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;2. Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204, United States |
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| Abstract: | The idea of extraterrestrial delivery of organic matter to the early Earth is strongly supported by the detection of a large variety of organic compounds in the interstellar medium, comets, and carbonaceous chondrites. Whether organic compounds essential for the emergence and evolution of life, particularly amino acids and nucleic acid bases found in the meteorites, can be efficiently delivered by other space bodies is unclear and depends primarily on capability of the biomolecules to survive high temperatures during atmospheric deceleration and impacts to the terrestrial surface. In the present study we estimated survivability of simple amino acids (glycine, Lalanine, α-aminoisobutyric acid, L-valine and L-leucine), purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (uracil and cytosine) under rapid heating to temperatures of 400-1000°C under N2 or CO2 atmosphere. We have found that most of the compounds studied cannot survive the temperatures substantially higher than 700°C; however at 500600°C, the recovery can be at a percent level (or even 10%-level for adenine, uracil, alanine, and valine). The final fate of amino acids and nucleobases during the atmospheric deceleration and surface impacts is discussed depending on such factors as size of the space body, nature and altitude of the heating, chemical composition of the space body and of the atmosphere. |
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