Origin of organic matter in early solar system—III. Amino acids: Catalytic synthesis

The extraterrestrial delivery of organics to primitive Earth has been supported by many laboratory and space experiments. Minerals played an important role in the evolution of meteoritic organic matter. In this study, we simulated aqueous alteration in small bodies by using a solution mixture of H2CO and NH3 in the presence of water at 150 °C under different heating durations, which produced amino acids after acid hydrolysis. Moreover, minerals were added to the previous mixture to examine their catalyzing/inhibiting impact on amino acid formation. Without minerals, glycine was the dominant amino acid obtained at 1 d of the heating experiment, while alanine and β-alanine increased significantly and became dominant after 3 to 7 d. Minerals enhanced the yield of amino acids at short heating duration (1 d); however, they induced their decomposition at longer heating duration (7 d). Additionally, montmorillonite enhanced amino acid production at 1 d, while olivine and serpentine enhanced production at 3 d. Molecular weight distribution in the whole of the products obtained by gel chromatography showed that minerals enhanced both decomposition and combination of molecules. Our results indicate that minerals affected the formation of amino acids in aqueous environments in small Solar System bodies and that the amino acids could have different response behaviors according to different minerals.

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Synthesis of 13C-enriched amino acids with 13C-depleted insoluble organic matter in a formose-type reaction in the early solar system

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.abd3575 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (18) ◽

pp. eabd3575

Author(s):

Yoshihiro Furukawa ◽

Yoshinari Iwasa ◽

Yoshito Chikaraishi

Keyword(s):

Aqueous Solution ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Solar System ◽

Acid Synthesis ◽

Soluble Organic Matter ◽

Early Solar System ◽

Cold Region ◽

Amino Acid Synthesis ◽

Type Reaction ◽

Insoluble Organic Matter

Solvent-soluble organic matter (SOM) in meteorites, which includes life’s building molecules, is suspected to originate from the cold region of the early solar system, on the basis of 13C enrichment in the molecules. Here, we demonstrate that the isotopic characteristics are reproducible in amino acid synthesis associated with a formose-type reaction in a heated aqueous solution. Both thermochemically driven formose-type reaction and photochemically driven formose-type reaction likely occurred in asteroids and ice-dust grains in the early solar system. Thus, the present results suggest that the formation of 13C-enriched SOM was not specific to the cold outer protosolar disk or the molecular cloud but occurred more widely in the early solar system.

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Organic matter in carbonaceous meteorites: past, present and future research

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2005.1670 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 363 (1837) ◽

pp. 2729-2742 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Mark A Sephton

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Solar System ◽

Chemical Evolution ◽

Chemical Environment ◽

Future Research ◽

Organic Chemical ◽

Early Solar System ◽

Organic Mixtures ◽

Prebiotic Chemical ◽

Life On Earth

Carbonaceous meteorites are fragments of ancient asteroids that have remained relatively unprocessed since the formation of the Solar System. These carbon-rich objects provide a record of prebiotic chemical evolution and a window on the early Solar System. Many compound classes are present reflecting a rich organic chemical environment during the formation of the planets. Recent theories suggest that similar extraterrestrial organic mixtures may have acted as the starting materials for life on Earth.

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Origin of organic matter in the early solar system—VII. The organic polymer in carbonaceous chondrites

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta ◽

10.1016/0016-7037(77)90076-x ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 41 (9) ◽

pp. 1325-1339 ◽

Cited By ~ 163

Author(s):

Ryoichi Hayatsu ◽

Sumiko Matsuoka ◽

Robert G. Scott ◽

Martin H. Studier ◽

Edward Anders

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Solar System ◽

Organic Polymer ◽

Carbonaceous Chondrites ◽

Early Solar System

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Clues to the early solar system: Extraterrestrial organic molecules in meteorites

The Biochemist ◽

10.1042/bio03606013 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 36 (6) ◽

pp. 13-15

Author(s):

Zita Martins

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Solar System ◽

Present Article ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Molecules ◽

Carbonaceous Chondrites ◽

Early Solar System ◽

Very Old ◽

The Impact

Meteorites are extraterrestrial objects that survive the impact on the Earth's surface. A particular class of meteorites, carbonaceous chondrites, are very old, having remained nearly unaltered since the formation of the solar system approximately 4.6 billion years ago. They contain a rich organic inventory of abiotic molecules with important roles in present day biochemistry. The present article describes the organic compounds present in meteorites, their sources and how to distinguish extraterrestrial organic matter from their terrestrial counterparts.

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