Astrochemistry

The Formation of Peptide-like Molecules on Interstellar Dust Grains

By Keith Cowing
Press Release
astro-ph.GA
August 3, 2018
Filed under
The Formation of Peptide-like Molecules on Interstellar Dust Grains
Amide group
Wikipedia

Molecules with an amide functional group resemble peptide bonds, the molecular bridges that connect amino acids, and may thus be relevant in processes that lead to the formation of life.

In this study, the solid state formation of some of the smallest amides is investigated in the laboratory. To this end, CH4:HNCO ice mixtures at 20 K are irradiated with far-UV photons, where the radiation is used as a tool to produce the radicals required for the formation of the amides. Products are identified and investigated with infrared spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption mass spectrometry.

The laboratory data show that NH2CHO, CH3NCO, NH2C(O)NH2, CH3C(O)NH2 and CH2NH2 can simultaneously be formed. The NH2CO radical is found to be key in the formation of larger amides. In parallel, ALMA observations towards the low-mass protostar IRAS 16293-2422B are analysed in search of CH3NHCHO (N-methylformamide) and CH3C(O)NH2 (acetamide). CH3C(O)NH2 is tentatively detected towards IRAS 16293-2422B at an abundance comparable with those found towards high-mass sources. The combined laboratory and observational data indicates that NH2CHO and CH3C(O)NH2 are chemically linked and form in the ice mantles of interstellar dust grains. A solid-state reaction network for the formation of these amides is proposed.

N. F. W. Ligterink, J. Terwisscha van Scheltinga, V. Taquet, J. K. Jørgensen, S. Cazaux, E. F. van Dishoeck, H. Linnartz
(Submitted on 2 Aug 2018)

Comments: Accepted for publication in MNRAS
Subjects: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA); Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
Cite as: arXiv:1808.00742 [astro-ph.GA] (or arXiv:1808.00742v1 [astro-ph.GA] for this version)
Submission history
From: Niels Ligterink
[v1] Thu, 2 Aug 2018 09:59:48 GMT (7770kb,D)
https://arxiv.org/abs/1808.00742
Astrobiology
Astrochemistry

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻