Amino Acids From Amino Acids From Interstellar SpaceInterstellar Space

Craig LieneckCraig Lieneck

Amino Acids – Brief OverviewAmino Acids – Brief Overview

All living things All living things contain amino acids.contain amino acids.

Critical for life.Critical for life. Do all the work of Do all the work of

running reactions in running reactions in the body.the body.

Make up all proteins, Make up all proteins, enzymes, etc.enzymes, etc.

OriginsOrigins

Old paradigm – Amino acids formed on Old paradigm – Amino acids formed on Earth.Earth.Amino acids form in liquid water on a parent Amino acids form in liquid water on a parent

body.body.Amino acids in meteorites formed on an early Amino acids in meteorites formed on an early

Solar System body. Solar System body.

Experiment TeamExperiment Team

SETI Institute SETI Institute ResearchersResearchers

NASA’s Ames NASA’s Ames Research Center, Research Center, Moffet, CAMoffet, CA

Dr. Max Bernstein Ames Research Center

ExperimentExperiment

Objectives:Objectives:To simulate the formation of amino acids in deep To simulate the formation of amino acids in deep

space conditions.space conditions.To accomplish this by ultraviolet photolysis of To accomplish this by ultraviolet photolysis of

interstellar ice.interstellar ice.

Experimental SetupExperimental Setup

Conducted lab experiments at Conducted lab experiments at temperatures, pressures, and radiation temperatures, pressures, and radiation conditions of interstellar clouds.conditions of interstellar clouds.

Many steps taken to exclude Many steps taken to exclude contamination.contamination.

Ensured that reactions did not take place Ensured that reactions did not take place prior to the experiment.prior to the experiment.

ExperimentExperiment

1.1. Simulate space-like Simulate space-like conditions by conditions by freezing mixtures of freezing mixtures of molecules (wood, molecules (wood, alcohol, ammonia) alcohol, ammonia) to 15K, forming an to 15K, forming an ice film. ice film.

2.2. Simultaneously Simultaneously exposed to UV exposed to UV radiation.radiation.

ExperimentExperiment

3.3. Warmed under a Warmed under a dynamic vacuum.dynamic vacuum.

4.4. After this hydrolysis, After this hydrolysis, glycine, alanine, glycine, alanine, serine, glycerol, serine, glycerol, ethanolamine were ethanolamine were found.found.

What Does this mean?What Does this mean?

Amino acids can form in deep space Amino acids can form in deep space conditions.conditions.

Amino acids in meteorites may have Amino acids in meteorites may have originated before the solar system formed.originated before the solar system formed.

What does this mean? (cont.)What does this mean? (cont.)

Earth may have been “seeded” with amino Earth may have been “seeded” with amino acids from space, causing a “jump-start”.acids from space, causing a “jump-start”.

Increases the odds of life evolving on Increases the odds of life evolving on other places other than Earth.other places other than Earth.

Conclusions From the TeamConclusions From the Team "It was previously thought that the molecules that led to life could "It was previously thought that the molecules that led to life could

only have originated on Earth, we have shown that they could have only have originated on Earth, we have shown that they could have come from space." - Louis Allamandola NASA Ames come from space." - Louis Allamandola NASA Ames

"Of course, many of the amino acids in meteorites were made in "Of course, many of the amino acids in meteorites were made in liquid water, but it now seems likely that at least some of the liquid water, but it now seems likely that at least some of the smallest ones arose in space before the solar system formed." - smallest ones arose in space before the solar system formed." - Max Bernstein SETI Institute Max Bernstein SETI Institute

"I find these results exciting because they address not only life on "I find these results exciting because they address not only life on Earth, but its likelihood elsewhere," agreed Dr. Louis Allamandola of Earth, but its likelihood elsewhere," agreed Dr. Louis Allamandola of Ames. Ames.

"Amino acids are literally raining down out of the sky, and if that’s "Amino acids are literally raining down out of the sky, and if that’s not a big deal then I don’t know what is." - Max Bernstein SETI not a big deal then I don’t know what is." - Max Bernstein SETI Institute Institute

ReferencesReferences http://www.seti-inst.edu/general/press_release/amino_acids_form_in_space_03_26_http://www.seti-inst.edu/general/press_release/amino_acids_form_in_space_03_26_

02.html02.html http://www.sciencenews.org/20020330/fob1.asphttp://www.sciencenews.org/20020330/fob1.asp http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2002/02_33AR.htmlhttp://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2002/02_33AR.html http://www-space.arc.nasa.gov/~astrochem/aanature.htmlhttp://www-space.arc.nasa.gov/~astrochem/aanature.html http://www-space.arc.nasa.gov/~astrochem/PDF/Bernsteinetal2002.pdfhttp://www-space.arc.nasa.gov/~astrochem/PDF/Bernsteinetal2002.pdf

(Actual Paper)(Actual Paper)