Formation of amino acid precursors and nucleic acid bases from simulated interstellar media and evaluation of their robustness

Abstract

Extraterrestrial organic compounds are promising raw materials for the first life on the earth. We irradiated simulated interstellar media (a mixture of CO, NH?SUB?3?/SUB?, H?SUB?2?/SUB?O, etc.) with high-energy particles. Complex amino acid precursors with high molecular weights and nucleic acid bases were detected among irradiation products. The amino acid precursors and the nucleic acid bases were found more stable than free amino acids against radiation, UV light and heat. Thus it can be said that amino acid precursors and nucleic acid bases are robust molecules for life's origin. It is important to evaluate organic compounds from the point of view of robustness.