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Amino acids derived from Titan tholinsAn organic heteropolymer (Titan tholin) was produced by continuous dc discharge through a 0.9 N2/0.1 CH4 gas mixture at 0.2 mbar pressure, roughly simulating the cloudtop atmosphere of Titan. Treatment of this tholin with 6N HCl yielded 16 amino acids by gas chromatography after derivatization of N-trifluroacetyl isopropyl esters on two different capillary columns. Identifications were confirmed by GC/MS. Glycine, aspartic acid, and alpha- and beta-alanine were produced in greatest abundance; the total yield of amino acids was approximately 10(-2), approximately equal to the yield of urea. The presence of "nonbiological" amino acids, the absence of serine, and the fact that the amino acids are racemic within experimental error together indicate that these molecules are not due to microbial or other contamination, but are derived from the tholin. In addition to the HCN, HC2CN, and (CN)2 found by Voyager, nitriles and aminonitriles should be sought in the Titanian atmosphere and, eventually, amino acids on the surface. These results suggest that episodes of liquid water in the past or future of Titan might lead to major further steps in prebiological organic chemistry on that body.
Document ID
20040089124
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Khare, B. N.
(Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853, United States)
Sagan, C.
Ogino, H.
Nagy, B.
Er, C.
Schram, K. H.
Arakawa, E. T.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 68
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0019-1035
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR03002-171
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR33010-220
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR33010-101
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Exobiology

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