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Meteorite organics in planetary environments: hydrothermal release, surface activity, and microbial utilizationUp to 50% of the organics in the Murchison meteorite, possibly including some of the polymer, is released in high temperature and pressure aqueous environments, to 350 degrees C and 250 bar, that simulate submarine volcanic, hydrothermal or impact-induced conditions. Meteorite organics of prebiotic significance, such as nonanoic acid, glycine, and pyrene survive the hydrothermal conditions. The released material is surface active with surface pressures up to 19.8 x 10(-3) N m-1, and exhibits an extended surface tension isotherm which suggests a mixture of amphiphilic components. One component, nonanoic acid, is shown to form vesicles. The materials extracted under mild conditions, at 120 degrees C, are nutrients for the humic acid bacterium Pseudomonas maltophilia and efficient nutrients for the oligotroph Flavobacterium oryzihabitans, demonstrating the capability of microorganisms to metabolize extraterrestrial organics.
Document ID
20040090038
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mautner, M. N.
(Lincoln University Canterbury, New Zealand)
Leonard, R. L.
Deamer, D. W.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: Planetary and space science
Volume: 43
Issue: 2-Jan
ISSN: 0032-0633
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1119
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Program Exobiology
NASA Discipline Exobiology
NASA Discipline Number 52-20
Non-NASA Center

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