A Novel Proteomics-Based Strategy for the Investigation of Peptide Sequences in Extraterrestrial Samples

Lange, Justin; Djago, Fabiola; Eddhif, Balkis; Remaury, Quentin Blancart; Ruf, Alexander; Leitner, Nathalie Karpel Vel; Hendecourt, Louis L S; Danger, Grégoire; Rodier, C.; Papot, Sébastien; Poinot, Pauline

doi:10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00700

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The non-energetic formation of peptides may be advantageous in this regard: if gas-to-solid phase transitions and reactions occur in regions with a low ultraviolet flux, the formed peptides could survive long enough to be incorporated into bulk solids, which would shield them from further destruction. This is in line with the potential detection of proteins in meteorites 37,38 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

A pathway to peptides in space through the condensation of atomic carbon

et al. 2022

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Organic molecules are widely present in the dense interstellar medium, and many have been synthesized in the laboratory on Earth under the conditions typical for an interstellar environment. Until now, however, only relatively small molecules of biological interest have been demonstrated to form experimentally under typical space conditions. Here we prove experimentally that the condensation of carbon atoms on the surface of cold solid particles (cosmic dust) leads to the formation of isomeric polyglycine monomers (aminoketene molecules). Following encounters between aminoketene molecules, they polymerize to produce peptides of different lengths. The chemistry involves three of the most abundant species (CO, C and NH3) present in star-forming molecular clouds, and proceeds via a novel pathway that skips the stage of amino acid formation in protein synthesis. The process is efficient, even at low temperatures, without irradiation or the presence of water. The delivery of biopolymers formed by this chemistry to rocky planets in the habitable zone might be an important element in the origins of life.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

A pathway to peptides in space through the condensation of atomic carbon

et al. 2022

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“…To further confirm the formation of peptides in our experiments, we applied a recently developed proteomics-based strategy, which was invented for the investigation of peptide sequences in extraterrestrial samples ( 14 ). The main idea of this method is rather simple: Aminopeptidase M (APM) is used to cut peptide bonds from the N-terminal end of peptides.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The asteroids and meteorites should contain more processed material. However, such processing will not destroy all biomolecules, and peptides were also recently potentially detected in meteorites ( 14 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formation of extraterrestrial peptides and their derivatives

Krasnokutski,

Jäger,

Henning

et al. 2024

Sci. Adv.

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The formation of protein precursors, due to the condensation of atomic carbon under the low-temperature conditions of the molecular phases of the interstellar medium, opens alternative pathways for the origin of life. We perform peptide synthesis under conditions prevailing in space and provide a comprehensive analytic characterization of its products. The application of 13 C allowed us to confirm the suggested pathway of peptide formation that proceeds due to the polymerization of aminoketene molecules that are formed in the C + CO + NH 3 reaction. Here, we address the question of how the efficiency of peptide production is modified by the presence of water molecules. We demonstrate that although water slightly reduces the efficiency of polymerization of aminoketene, it does not prevent the formation of peptides.

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“…If gas to solid phase transition occurs in the ISM in the areas of a low UV flux, the formed proteins can survive long enough and finally be incorporated into bulk solids, which would protect them. The fact that they can survive and be delivered to planets is demonstrated by two very recent publications showing the presence of proteins in meteorites 29,30 . Proteins and organics can be preserved even better in most pristine and unprocessed material present in comets.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formation pathways of proteins in space

Krasnokutski

Chuang

Jäger

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Until now, experiments demonstrated the possible formation of relatively small prebiotic molecules under typical space conditions. We demonstrated experimentally that condensation of atomic carbon on the surface of cold solid particles (cosmic dust) leads to the formation of monomeric fragments of polyglycine. These fragments polymerize effectively producing polypeptides. The chemistry involves three of the most common species (CO, C, and NH3) present in star-forming molecular clouds. It proceeds via a novel pathway that skips the stage of amino acids formation in protein synthesis and is effective even at low temperatures without irradiation or presence of water. Therefore, the amount of proteins formed in space through this process could be quite substantial. The delivery of proteins to rocky planets in the habitable zone might be an important element for the origin of life.

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A Novel Proteomics-Based Strategy for the Investigation of Peptide Sequences in Extraterrestrial Samples

Cited by 8 publications

References 38 publications

A pathway to peptides in space through the condensation of atomic carbon

A pathway to peptides in space through the condensation of atomic carbon

Formation of extraterrestrial peptides and their derivatives

Formation pathways of proteins in space

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