Interstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway
Abstract Aldehydes are ubiquitous in star-forming regions and carbonaceous chondrites, serving as essential intermediates in metabolic pathways and molecular mass growth processes to vital biomolecules necessary for the origins of life. However, their interstellar formation mechanisms have remained...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54562-x |
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| author | Jia Wang Chaojiang Zhang Joshua H. Marks Mikhail M. Evseev Oleg V. Kuznetsov Ivan O. Antonov Ralf I. Kaiser |
| author_facet | Jia Wang Chaojiang Zhang Joshua H. Marks Mikhail M. Evseev Oleg V. Kuznetsov Ivan O. Antonov Ralf I. Kaiser |
| author_sort | Jia Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Aldehydes are ubiquitous in star-forming regions and carbonaceous chondrites, serving as essential intermediates in metabolic pathways and molecular mass growth processes to vital biomolecules necessary for the origins of life. However, their interstellar formation mechanisms have remained largely elusive. Here, we unveil the formation of lactaldehyde (CH3CH(OH)CHO) by barrierless recombination of formyl (HĊO) and 1-hydroxyethyl (CH3ĊHOH) radicals in interstellar ice analogs composed of carbon monoxide (CO) and ethanol (CH3CH2OH). Lactaldehyde and its isomers 3-hydroxypropanal (HOCH2CH2CHO), ethyl formate (CH3CH2OCHO), and 1,3-propenediol (HOCH2CHCHOH) are identified in the gas phase utilizing isomer-selective photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry and isotopic substitution studies. These findings reveal fundamental formation pathways for complex, biologically relevant aldehydes through non-equilibrium reactions in interstellar environments. Once synthesized, lactaldehyde can act as a key precursor to critical biomolecules such as sugars, sugar acids, and amino acids in deep space. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2822d425c77b46b89caa7473142e8cd7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-2822d425c77b46b89caa7473142e8cd72024-11-24T12:33:35ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115111110.1038/s41467-024-54562-xInterstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathwayJia Wang0Chaojiang Zhang1Joshua H. Marks2Mikhail M. Evseev3Oleg V. Kuznetsov4Ivan O. Antonov5Ralf I. Kaiser6W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at ManoaW. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at ManoaW. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at ManoaSamara National Research UniversitySamara National Research UniversitySamara National Research UniversityW. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, University of Hawaii at ManoaAbstract Aldehydes are ubiquitous in star-forming regions and carbonaceous chondrites, serving as essential intermediates in metabolic pathways and molecular mass growth processes to vital biomolecules necessary for the origins of life. However, their interstellar formation mechanisms have remained largely elusive. Here, we unveil the formation of lactaldehyde (CH3CH(OH)CHO) by barrierless recombination of formyl (HĊO) and 1-hydroxyethyl (CH3ĊHOH) radicals in interstellar ice analogs composed of carbon monoxide (CO) and ethanol (CH3CH2OH). Lactaldehyde and its isomers 3-hydroxypropanal (HOCH2CH2CHO), ethyl formate (CH3CH2OCHO), and 1,3-propenediol (HOCH2CHCHOH) are identified in the gas phase utilizing isomer-selective photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry and isotopic substitution studies. These findings reveal fundamental formation pathways for complex, biologically relevant aldehydes through non-equilibrium reactions in interstellar environments. Once synthesized, lactaldehyde can act as a key precursor to critical biomolecules such as sugars, sugar acids, and amino acids in deep space.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54562-x |
| spellingShingle | Jia Wang Chaojiang Zhang Joshua H. Marks Mikhail M. Evseev Oleg V. Kuznetsov Ivan O. Antonov Ralf I. Kaiser Interstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway Nature Communications |
| title | Interstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway |
| title_full | Interstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway |
| title_fullStr | Interstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway |
| title_short | Interstellar formation of lactaldehyde, a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway |
| title_sort | interstellar formation of lactaldehyde a key intermediate in the methylglyoxal pathway |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54562-x |
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