Evidence of the Amino Acids Tyrosine and Phenylalanine in the Interstellar Material of IC348 in Perseus
We employed data from the Spitzer Space Telescope to investigate the presence of the aromatic amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine in the interstellar gas of the young star cluster IC 348. Our analysis revealed emission lines in the observed spectrum that closely matched the strongest mid-infrared...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Susana Iglesias-Groth Martina Marín Dobrincic Antonio Pérez Garrido Carlos Gutierrez |
| author_facet | Susana Iglesias-Groth Martina Marín Dobrincic Antonio Pérez Garrido Carlos Gutierrez |
| author_sort | Susana Iglesias-Groth |
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| description | We employed data from the Spitzer Space Telescope to investigate the presence of the aromatic amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine in the interstellar gas of the young star cluster IC 348. Our analysis revealed emission lines in the observed spectrum that closely matched the strongest mid-infrared laboratory bands associated with tyrosine and phenylalanine in terms of wavelength and intensity. Through flux measurements, we estimated column densities along the line of sight toward the core of IC 348, ranging from 0.8–1.0 × 10<sup>11</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup>. Additionally, these emission lines were evident in the combined spectra of more than 30 interstellar locations spanning various unrelated star-forming regions observed by Spitzer, indicating a widespread distribution of the molecules responsible for the emission throughout interstellar space. Prospective endeavors employing high spectral resolution mid-infrared searches for proteinogenic amino acids in protostars, protoplanetary disks, and the interstellar medium will play a pivotal role in elucidating the external origins of meteoritic amino acids and understanding the prebiotic conditions that laid the groundwork for life on early Earth. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c4e575b3aab3443fad795d42bb76571c2025-08-20T02:01:21ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-01-0115218110.3390/life15020181Evidence of the Amino Acids Tyrosine and Phenylalanine in the Interstellar Material of IC348 in PerseusSusana Iglesias-Groth0Martina Marín Dobrincic1Antonio Pérez Garrido2Carlos Gutierrez3Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Via Lactea s/n, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, SpainPhysics Department, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar, 30202 Cartagena, Murcia, SpainPhysics Department, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar, 30202 Cartagena, Murcia, SpainInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Via Lactea s/n, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, SpainWe employed data from the Spitzer Space Telescope to investigate the presence of the aromatic amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine in the interstellar gas of the young star cluster IC 348. Our analysis revealed emission lines in the observed spectrum that closely matched the strongest mid-infrared laboratory bands associated with tyrosine and phenylalanine in terms of wavelength and intensity. Through flux measurements, we estimated column densities along the line of sight toward the core of IC 348, ranging from 0.8–1.0 × 10<sup>11</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup>. Additionally, these emission lines were evident in the combined spectra of more than 30 interstellar locations spanning various unrelated star-forming regions observed by Spitzer, indicating a widespread distribution of the molecules responsible for the emission throughout interstellar space. Prospective endeavors employing high spectral resolution mid-infrared searches for proteinogenic amino acids in protostars, protoplanetary disks, and the interstellar medium will play a pivotal role in elucidating the external origins of meteoritic amino acids and understanding the prebiotic conditions that laid the groundwork for life on early Earth.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/2/181astrobiologyastrochemistryspectral lineidentificationmethodslaboratory |
| spellingShingle | Susana Iglesias-Groth Martina Marín Dobrincic Antonio Pérez Garrido Carlos Gutierrez Evidence of the Amino Acids Tyrosine and Phenylalanine in the Interstellar Material of IC348 in Perseus Life astrobiology astrochemistry spectral line identification methods laboratory |
| title | Evidence of the Amino Acids Tyrosine and Phenylalanine in the Interstellar Material of IC348 in Perseus |
| title_full | Evidence of the Amino Acids Tyrosine and Phenylalanine in the Interstellar Material of IC348 in Perseus |
| title_fullStr | Evidence of the Amino Acids Tyrosine and Phenylalanine in the Interstellar Material of IC348 in Perseus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence of the Amino Acids Tyrosine and Phenylalanine in the Interstellar Material of IC348 in Perseus |
| title_short | Evidence of the Amino Acids Tyrosine and Phenylalanine in the Interstellar Material of IC348 in Perseus |
| title_sort | evidence of the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine in the interstellar material of ic348 in perseus |
| topic | astrobiology astrochemistry spectral line identification methods laboratory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/2/181 |
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