The Prebiotic Molecular Inventory of Serpens SMM1: II. The Building Blocks of Peptide Chains

Niels F. W. Ligterink, Aida Ahmadi, Bijaya Luitel, Audrey Coutens, Hannah Calcutt, Łukasz Tychoniec, Harold Linnartz, Jes K. Jørgensen, Robin T. Garrod, Jordy Bouwman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This work aims to constrain the abundances of interstellar amides, by searching for this group of prebiotic molecules in the intermediate-mass protostar Serpens SMM1-a. ALMA observations are conducted toward Serpens SMM1. A spectrum is extracted toward the SMM1-a position and analyzed with the CASSIS line analysis software for the presence of characteristic rotational lines of a number of amides and other molecules. NH 2CHO, NH 2CHO ν 12= 1, NH 2 13CHO, CH 3C(O)NH 2ν = 0, 1, CH 2DOH, CH 3CHO, and CH 3C(O)CH 3are securely detected, while trans-NHDCHO, NH 2CDO, CH 3NHCHO ν = 0, 1, CH 3COOH, and HOCH 2CHO are tentatively identified. The results of this work are compared with detections presented in the literature. A uniform CH 3C(O)NH 2/NH 2CHO ratio is found for a group of interstellar sources with vast physical differences. A similar ratio is seen for CH 3NHCHO, based on a smaller data sample. The D/H ratio of NH 2CHO is about 1-3% and is close to values found in the low-mass source IRAS 16293-2422B. The formation of CH 3C(O)NH 2and NH 2CHO is likely linked. Formation of these molecules on grain surfaces during the dark cloud stage is a likely scenario. The high D/H ratio of NH 2CHO is also seen as an indication that these molecules are formed on icy dust grains. As a direct consequence, amides are expected to be present in the most pristine material from which planetary systems form, thus providing a reservoir of prebiotic material.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)455-467
Number of pages13
JournalACS Earth and Space Chemistry
Volume6
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes

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