NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

1. Prebiotic Organics from Space

   Project Investigators: Louis Allamandola

   Other Project Members

   Charles Apel (Co-Investigator)

   Max Bernstein (Co-Investigator)

   David Deamer (Collaborator)

   Jason Dworkin (Collaborator)

   Jamie Elsila (Co-Investigator)

   Murthy Gudipati (Collaborator)

   Scott Sandford (Co-Investigator)

   Richard Zare (Collaborator)

   Andrew Mattioda (Collaborator)

   Charles Bauschlicher (Collaborator)

   Astrobiology Roadmap Objectives:

   • Objective 1: Determine whether the atmosphere of the early Earth, hydrothermal or exogenous matter were significant sources of organic matter.
   • Objective 3: Replicating, catalytic systems capable of evolution, and construct laboratory models of metabolism in primitive living systems.
   • Objective 3: Replicating, catalytic systems capable of evolution, and construct laboratory models of metabolism in primitive living systems.
   • Objective 4: Expand and interpret the genomic database of a select group of key microorganisms in order to reveal the history and dynamics of evolution.
   • Objective 7: Identify the environmental limits for by examining biological adaptations to extremes in environmental conditions.
   • Objective 7: Identify the environmental limits for by examining biological adaptations to extremes in environmental conditions.

   Project Progress

   We approached two major milestones in the IR spectroscopy of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). First, we are making a database of our world unique collection of PAH mid-IR spectra under deep space conditions. This is the spectral collection upon which the interstellar PAH model is based. The database/web user interface should be ready to beta-test by the end of 2007. We have one publication in PNAS this year on unique, closed-shell charged PAH clusters. The popular press publicized this work. Another paper that presents the IR properties of PAH ions in water ice analogs of interstellar and cometary ices is in press.

   We published paper in The Astrophysical Journal that describes amino acid production in cosmic ice analogs. The samples were analyzed at Goddard as part of our cross team collaborative efforts. Also, our findings that doubly charged large PAH ions can be produced in water ice with low energy photons has been published and we have yet another paper in-press on the biogenic compounds produced by the vacuum ultraviolet photolysis of anthracene in water ice. This paper discusses the connection between these photoproducts and meteoritic organics.

   Scott Sandford, is CoI on the Stardust mission. He has been intimately involved with sample extraction, distribution, and analysis. Scott is the team leader of the Organics Preliminary Examination Team. Cometary organics have substantially higher contents of oxygen and nitrogen than meteorites. This was published in Science. A more detailed report will appear in Meteoritics and Planetary Science. Scott is also on the Stardust sample allocation subcommittee of CAPTEM (Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials).

   We have also received an Astrobiology DDF grant to develop the concept of a lander/rover deployable Organic Surveyor based on UV induced Luminescence

   Mission Involvement

   Stardust

   Team member CoI on Stardust mission. Intimate involvement with sample extraction, distribution, and analysis. Team leader of the Organics Preliminary Examination Team. Member of Stardust sample allocation subcommittee of CAPTEM (Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials).

   Spitzer

   Spectral collection used to create computer models used by Spitzer legacy Programs. Model developed by Draine (U. Princeton) incorporates PAH properties we measured. We also provide data to analyze spectra.

   ABE/ASPIRE

   Group members Sandford and Allamandola are PI and CoIs respectively on these two missions. Our IR expertise and ice and PAH data we have provide the foundation for these proposals.

   Cross-Team Collaborations

   We collaborate with The Goddard Astrobiology team. Dr. Jason Dworkin and Jmie Elsila are members of that team and we exchange samples for analysis and study, as well as join together to put the results in the proper astrobiological context. Drs. Dworkin and Elsila wee fomrer members of the Ames Astrobilogy Team. We are also working together on the NAI DDF Grant (Glavin PI), by analysing samples sent us from Goddard.

Publications

Allamandola, L.J.  (In Press, 2007).  Chemical Evolution in the Interstellar Medium: Feedstock of Solar Systems.  In: L. Zaikowski & J. Friedrich (Eds.).  Chemical Evolution I: Chemical Change Across Space and Time.  American Chemical Society Books.

Ashbourn, F.M., Elsila, J.E., Dworkin, J.P., Bernstein, M.P., Sandford, S.A. & Allamandola, L.J.  (In Press, 2007).  Ultraviolet Photolysis of Anthracene in H2O Interstellar Ice Analogs: Potential Connection to Meteorite Organics.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science.

Bernstein, M.P.  (2006).  Prebiotic materials from on and off the early Earth.  Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 361:1689-1702.

Bernstein, M.P., Sandford, S.A., Mattioda, A.L. & Allamandola, L.J.  (In Press, 2007).  Near- and Mid- Infrared Laboratory Spectra of PAH Cations in Solid H2O.  The Astrophysical Journal.

Elsila, J.E., Dworkin, J.P., Bernstein, M.P., Martin, M.P. & Sandford, S.A.  (2007).  Mechanisms of Amino Acid Formation in Interstellar Ice Analogs.  The Astrophysical Journal, 660(1):911-918.

Gudipati, M.S. & Allamandola, L.J.  (2006).  Double Ionization of Quaterrylene (C40H20) in Water-Ice at 20 K with Ly a (121.6 nm) Radiation.  Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 110(28):9020-9024.

Mattioda, A.L., Rutter, L., Parkhill, J., Head-Gordon, M., Lee, T.J. & Allamandola, L.J.  (In Press, 2007).  Near Infrared Spectroscopy of Nitrogenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations from 0.7 to 2.5 mm.  The Astrophysical Journal.

Messenger, S., Sandford, S. & Brownlee, D.  (2006).  The Population of Starting Materials Available for Solar System Construction.  In: D.S. Lauretta & H.Y.J. McSween (Eds.).  Meteorites and the Early Solar System II (pp. 187-208).  Univ. Arizona Press.

Rhee, Y.M., Lee, T.J., Gudipati, M.S., Allamandola, L.J. & Head-Gordon, M.  (2007).  Charged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon clusters and the galactic extended red emission.  PNAS, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,, 104(13):5274-5278.

Sandford, S.A. & al, e.  (2006).  Organics Captured from Comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust Spacecraft.  Science, 314:1720-1724.