Survival of dipeptides under ionizing radiation in astrophysical environments

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: the IR absorption spectrum before, during and after the irradiation. The main effect observed is film degradation due to ion-induced fragmentation and sputtering; notably the cyclic species exhibiting higher radioresistance than the linear ones. The measurements at low temperature also provide evidence of the formation of new species of lower masses. Moreover, the similarity between the IR spectra of irradiated alanine and pristine linear alanine-alanine films, suggests ion-induced peptide polymerization and supports the idea that cyclic dipeptides may have survived the harsh conditions of the early universe, contributing to possible radiation-induced pathways leading to larger organic species of potentially prebiotic significance.

Source: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

DOI: 10.1039/d6cp00230g

Authors: L. Carlini, P. Bolognesi, F. Porcelli, G. Mattioli, D. Barreiro-Lage, J. Chiarinelli, M. V. Vinitha, S. Diaz-Tendero, A. Domaracka, P. Boduch, H. Rothard, C. A. P. Costa, A. Cartoni, L. Avaldi

Institutions: Institute of Structure of Matter, Leiden University, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Centre de Recherche sur les Ions, les Matériaux et la Photonique, Université de Caen Normandie, University of Trento, Sapienza University of Rome

Language: English

Topic: Origins and Evolution of Life

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, Région Normandie, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Agencia Estatal de Investigación

OpenAlex ID: W7204808610