恒星形成地域における円形の極化:生物分子ホモキラリティへの影響
J Bailey1, A Chrysostomou, J H Hough
1Anglo-Australian Observatory, Epping, New South Wales, Australia.
まとめ
オリオンの塵からの強力な赤外線循環的偏振は,初期の地球にキラルな有機分子を蒔いた可能性があります. これは,隕石で見つかるような左利きアミノ酸に対する生命の好みの起源を説明するかもしれない.
科学分野:
- 天文学と天体物理学について
- 天体生物学 アストロバイオロジー
- 有機化学 オーガニック・ケミストリー
背景:
- 星間塵の散乱は,円形の偏光を生成する.
- 生物分子におけるキラル不対称性は,生命の基本的な性質である.
- 地球上のこの非対称性の起源は,重要な科学的疑問のままである.
研究 の 目的:
- オーガニック分子におけるチラリティを誘発する可能性のある星間塵からの円周的偏光が果たす役割を調査する.
- 初期地球にキラル分子を運ぶための可能なメカニズムを探求する.
- 隕石で観察されたL-アミノ酸の過剰に対する潜在的な説明を提供するために.
主な方法:
- オリオン OMC-1 星の形成地域における強力な赤外線円形の偏振の観測.
- 反射星雲における塵の散らばる性質の分析.
- 星間有機分子に対する極化効果の理論的検討.
主要な成果:
- オリオン OMC-1領域の塵の散乱から生じた強力な赤外線円形の偏振が検出されました.
- 短い波長でのこの偏振は,キラル非対称性を誘発するために決定的であると仮定されています.
- このようなキラル分子は,地球外物質を通して初期の地球に届いた可能性があります.
結論:
- 粉塵の散乱による星間循環的偏光は,有機分子におけるキラル非対称性の信憑な源である.
- このメカニズムは,生物系におけるホモキラリティの起源について,潜在的な説明を提供している.
- この発見は,天文現象と地球上の生命の基本的な性質を結びつけています.
さらに関連する動画
12:15The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging
Published on: October 3, 2017
05:54Polarization-Sensitive Two-Photon Microscopy for a Label-Free Amyloid Structural Characterization
Published on: September 8, 2023
関連する概念動画
Group Polarization
Group polarization is the strengthening of an original group attitude following the discussion of views within a group (Teger & Pruitt, 1967). That is, if a group initially favors a viewpoint, after discussion the group consensus is likely a stronger endorsement of the viewpoint. Conversely, if the group was initially opposed to a viewpoint, group discussion would likely lead to stronger opposition.
Molecular Shape and Polarity
Dipole Moment of a Molecule
Polar Covalent Bonds
Covalent bonds are formed between two atoms when both have similar tendencies to attract electrons to themselves (i.e., when both atoms have identical or fairly similar ionization energies and electron affinities). Nonmetal atoms frequently form covalent bonds with other nonmetal atoms. For example, the hydrogen molecule, H2, contains a covalent bond between its two hydrogen atoms. When two separate hydrogen atoms with a particular potential energy approach each other, their valence orbitals...
Chirality in Nature
Chirality is the most intriguing yet essential facet of nature, governing life’s biochemical processes and precision. It can be observed from a snail shell pattern in a macroscopic world to an amino acid, the minutest building block of life. Most of the snails around the world have right-coiled shells because of the intrinsic chirality in their genes. All the amino acids present in the human body exist in an enantiomerically pure state, except for glycine - the sole achiral amino acid. The...
Polarity of the Cytoskeleton
The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...
Potential Due to a Polarized Object
A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...
