In interplanetary bodies, organics are found originating from various environments. We replicate the solid-phase conditions in a laboratory to elucidate the step-by-step evolution of organic matter, spanning from dense molecular cloud ices to processes occurring within meteorite parent bodies. The focus of our work is on amino acids, considered as potential chemical tracers of secondary alteration on asteroids. Using gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry, trace amounts of amino acids are identified in a preaccretional organic analogue formed from a dense molecular ice analogue. This analogue was subsequently exposed to aqueous alteration. This induced an increase in the formation of α- and β-amino acids over time. Supported by high-resolution mass spectrometry data, the reactions involved sugars and amine compounds, followed by amino acid destruction due to the Maillard reaction, which consumes both sugars and amino acids. Surprisingly, a second phase of amino acid formation, specifically α-amino acids, was observed, indicating the potential occurrence of the Strecker reaction. We demonstrate the intricate chemical network occurring within the presence of molecular diversity, similar to what might occur during parent body alteration. Therefore, investigations on reactivity within meteorite parent bodies have to take into account their molecular diversity, recognizing potential cross-reactions, as demonstrated in this work.

中文翻译：

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模拟碳质球粒陨石母体中的分子多样性和氨基酸演化

在行星际天体中，发现了源自各种环境的有机物。我们在实验室中复制固相条件，以阐明有机物质的逐步演化，从致密的分子云冰到陨石母体内发生的过程。我们工作的重点是氨基酸，被认为是小行星二次变化的潜在化学示踪剂。使用气相色谱法和高分辨率质谱法，在由致密分子冰类似物形成的预吸积有机类似物中鉴定出痕量氨基酸。随后将该类似物暴露于水性变化中。随着时间的推移，这导致α-和β-氨基酸的形成增加。在高分辨率质谱数据的支持下，这些反应涉及糖和胺化合物，随后由于美拉德反应而破坏氨基酸，该反应同时消耗糖和氨基酸。令人惊讶的是，观察到氨基酸形成的第二阶段，特别是α-氨基酸，这表明Strecker反应的潜在发生。我们证明了分子多样性存在下发生的复杂化学网络，类似于母体改变期间可能发生的情况。因此，对陨石母体内反应性的研究必须考虑到它们的分子多样性，认识到潜在的交叉反应，正如这项工作所证明的那样。