Publication: Nature Astronomy

The detection of glycine in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and its laboratory-simulated formation under interstellar conditions suggests that simple amino acids may be widespread in space. However, the fate of glycine under astrophysical energetic processing remains largely unexplored. 

In this new paper, we investigate the radiolytic processing of glycine isotopologues under simulated space conditions, demonstrating the formation of complex organic molecules, including species containing peptide bonds. Using proton irradiation combined with in situ spectroscopic analysis, we provide direct evidence for the formation of peptide bonds with water formation as a side product. Through the use of ex situ electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, glycylglycine the simplest peptide, was detected. This supports a potential extraterrestrial pathway for peptide synthesis. Our findings suggest that energetic processing of glycine in interstellar clouds, protoplanetary disks, and planetary bodies could contribute to the inventory of prebiotic molecules available for planetary accretion. This work advances our understanding of the astrochemical complexity and molecular inheritance of biologically relevant compounds with implications for the origins of life.

An interstellar energetic and non-aqueous pathway to peptide formation | Nature Astronomy

The behind the paper post that explores the journey from the initial conception of the experiments all the way to publication can be read here: 
Amino acid energetic processing leading to extraterrestrial peptides | Research Communities by Springer Nature