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Uracil in the carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu

Author

Listed:
  • Yasuhiro Oba

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Toshiki Koga

    (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Natsushima)

  • Yoshinori Takano

    (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Natsushima
    Keio University, Kakuganji)

  • Nanako O. Ogawa

    (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Natsushima)

  • Naohiko Ohkouchi

    (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Natsushima)

  • Kazunori Sasaki

    (Keio University, Kakuganji
    Human Metabolome Technologies Inc., Kakuganji)

  • Hajime Sato

    (Human Metabolome Technologies Inc., Kakuganji)

  • Daniel P. Glavin

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Jason P. Dworkin

    (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Hiroshi Naraoka

    (Kyushu University)

  • Shogo Tachibana

    (University of Tokyo
    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Hisayoshi Yurimoto

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Tomoki Nakamura

    (Tohoku University)

  • Takaaki Noguchi

    (Kyoto University)

  • Ryuji Okazaki

    (Kyushu University)

  • Hikaru Yabuta

    (Hiroshima University)

  • Kanako Sakamoto

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Toru Yada

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Masahiro Nishimura

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Aiko Nakato

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Akiko Miyazaki

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Kasumi Yogata

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Masanao Abe

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Tatsuaki Okada

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Tomohiro Usui

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Makoto Yoshikawa

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Takanao Saiki

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Satoshi Tanaka

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Fuyuto Terui

    (Kanagawa Institute of Technology)

  • Satoru Nakazawa

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

  • Sei-ichiro Watanabe

    (Nagoya University)

  • Yuichi Tsuda

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA))

Abstract

The pristine sample from the near-Earth carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu collected by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft enabled us to analyze the pristine extraterrestrial material without uncontrolled exposure to the Earth’s atmosphere and biosphere. The initial analysis team for the soluble organic matter reported the detection of wide variety of organic molecules including racemic amino acids in the Ryugu samples. Here we report the detection of uracil, one of the four nucleobases in ribonucleic acid, in aqueous extracts from Ryugu samples. In addition, nicotinic acid (niacin, a B3 vitamer), its derivatives, and imidazoles were detected in search for nitrogen heterocyclic molecules. The observed difference in the concentration of uracil between A0106 and C0107 may be related to the possible differences in the degree of alteration induced by energetic particles such as ultraviolet photons and cosmic rays. The present study strongly suggests that such molecules of prebiotic interest commonly formed in carbonaceous asteroids including Ryugu and were delivered to the early Earth.

Suggested Citation

  • Yasuhiro Oba & Toshiki Koga & Yoshinori Takano & Nanako O. Ogawa & Naohiko Ohkouchi & Kazunori Sasaki & Hajime Sato & Daniel P. Glavin & Jason P. Dworkin & Hiroshi Naraoka & Shogo Tachibana & Hisayosh, 2023. "Uracil in the carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36904-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36904-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yasuhiro Oba & Yoshinori Takano & Hiroshi Naraoka & Naoki Watanabe & Akira Kouchi, 2019. "Nucleobase synthesis in interstellar ices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Toshihiro Yoshimura & Yoshinori Takano & Hiroshi Naraoka & Toshiki Koga & Daisuke Araoka & Nanako O. Ogawa & Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin & Norbert Hertkorn & Yasuhiro Oba & Jason P. Dworkin & José C. Apo, 2023. "Chemical evolution of primordial salts and organic sulfur molecules in the asteroid 162173 Ryugu," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Christian Vollmer & Demie Kepaptsoglou & Jan Leitner & Aleksander B. Mosberg & Khalil El Hajraoui & Ashley J. King & Charlotte L. Bays & Paul F. Schofield & Tohru Araki & Quentin M. Ramasse, 2024. "High-spatial resolution functional chemistry of nitrogen compounds in the observed UK meteorite fall Winchcombe," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Yasuhiro Oba & Yoshinori Takano & Jason P. Dworkin & Hiroshi Naraoka, 2023. "Ryugu asteroid sample return provides a natural laboratory for primordial chemical evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-5, December.

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