Particularly, we report here selleck compound that fragments of iperstenic chondrite

perform, in specific conditions (Geraci et al. 2007), glycosidase activity on α- and β-glycoside bonds and esterase activity both in water and in organic solvents. Those activities have been revealed also on substrates commonly employed in biomolecular laboratory analyses. In addition, meteorite fragments produce complex metal-organic structures whose material is endowed of physical and chemical properties not present in the starting meteorite sample, such as an amazing magnetism and ability to absorb light. Those structures appear hollow, semi-transparent and pigmented orange-red, from pale to deep ruby. Their exterior is made of repetitive micro–nano units, having one side flat, laying on a thin organic layer, and the other brush-like. They appear only in aerobic conditions, indicating that redox reactions have a role in their autopoietic formation. Moreover, when damaged, they are capable to regenerate/repair themselves upon suitable external stimulation. Preliminary analytical results on the complexity of their organic and inorganic areas and on their repetitive polymeric structures Go6983 ic50 demonstrate the ability of their growth processes to selectively accumulate

and use externally provided biomolecules, some of which appear even chemically modified and in new molecular combinations. The results so far obtained do not prove or exclude the possibility that those structures, having a complex chemistry, might be examples of proto-metabolic reactions

occurred in a pre-biotic context. However, they are certainly the result of a number of coordinated activities of and only some of them can be attributed to the meteorite components. The data presented here lend support to the hypothesis that these “activities” might have participated to increase the molecular complexity of an initial “primitive soup” contributing to trigger the emergence of life. Geraci G, D’Argenio B. del Gaudio R. (2007) Italian Patent RM2003A000026 granted, Patent pending EPO, USA. E-mail: rosanna.​delgaudio@unina.​it Detecting Biosignatures of an Evolving Earth-Like Atmosphere via New Worlds Observer Julia DeMarines, Webster Cash, Giada Arney, Phil Oakley University of Colorado Over 200 extrasolar planets have been found in the last decade using ineFT-508 purchase direct means, such as Doppler shift, and only one extrasolar planet has been directly imaged. New Worlds Observer is a mission that will revolutionize the direct detection of extrasolar planets by not only having the capability to image terrestrial-sized planets close to the star, but will also be able to analyze the spectrum of the planet’s atmosphere and surface. We have simulated what an “Earth” will look like as a function of its atmospheric evolution. The biosignatures of the Earth are shown to evolve significantly and the current Earth is not the same as the younger Earth.