Catalytic non-energetic formation of diverse peptides on cosmic dust under extraterrestrial conditions
Abstract
This study experimentally examines a non-energetic pathway for peptide formation under realistic space conditions. Unlike radiation-driven processes, this mechanism involves low- or zero-barrier reactions at cryogenic temperatures. This provides a less stochastic chemical pathway and favours molecular growth over fragmentation. Experiments conducted in ultra-high vacuum involve some of the most abundant cosmic species, such as H, C, CO, H₂O, and NH₃. The results demonstrate efficient peptide and peptide-derivative synthesis driven by the catalytic activity of organics formed during condensation. This self-enhancing chemistry suggests that peptides may act as catalysts, supporting molecular self-organization under astrophysical conditions. The addition of atomic hydrogen as a reactant increases molecular diversity, thus yielding peptides that contain glycine, alanine, serine, and threonine residues. Moreover, hydrogen substantially boosts polymerization efficiency, generating longer peptides and insoluble organic matter. These findings provide strong evidence that various peptides form in cold, extraterrestrial environments. The targeted search for non-canonical peptides H(NHCH₂CO)nNH₂ and H(NHCH₂CO)nH, efficiently formed in our experiments, in meteorites and during space missions, may not only confirm the feasibility of this pathway of extraterrestrial chemistry but also provide new insights into the origins of life.
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BibTeX
@article{krasnokutski2026catalytic,
title = {{Catalytic non-energetic formation of diverse peptides on cosmic dust under extraterrestrial conditions}},
author = {Serge Krasnokutski and Franciele Kruczkiewicz and Cédrick Bourseau and Quentin Remaury and Claude Geffroy and Nico Ueberschaar and Pauline Poinot and Ko-Ju Chuang},
journal = {Communications Chemistry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s42004-026-02159-4},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05782487v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Catalytic non-energetic formation of diverse peptides on cosmic dust under extraterrestrial conditions
AU - Serge Krasnokutski
AU - Franciele Kruczkiewicz
AU - Cédrick Bourseau
AU - Quentin Remaury
AU - Claude Geffroy
AU - Nico Ueberschaar
AU - Pauline Poinot
AU - Ko-Ju Chuang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Communications Chemistry
DO - 10.1038/s42004-026-02159-4
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05782487v1
AB - This study experimentally examines a non-energetic pathway for peptide formation under realistic space conditions. Unlike radiation-driven processes, this mechanism involves low- or zero-barrier reactions at cryogenic temperatures. This provides a less stochastic chemical pathway and favours molecular growth over fragmentation. Experiments conducted in ultra-high vacuum involve some of the most abundant cosmic species, such as H, C, CO, H₂O, and NH₃. The results demonstrate efficient peptide and peptide-derivative synthesis driven by the catalytic activity of organics formed during condensation. This self-enhancing chemistry suggests that peptides may act as catalysts, supporting molecular self-organization under astrophysical conditions. The addition of atomic hydrogen as a reactant increases molecular diversity, thus yielding peptides that contain glycine, alanine, serine, and threonine residues. Moreover, hydrogen substantially boosts polymerization efficiency, generating longer peptides and insoluble organic matter. These findings provide strong evidence that various peptides form in cold, extraterrestrial environments. The targeted search for non-canonical peptides H(NHCH₂CO)nNH₂ and H(NHCH₂CO)nH, efficiently formed in our experiments, in meteorites and during space missions, may not only confirm the feasibility of this pathway of extraterrestrial chemistry but also provide new insights into the origins of life.
SN - 2399-3669
ER -