An essential molecule for humans that exists in space

Tryptophan, one of the 20 essential amino acids for human body growth, is found in the star-forming region of the Perseus Molecular Cloud. Large amounts of the molecule are present in the star system IC 348, and they have been detected in data from the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Although invisible to the human eye, the cloud is very bright in infrared light. This is also the case for the molecule tryptophan, which produces one of the richest spectral line patterns when seen in infrared.

Infrared region analyzes revealed 20 tryptophan molecular emission lines, with a temperature of 7 °C. It is essential for the growth of children, and in adults, it is used to form proteins and enzymes.

This is not the first time an amino acid has been found outside Earth, as other molecules of this type have already been identified in space rocks, for example. Moreover, a previous study by author Susana Iglesias-Gorth had already revealed that the interior of the cloud contains molecules essential for the formation of amino acids.

On the other hand, the discovery of tryptophan may indicate that it is common in regions where stars and planets are born. “The evidence of tryptophan in the Perseus molecular cloud complex should encourage further efforts to identify other amino acids in this and other star-forming regions,” she said.

The article with the results of the study has been published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; via: RAS