title: Metabolic precursors in astrophysical ice analogs: implications for meteorites and comets.
abstract: We report the synthesis of complex organic compounds including nicotinic and quinolinic acid, two members involved in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biosynthetic pathway, in irradiated astrophysical ice analogs. If delivered to Earth by meteorites and comets, these compounds may have contributed to the origin and early evolution of life.
authors.affiliation: NASA Postdoctoral Program Administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA. karen.e.smith@nasa.gov.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Perry A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gerakines
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Callahan
mesh_terms: D007053:Ice; D019110:Meteoroids; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; D009930:Organic Chemicals