Amino acid precursors from a simulated lower atmosphere of titan: experiments of cosmic ray energy source with ¹³C- and ¹⁸O-stable isotope probing mass spectrometry.

The organic haze of aerosols that shrouds the Saturnian moon Titan has previously been studied by both observations and laboratory simulation experiments. Here we report the abiotic formation of amino acid precursors in complex organic molecules during experimental simulation of the environment near Titan's surface with proton irradiation. Pyrolysis of the organic molecules formed in the simulated Titan atmosphere by proton irradiation at 600°C yielded compounds that contained HCN and NH₃ (m/z = 27 and 17).