辐射研究与辐射工艺学报2026，Vol.44Issue(4)：160-165,6.DOI:10.11889/j.1000-3436.2026-0051
氨基酸的辐射效应及其对火星生命探测的启示
Radiation effects on amino acids and implications for life detection on Mars
摘要
Abstract
Searching for signs of life is a central objective of current and future Mars exploration.Organic biomolecules,particularly amino acids,are considered key targets in life-detection efforts due to their well-established biological relevance.However,the thin Martian atmosphere and the absence of a global magnetic field expose the surface to intense ionizing radiation,rendering organic molecules highly susceptible to radiolytic degradation and potential destruction.To evaluate the stability of such biomolecules,numerous irradiation simulation experiments have been conducted.However,the survivability and chemical reactivity of amino acids under Martian-like conditions remain controversial.One possible reason is the inconsistent physical states of amino acids used in these studies,such as solution,solid powders,and single crystals.In this work,we systematically investigate the radiation stability of amino acids in different physical states under 60Co γ-ray irradiation.The results demonstrate that the radiation stability of amino acids is strongly dependent on their physical state.After exposure equivalent to～31.2 Ma of Martian surface irradiation,the single crystal glycine remains largely intact,whereas solid powder glycine transforms from the monoclinic α-phase to the hexagonal γ-phase.In contrast,glycine in aqueous solution shows significant modification,involving both decomposition and complex recombination or polymerization.These findings provide new insights into the radiation-driven evolution of organic molecules on Mars and offer critical constraints for interpreting ambiguous spectroscopic signatures obtained from Martian surface analyses.关键词
60Co γ射线/氨基酸/辐射化学/地外生命/火星Key words
60Co γ-rays irradiation/Amino acids/Radiolysis/Extraterrestrial life/Mars分类
生物科学引用本文复制引用
李鑫,苏金月,瞿贤超,周根陶,刘文平,胡启涛,周梓檬,殷炜,姚奇志,汪谟贞,高晓英,瞿林峰..氨基酸的辐射效应及其对火星生命探测的启示[J].辐射研究与辐射工艺学报,2026,44(4):160-165,6.基金项目
国家自然科学基金(42430201和42502030)、湖南省自然科学基金(2025JJ60237)资助 Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42430201 and 42502030),and the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation(2025JJ60237) （42430201和42502030）
