Such complex amino acid precursors might be collected on

the surface of Titan with rain of methane. We can expect the same kind of chemical reactions in the primitive Earth. The composition of terrestrial primitive atmosphere is not known, but nitrogen should have been one of the major constituents TGF-beta inhibitor together with methane or carbon monoxide as minor constituents. In such a case, formation of complex amino acid precursors (terra-tholins?) was possible (Kobayashi et al., 2001). It would be of great interest to detect complex amino acid precursors in the bottom of dried pond of Titan in the next Titan mission (“Tandem”?), which can help us to construct chemical evolution scenario of not only Titan but also primitive Earth. K. Kobayashi, H. Masuda, K. Ushio, A. Ohashi, H. Yamanashi, T. Kaneko, J. Takahashi, T. Hosokawa, H. Hashimoto and T. Saito (2001). Formation of bioorganic compounds in simulated planetary atmospheres by high energy particles

or photons. Adv. Space Res., 27:207–215. E-mail: kkensei@ynu.​ac.​jp Search for Extant Life in Extreme Environments by Measuring Enzymatic Activities Shuji Sato1, Kenta Fujisaki1, Kazuki Naganawa1, Takeo Kaneko1, Yuki Ito1, Yoshitaka Yoshimura2, Yoshinori Takano3, Mari Ogawa4, Yukishige Kawasaki5, Takeshi Saito5, Kensei Kobayashi1 1Yokohama National University; 2Tamagawa University; 3Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology; 4Yasuda Women’s University; 5Institure of Advanced Studies It has been recognized that terrestrial biosphere expands to such extreme

environments as deep subsurface CP-868596 concentration lithosphere, high temperature hot springs and stratosphere, and possible life in extraterrestrial life in Mars and Europa is discussed. It is difficult to detect unknown microorganisms by conventional methods like cultivation methods. Thus techniques to detect life in such environments are now required. Enzymes are essential biomolecules that catalyze biochemical reactions. They can be detected with high sensitivity since one enzyme reacts with many substrate molecules to form many products. We tried to detect and characterize enzymes in extreme environments in surface soils in Antarctica and rocks in hydrothermal systems. Targeted enzymes are phosphatases, since they have low specificity and are essential for all the terrestrial Pomalidomide cell line organisms. Concentration and D/L ratio of amino acids were also determined. Core samples and chimney samples were collected at the Suiyo Seamount, Izu-Bonin Arc, the Pacific Ocean in 2001 and 2002, and in South Mariana hydrothermal systems, the Pacific Ocean in 2003, both in a part of the Archaean Park Project. Surface soil samples are obtained at the Sites 1–8 near Showa Base in Antarctica during the 47th Japan Antarctic exploration mission in 2005–6 and 2007–8. Alkaline (or acid) Phosphatase activity in solid samples was measured spectrometrically by using 25 mM p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pH 8.0 (or pH 6.5)) as a substrate.