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Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a possible indicator of extraterrestrial biologyThe ubiquity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in terrestrial organisms provides the basis for proposing the assay of this vital metabolic intermediate for detecting extraterrestrial biological activity. If an organic carbon chemistry is present on the planets, the occurrence of ATP is possible either from biosynthetic or purely chemical reactions. However, ATP's relative complexity minimizes the probability of abiogenic synthesis. A sensitive technique for the quantitative detection of ATP was developed using the firefly bioluminescent reaction. The procedure was used successfully for the determination of the ATP content of soil and bacteria. This technique is also being investigated from the standpoint of its application in clinical medicine.
Document ID
19740014615
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - NASA Technical Note (TN)
Authors
Chappelle, E. W. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Picciolo, G. L. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 3, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1974
Subject Category
Biosciences
Report/Patent Number
G-7457
NASA-TN-D-7680
Accession Number
74N22728
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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