Project description:The extremely young Class 0 object B1b-S and the first hydrostatic core (FSHC) candidate, B1b-N, provide a unique opportunity to study the chemical changes produced in the elusive transition from the prestellar core to the protostellar phase. We present 40"×70" images of Barnard 1b in the 13CO 1→0, C18O 1→0, NH2D 11,1a→10,1s, and SO 32→21 lines obtained with the NOEMA interferometer. The observed chemical segregation allows us to unveil the physical structure of this young protostellar system down to scales of ∼500 au. The two protostellar objects are embedded in an elongated condensation, with a velocity gradient of ∼0.2-0.4 m s-1 au-1 in the east-west direction, reminiscent of an axial collapse. The NH2D data reveal cold and dense pseudo-disks (R∼500-1000 au) around each protostar. Moreover, we observe evidence of pseudo-disk rotation around B1b-S. We do not see any signature of the bipolar outflows associated with B1b-N and B1b-S, which were previously detected in H2CO and CH3OH, in any of the imaged species. The non-detection of SO constrains the SO/CH3OH abundance ratio in the high-velocity gas.
Project description:Barnard B1b has revealed as one of the most interesting globules from the chemical and dynamical point of view. It presents a rich molecular chemistry characterized by large abundances of deuterated and complex molecules. Furthermore, it hosts an extremely young Class 0 object and one candidate to First Hydrostatic Core (FHSC) proving the youth of this star forming region.Our aim is to determine the cosmic ray ionization rate, [Formula: see text], and the depletion factors in this extremely young star forming region. These parameteres determine the dynamical evolution of the core.We carried out a spectral survey towards Barnard 1b as part of the IRAM Large program ASAI using the IRAM 30-m telescope at Pico Veleta (Spain). This provided a very complete inventory of neutral and ionic C-, N- and S- bearing species with, up to our knowledge, the first secure detections of the deuterated ions DCS+ and DOCO+. We use a state-of-the-art pseudo-time-dependent gas-phase chemical model that includes the ortho and para forms of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] to determine the local value of the cosmic ray ionization rate and the depletion factors.Our model assumes n(H2)=105 cm-3 and T k =12 K, as derived from our previous works. The observational data are well fitted with ?H2 between 3×10-17 s-1 and 10-16 s-1, and the following elemental abundances: O/H=3 10-5, N/H=6.4-8 10-5, C/H=1.7 10-5 and S/H between 6.0 10-7 and 1.0 10-6. The large number of neutral/protonated species detected, allows us to derive the elemental abundances and cosmic ray ionization rate simultaneously. Elemental depletions are estimated to be ~10 for C and O, ~1 for N and ~25 for S.Barnard B1b presents similar depletions of C and O than those measured in pre-stellar cores. The depletion of sulfur is higher than that of C and O but not as extreme as in cold cores. In fact, it is similar to the values found in some bipolar outflows, hot cores and photon-dominated regions. Several scenarios are discussed to account for these peculiar abundances. We propose that it is the consequence of the initial conditions (important outflows and enhanced UV fields in the surroundings) and a rapid collapse (~0.1 Myr) that permits to maintain most S- and N-bearing species in gas phase to great optical depths. The interaction of the compact outflow associated with B1b-S with the surrounding material could enhance the abundances of S-bearing molecules, as well.
Project description:Homo-dimer formation is important for the function of many proteins. Although dimeric forms of cryptochromes (Cry) have been found by crystallography and were recently observed in vitro for European robin Cry4a, little is known about the dimerization of avian Crys and the role it could play in the mechanism of magnetic sensing in migratory birds. Here, we present a combined experimental and computational investigation of the dimerization of robin Cry4a resulting from covalent and non-covalent interactions. Experimental studies using native mass spectrometry, mass spectrometric analysis of disulfide bonds, chemical cross-linking, and photometric measurements show that disulfide-linked dimers are routinely formed, that their formation is promoted by exposure to blue light, and that the most likely cysteines are C317 and C412. Computational modeling and molecular dynamics simulations were used to generate and assess a number of possible dimer structures. The relevance of these findings to the proposed role of Cry4a in avian magnetoreception is discussed.