Non-racemic amino acids in the Murray and Murchison meteorites
Abstract
Small (1.0-9.2%) L-enantiomer excesses were found in six alpha-methyl-alpha-amino alkanoic acids from the Murchison (2.8-9.2%) and Murray (1.0-6.0%) carbonaceous chondrites by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy of their N-trifluoroacetyl or N-pentafluoropropyl isopropyl esters. These amino acids [2-amino-2,3-dimethylpentanoic acid (both diastereomers), isovaline, alpha-methyl norvaline, alpha-methyl valine, and alpha-methyl norleucine] are either unknown or rare in the terrestrial biosphere. Enantiomeric excesses were either not observed in the four alpha-H-alpha-amino alkanoic acids analyzed (alpha-amino-n-butyric acid, norvaline, alanine, and valine) or were attributed to terrestrial contamination. The substantial excess of L-alanine reported by others was not found in the alanine in fractionated extracts of either meteorite. The enantiomeric excesses reported for the alpha-methyl amino acids may be the result of partial photoresolution of racemic mixtures caused by ultraviolet circularly polarized light in the presolar cloud. The alpha-methyl-alpha-amino alkanoic acids could have been significant in the origin of terrestrial homochirality given their resistance to racemization and the possibility for amplification of their enantiomeric excesses suggested by the strong tendency of their polymers to form chiral secondary structure.
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The basic constituents of RNA molecules, such as D-ribose, phosphate, and the four bases A, G, C, and U, along with unused nucleotides, were delivered to the hydrothermal crater lake by meteorites.
“The basic constituents of RNA molecules, such as D-ribose, phosphate, and the four bases—adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U), along with unused nucleotides, were delivered to the hydrothermal crater lake by meteorites [2,3,4].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [4]
70 amino acids have been identified in Murchison meteorite.
“70 amino acids have been identified in Murchison meteorite [1,4].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [4]
The first 10 amino acids, found in the prebiotic environment, have been identified in carbonaceous chondrites.
“The first 10 amino acids, found in the prebiotic environment, have been identified in carbonaceous chondrites [4].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [4]
Unequal amounts of enantiomers were found in Murchison meteorite with a quasi-exclusive predominance for (S)-amino acids, ranging from 0 to 26.3 +/- 0.8% e.e. values, with the highest e.e. measured for non-proteinogenic alpha-methyl amino acids.
“Unequal amounts of enantiomers were also found with a quasiexclusive predominance for (S)-amino acids 57,285,[438][439][440] ranging from 0 to 26.3 Æ 0.8% e.e. values (highest e.e. being measured for non-proteinogenic a-methyl amino acids), 441”
From Possible chemical and physical scenarios towards biological homochirality (2022) · cites this paper as [439]
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- Authors
- Pizzarello, S., & Cronin, J. R.
- Affiliations
- Arizona State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Pizzarello, S
- ORCID
- Pizzarello, S
- Venue
- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2000-01
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 329-338
- ISSN
- 0016-7037 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2004685179
- Cited by
- 326
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 8.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Keywords
- enantiomeric excess, Murchison meteorite, Murray meteorite, carbonaceous chondrites, α-methyl amino acids, isovaline, norvaline, norleucine, origin of homochirality
- MeSH terms
- Origin of Life, Amino Acids, Extraterrestrial Environment, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Stereoisomerism, Reproducibility of Results, Molecular Structure, Mars, Exobiology, Meteoroids, Evolution, Chemical
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