Molecular asymmetry in extraterrestrial chemistry: Insights from a pristine meteorite.

ABSTRACT: The nonracemic amino acids of meteorites provide the only natural example of molecular asymmetry measured so far outside the biosphere. Because extant life depends on chiral homogeneity for the structure and function of biopolymers, the study of these meteoritic compounds may offer insights into the establishment of prebiotic attributes in chemical evolution as well as the origin of terrestrial homochirality. However, all efforts to understand the origin, distribution, and scope of these amino acids' enantiomeric excesses (ee) have been frustrated by the ready exposure of meteorites to terrestrial contaminants and the ubiquitous homochirality of such contamination. We have analyzed the soluble organic composition of a carbonaceous meteorite from Antarctica that was collected and stored und

SUBMITTER: Pizzarello S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2268819 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature