Hydrothermal Decomposition of Amino Acids and Origins of Prebiotic Meteoritic Organic Compounds.

ABSTRACT: The organic compounds found in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites provide insight into primordial solar system chemistry. Evaluating the formation and decomposition mechanisms of meteoritic amino acids may aid our understanding of the origins of life and homochirality on Earth. The amino acid glycine is widespread in meteorites and other extraterrestrial environments; other amino acids, such as isovaline, are found with enantiomeric excesses in some meteorites. The relationship between meteoritic amino acids and other compounds with similar molecular structures, such as aliphatic monoamines and monocarboxylic acids is unclear; experimental results evaluating the decomposition of amino acids have produced inconclusive results about the preferred pathways, reaction intermediates, and if the c

SUBMITTER: Pietrucci F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7340093 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature