Nonprotein Amino Acids in the Murchison Meteorite

Abstract

Twelve nonprotein amino acids appear to be present in the Murchison meteorite. The identity of eight of them has been conclusively established as N-methylglycine, beta-alanine, 2-methylalanine, alpha-amino-n-butyric acid, beta-amino-n-butyric acid, gamma-amino-n-butyric acid, isovaline, and pipecolic acid. Tentative evidence is presented for the presence of N-methylalanine, N-ethylglycine, beta-aminoisobutyric acid, and norvaline. These amino acids appear to be extraterrestrial in origin and may provide new evidence for the hypothesis of chemical evolution.