Epstein, S. and Krishnamurthy, R. V. and Cronin, J. R. and Pizzarello, S. and Yuen, G. U. (1987) Unusual stable isotope ratios in amino acid and carboxylic acid extracts from the Murchison meteorite. Nature, 326 (6112). pp. 477-479. ISSN 0028-0836. doi:10.1038/326477a0. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20140311-140931135
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Abstract
Much effort has been directed to analyses of organic compounds in carbonaceous chondrites because of their implications for organic chemical evolution and the origin of life. We have determined the isotopic composition of hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon in amino acid and monocarboxylic acid extracts from the Murchison meteorite. The unusually high D/H and ^(15)N/^(14)N ratios in the amino acid fraction (δD = 1,370‰, after correction for isotope exchange; δ^(15)N = 90) are uniquely characteristic of known interstellar organic materials. The δD value of the monocarboxylic acid fraction is lower (377‰), but still consistent with an interstellar origin. These results confirm the extraterrestrial origin of both classes of compound, and provide the first evidence suggesting a direct relationship between the massive organo-synthesis occurring in interstellar clouds and the presence of pre-biotic compounds in primitive planetary bodies. The isotope data also bear on the historical problem of distinguishing indigenous material from terrestrial contaminants.
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| Additional Information: | © 1987 Nature Publishing Group. Received 18 August; accepted 26 January 1987. Work at the California Institute of Technology was supported by NASA grant NAG 9-46, and work at Arizona State University was supported by NASA grant NSG 7255. | |||||||||
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| Issue or Number: | 6112 | |||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1038/326477a0 | |||||||||
| Record Number: | CaltechAUTHORS:20140311-140931135 | |||||||||
| Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20140311-140931135 | |||||||||
| Official Citation: | Unusual stable isotope ratios in amino acid and carboxylic acid extracts from the Murchison meteorite 477-479 S. Epstein, R. V. Krishnamurthy, J. R. Cronin, S. Pizzarello & G. U. Yuen doi:10.1038/326477a0 | |||||||||
| Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. | |||||||||
| ID Code: | 44253 | |||||||||
| Collection: | CaltechAUTHORS | |||||||||
| Deposited By: | Ruth Sustaita | |||||||||
| Deposited On: | 11 Mar 2014 21:38 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 10 Nov 2021 16:49 |
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