Nonprotein Amino Acids in the Murchison Meteorite

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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, β-alanine, 2-methylalanine, α-amino- n -butyric acid, β-amino- n -butyric acid, γ-amino- n -butyric acid, isovaline, and pipecolic acid. Tentative evidence is presented for the presence of N -methylalanine, N -ethylglycine, β-aminoisobutyric acid, and norvaline. These amino acids appear to be extraterrestrial in origin and may provide new evidence for the hypothesis of chemical evolution.