Abstract
Criteria to determine the mode of origin of amino acids can be established by consideration of their structure, enantiomeric distribution, composition, and relative abundance. A population of dominantly protein amino acids with one enantiomeric configuration most likely had a biological origin. Biological amino acids do racemize, however, so the absence of optical activity would not rule out the possibility that the amino acids in a racemic mixture were originally synthesized biologically. For racemic amino acids, therefore, structure, composition and relative abundance become important in ascertaining the origin of these compounds. Abiotically synthesized amino acids have a population composed of both protein and nonprotein structures present as racemic mixtures. N-alkyl compounds are common and α-β- and γ-amino carboxylic acids are expected. Also most amino acid isomers with four or less carbon atoms should be present in an abiotically derived mixture.
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Kvenvolden, K.A. Criteria for distinguishing biogenic and abiogenic amino acids — Preliminary considerations. Space Life Sciences 4, 60–68 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02626342
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02626342