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Enantiomeric and Isotopic Analysis of Sugar Derivatives in Carbonaceous MeteoritesSeveral classes of organic compounds are found in carbonaceous meteorites including amino acids, carboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, purines, and pyrimidines. Such compounds are thought to have been delivered to the early Earth in asteroids and comets and may have played a role in the origin of life. Likewise, sugar derivatives are critical to all known lifeforms. Recent analyses of the Murchison and Murray carbonaceous meteorites revealed a diverse suite of such derivatives, i.e., sugar alcohols, and sugar acids. This presentation will focus primarily on the analysis of individual sugar acids - their enantiomeric and isotopic composition. Analysis of these compounds may reveal the nature of past (or present) meteoritic sugars themselves. For example, if parent sugars decomposed (by well-known mechanisms) to give the present acids, were their enantiomeric ratios preserved? Combined with other evidence, the enantiomeric composition of such compounds as glyceric acid and (especially) rare acids may help to answer such questions. C-13 and D isotope analysis of meteoritic sugar alcohols (glycerol, threitol, ribitol, etc.) as a group revealed that they were indigenous to the meteorite. Preliminary C-13 analysis of glyceric acid shows that it is also extraterrestrial.
Document ID
20020069133
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Cooper, George
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Asiyo, Cynthia
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Turk, Kendra
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
DeVincenzi, Donald
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
June 7, 2002
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Society for the Study of the Origins of Life
Location: Oaxaca
Country: Mexico
Start Date: June 30, 2002
End Date: July 4, 2002
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 344-38-12-15
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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