Indigenous amino acids in primitive CR meteorites

TL;DR

This study reports the discovery of the highest amino acid concentrations in Antarctic CR meteorites, confirming their extraterrestrial origin and linking amino acid abundance to aqueous alteration processes.

Contribution

First measurements of amino acids in Antarctic CR meteorites, revealing unprecedented concentrations and insights into their extraterrestrial origin and alteration history.

Findings

EET92042 and GRA95229 are the most amino acid-rich chondrites analyzed.

Amino acid concentrations range from 180 to 249 ppm.

Aqueous alteration correlates with amino acid abundance.

Abstract

CR meteorites are among the most primitive meteorites. In this paper, we report the first measurements of amino acids in Antarctic CR meteorites, two of which show the highest amino acid concentrations ever found in a chondrite. EET92042, GRA95229 and GRO95577 were analyzed for their amino acid content using high performance liquid chromatography with UV fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) and gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS). Our data show that EET92042 and GRA95229 are the most amino acid-rich chondrites ever analyzed, with total amino acid concentrations ranging from 180 parts-per-million (ppm) to 249 ppm. GRO95577, however, is depleted in amino acids. The most abundant amino acids present in the EET92042 and GRA95229 meteorites are the alpha-amino acids glycine, isovaline, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (alpha-AIB), and alanine, with delta13C values ranging from +31.6per mil to +50.5per mil. The carbon isotope results together with racemic enantiomeric ratios determined for most amino acids strongly indicate an extraterrestrial origin of these compounds. In addition, the relative abundances of alpha-AIB and beta-alanine in the Antarctic CR meteorites analyzed appear to correspond to the degree of aqueous alteration on their respective parent body.