title: Enantioselective synthesis and enantiomeric amplification of amino acids under prebiotic conditions.
abstract: A plausible origin of biomolecular homochirality is advanced, where alpha-methyl amino acids found on meteorites transfer their chirality in the synthesis of normal amino acids. This asymmetry can be amplified to nearly homochiral levels, thus providing the necessary prerequisite for life to start on this planet and elsewhere in the universe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Mindy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Craig Scott
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kenesky
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazori
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Breslow
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D019110:Meteoroids; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids