Fig. 3.

Gas chromatogram showing the diamino acid 2,3-diaminobutanoic acid identified in a sample of the Murchison meteorite (Mur). Data were obtained after hot-water extraction, 6 M HCl hydrolysis, and ECEE derivatization by application of the GC-protocol, deviating from the standard protocol on 12-m Chirasil-l-Val stationary phase, with oven temperature programmed for 3 min at 70°C, 5°C·min^-1, and 17.5 min at 180°C. Detection was in the single-ion monitoring mode of mass trace 203 amu. For comparison, the chromatogram of a sample produced experimentally by photoprocessing of circumstellar ice analogues was used as external standard (Std). The blank sample chromatogram (Blk) was obtained from a solvent sample that had passed the whole analytical protocol and was detected in the single-ion monitoring mode of mass trace 203 amu.