Document Detail


Adsorption of nucleic acid components on rutile (TiO(2)) surfaces.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20446871     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Nucleic acids, the storage molecules of genetic information, are composed of repeating polymers of ribonucleotides (in RNA) or deoxyribonucleotides (in DNA), which are themselves composed of a phosphate moiety, a sugar moiety, and a nitrogenous base. The interactions between these components and mineral surfaces are important because there is a tremendous flux of nucleic acids in the environment due to cell death and horizontal gene transfer. The adsorption of mono-, oligo-, and polynucleotides and their components on mineral surfaces may have been important for the origin of life. We have studied here interactions of nucleic acid components with rutile (TiO(2)), a mineral common in many terrestrial crustal rocks. Our results suggest roles for several nucleic acid functional groups (including sugar hydroxyl groups, the phosphate group, and extracyclic functional groups on the bases) in binding, in agreement with results obtained from studies of other minerals. In contrast with recent studies of nucleotide adsorption on ZnO, aluminum oxides, and hematite, our results suggest a different preferred orientation for the monomers on rutile surfaces. The conformations of the molecules bound to rutile surfaces appear to favor specific interactions, which in turn may allow identification of the most favorable mineral surfaces for nucleic acid adsorption.
Authors:
H James Cleaves; Caroline M Jonsson; Christopher L Jonsson; Dimitri A Sverjensky; Robert M Hazen
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Astrobiology     Volume:  10     ISSN:  1557-8070     ISO Abbreviation:  Astrobiology     Publication Date:  2010 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-05-07     Completed Date:  2010-09-22     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101088083     Medline TA:  Astrobiology     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  311-23     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20015, USA. hjcleaves@ciw.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adsorption
Deoxyribonucleotides / chemistry
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Nucleic Acids / chemistry*
Purines / chemistry
Pyrimidines / chemistry
Ribonucleotides / chemistry
Surface Properties
Temperature
Titanium / chemistry*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Deoxyribonucleotides; 0/Nucleic Acids; 0/Purines; 0/Pyrimidines; 0/Ribonucleotides; 13463-67-7/titanium dioxide; 7440-32-6/Titanium

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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