Document Detail


Nucleic acids bind to nanoparticulate iron (II) monosulphide in aqueous solutions.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18409029     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In the hydrothermal FeS-world origin of life scenarios nucleic acids are suggested to bind to iron (II) monosulphide precipitated from the reaction between hydrothermal sulphidic vent solutions and iron-bearing oceanic water. In lower temperature systems, the first precipitate from this process is nanoparticulate, metastable FeSm with a mackinawite structure. Although the interactions between bulk crystalline iron sulphide minerals and nucleic acids have been reported, their reaction with nanoparticulate FeSm has not previously been investigated. We investigated the binding of different nucleic acids, and their constituents, to freshly precipitated, nanoparticulate FeSm. The degree to which the organic molecules interacted with FeSm is chromosomal DNA > RNA > oligomeric DNA > deoxadenosine monophosphate approximately deoxyadenosine approximately adenine. Although we found that FeSm does not fluoresce within the visible spectrum and there is no quantum confinement effect seen in the absorption, the mechanism of linkage of the FeSm to these biomolecules appears to be primarily electrostatic and similar to that found for the attachment of ZnS quantum dots. The results of a preliminary study of similar reactions with nanoparticulate CuS further supported the suggestion that the interaction mechanism was generic for nanoparticulate transition metal sulphides. In terms of the FeS-world hypothesis, the results of this study further support the idea that sulphide minerals precipitated at hydrothermal vents interact with biomolecules and could have assisted in the formation and polymerisation of nucleic acids.
Authors:
Bryan Hatton; David Rickard
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2008-04-13
Journal Detail:
Title:  Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere : the journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life     Volume:  38     ISSN:  0169-6149     ISO Abbreviation:  Orig Life Evol Biosph     Publication Date:  2008 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-05-13     Completed Date:  2008-09-03     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8610391     Medline TA:  Orig Life Evol Biosph     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  257-70     Citation Subset:  IM; S    
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3YE, UK. hattonbp@cardiff.ac.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adsorption
Biogenesis*
Ferrous Compounds / chemistry*
Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
Models, Chemical*
Nucleic Acids / chemistry*
Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
Static Electricity
Time Factors
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Ferrous Compounds; 0/Nucleic Acids; 1317-37-9/ferrous sulfide

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


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