Adsorption of adenine and thymine on zeolites: FT-IR and EPR spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry and SEM studies

Orig Life Evol Biosph. 2012 Feb;42(1):19-29. doi: 10.1007/s11084-011-9246-1. Epub 2011 Oct 20.

Abstract

The interactions of adenine and thymine with and adsorption on zeolites were studied using different techniques. There were two main findings. First, as shown by X-ray diffractometry, thymine increased the decomposition of the zeolites (Y, ZSM-5) while adenine prevented it. Second, zeolite Y adsorbed almost the same amount of adenine and thymine, thus both nucleic acid bases could be protected from hydrolysis and UV radiation and could be available for molecular evolution. The X-ray diffractometry and SEM showed that artificial seawater almost dissolved zeolite A. The adsorption of adenine on ZSM-5 zeolite was higher than that of thymine (Student-Newman-Keuls test-SNK p<0.05). Adenine was also more greatly adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolite, when compared to other zeolites (SNK p<0.05). However the adsorption of thymine on different zeolites was not statistically different (SNK p>0.05). The adsorption of adenine and thymine on zeolites did not depend on pore size or Si/Al ratio and it was not explained only by electrostatic forces; rather van der Waals interactions should also be considered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / chemistry*
  • Adsorption
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Evolution, Chemical*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Porosity
  • Seawater / chemistry
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Thymine / chemistry*
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Zeolites / chemistry*

Substances

  • Zeolites
  • Adenine
  • Thymine