Surface interaction of ribonucleic acid constituents with spinel ferrite nanoparticles: a prebiotic chemistry experiment

Abstract

The understanding of the interaction between nucleic acid components and mineral surface is of significant importance in respect to chemical evolution and the origin of life issue. Spinel ferrites are compounds with high magnetic properties and are found in the Earth’s crust, upper mantle and meteorites. Trevorite is a well-known spinel metal ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) found in Orgueil meteorite, Soltmany meteorite and also recently discovered in Khatyrka meteorite. No studies seem to have been done using such compounds in respect of chemical evolution. Herein the results of work on the interaction of ribonucleic acid constituents, 5′-CMP, 5′-UMP, 5′-GMP and 5′-AMP, with spinel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe₂O₄, CoFe₂O₄, CuFe₂O₄, and MnFe₂O₄) in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M to 4.0 × 10⁻⁴ M at three different pHs (4.0, 7.0 and 9.0) have been reported. The maximum percent binding was found at pH 4.0 for all the ribonucleotides studied. Nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) showed a higher percent binding (82–97%) while manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) exhibited the lowest (34–67%) adsorption affinity for all ribonucleotides. Experimental results showed the participation of different functional groups (amine, phosphate and carbonyl) of nucleotides in the binding process, which is in good agreement with previous mineral–nucleotide interaction studies. The adsorption capacity of ribonucleotides on spinel ferrites was found to be higher as compared to some previously studied metal oxides such as zinc oxide (ZnO), manganese oxides (MnO, Mn₂O₃, Mn₃O₄ and MnO₂), and acidic, neutral and basic alumina.