Abstract
The binding of adenine derivatives to Na+-montmorillonite increases in the order 5′-AMP, 3′-AMP, 5′-ADP<adenosine<purine, adenine. With the exception of cytosine, cytosine derivatives bind less strongly than the corresponding adenine derivatives in the order 5′-CMP<cytidine<cytosine. There is little difference in the binding of uracil derivatives and these compounds bind less strongly than the corresponding adenine analogs. It is concluded that the adenine ring in adenine derivatives is protonated by the acidic montmorillonite surface and binding is a consequence of the electrostatic interaction between the protonated base and the negative charges on the surface of the montmorillonite. Different binding trends were observed with Cu2+-montmorillonite with AMP binding more strongly than adenosine and UMP binding more strongly than uridine. It is concluded that ligation to the Cu2+ is a major force in the binding of nucleotides to Cu2+-montmorillonite. RNA homopolymers exhibit strong adsorption to Na+- and Cu2+-montmorillonite and are not readily washed from the clay. Factors contributing to the binding are discussed. Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding of 5′-AMP to poly(U) and 5′-GMP to poly(C) was observed when the homopolymers are bound to the surface of the clay. No association of 5′-UMP to poly(U) bound to clay was detected. The possible role of montmorillonite clays in the prebiotic formation of RNA is discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Baily, G. W., White, J. L., and Rothberg, T.: 1968,Proc. Soil Sci. Amer. 32, 222.
Banin, A., Lawless, J. G., Mazzurco, J., Church, F. M., Margulies, L., and Orenberg, J.: 1985,Origins of Life, 89.
Bernal, J. D.: 1949,Proc. Roy Soc. 62A, 537.
Dawson, R. M. C., Elliott, D. C., Elliott, W. H., and Jones, K. M.: 1969, ‘Data for Biochemical Research’, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.
Ferris, J. P., Ertem, G., Kamaluddin, Agarwal, V., Hua, L.L., and Kebbekue, P.: 1988 ‘Report of Special Research Project on Evolution of Matter’, Tsukba University, Tsukuba Japon, pp. 1010.
Ferris, J. P. and Hagan, W. J., Jr.: 1986,Origins Life Evol. Biosphere 17, 69.
Ferris, J. P., Huang, C.-H., and Hagan, W. J., Jr.:Origins Life Evol. Biosphere 18, 121.
Fripiat, J. J., Jelli, A., Poncelet, G., and André, J.: 1965,J. Phys. Chem. 69, 2185.
Gibbs, D., Lohrmann, R., and Orgel, L. E.: 1980,J. Mol. Evol. 15, 347.
Goring, C. A. I. and Bartholomew, W. V.: 1952,Soil Science 74, 135.
Greaves, M. P. and Wilson, M. J.: 1969,Soil Biol. Biochem. 1, 317.
Grim, R. E.: 1968, ‘Clay Mineralogy’, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, p. 214.
Grim, R. E. and Güven, N.: 1978, ‘Developments in Sedimentology 24: Bentonites, Geology, Mineralogy, Properties and Uses’, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Harter, R. D. and Ahlrichs, J. L.: 1967,Proc. Soil Sci. Amer. 31, 30.
Howard, F. B., Frazier, J., Singer, M. F., and Miles, H. T.: 1966,J. Mol. Biol. 16, 415.
Izatt, R. M., Christensen, J. J., and Rytteng, J. H.: 1971,Chem. Rev. 71, 439.
Lahav, N. and White, D.: 1980,J. Mol. Evol. 16, 11.
Lailach, G. E., Thompson, T. D., and Brindley, G. W.: 1968a,Clays Day Miner. 16, 285.
Lailach, G. E., Thompson, T. D., and Brindley, G. W.: 1968b,Clays Clay Miner. 16, 295.
Lailach, G. E. and Brindley, G. W.: 1969,Clays Clay Miner. 17, 95.
Lawless, J. G., Banin, A., Church, F. M., Mazzurco, J., Huff, R., Kao, J., Cook, A., Lowe, T., Orenberg, J. B., and Edelson, E. H.: 1985,Origins of Life 15, 77.
Lazard, D., Lahav, N., and Orenberg, J. B.: 1987,Origins Life Evol. Biosphere 17, 135.
Lazard, D., Lahav, N., and Orenberg, J. B.: 1988,Origins Life Evol. Biosphere 18, 347.
Liebmann, P., Loew, G., Burt, S., Lawless, J. G., and MacElroy, R. D.: 1982,Inorg. Chem. 21, 1586.
Miles, H. T., Howard, F. B., and Frazier, J.: 1966,Fed. Proc. 25, 1853.
Mortland, M. M. and Raman, K. V.: 1968,Clays Clay Miner. 16, 393.
Ponnamperuma, C., Shimoyama, A., and Friebele, E.: 1982,Origins of Life 12, 9.
Rao, M., Odom, D. G., and Oro, J.: 1980,J. Mol. Evol. 15, 317.
Schwartz, A. W. and Orgel, L. E.: 1985,J. Mol. Evol. 21, 299.
Sposito, G.: 1984, ‘The Surface Chemistry of Soils’, Oxford University Press, Oxford U.K., pp. 14–17.
Sulston, J., Lohrmann, R., Orgel, L. E., and Miles, H. T.: 1968,Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S. 59, 726.
Swoboda, A. R. and Kunze, G. W.: 1968,Proc. Soil Sci. Amer. 32, 806.
Theng, B. K. G.: 1979, in: ‘Developments in Soil Science: Formation and Properties of Clay-Polymer Complexes’, Vol. 9, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 227–236.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ferris, J.P., Ertem, G. & Agarwal, V.K. The adsorption of nucleotides and polynucleotides on montmorillonite clay. Origins Life Evol Biosphere 19, 153–164 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01808149
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01808149