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- Title
Radiolysis and radioracemization of RNA ribonucleosides: implications for the origins of life.
- Authors
Cataldo, Franco
- Abstract
The RNA nucleosides, namely adenosine, cytidine, guanosine and uridine were γ-radioyzed in solid state and in vacuo at room temperature to a total dose of 3.2 MGy. Through electronic absorption spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and through polarimetry and optical rotatory dispersion spectroscopy, it was found that the purine-based nucleosides (adenosine and guanosine) show a much higher radiolysis resistance than the pyrimidine-based nucleosides (cytidine and uridine). In an astrochemical/astrobiological context, these results may explain why purine nucleobases are found in practically all carbonaceous chondrite meteorites while the pyrimidine nucleobases are absent or below the detection limits of the current analytical techniques. In the hypothesis that both purines and pyrimidines nucleobases were present in certain bodies at the beginning of the solar system 4.6 × 109 years ago, the radiolysis due to radionuclides decay has destroyed more easily and completely the pyrimidine bases due to their much lower radiolysis resistance than the purine bases.
- Subjects
RADIOLYSIS; RACEMIZATION; RNA analysis; RIBONUCLEOSIDES; ABSORPTION spectra; DIFFERENTIAL scanning calorimetry
- Publication
Journal of Radioanalytical & Nuclear Chemistry, 2018, Vol 318, Issue 3, p1649
- ISSN
0236-5731
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10967-018-6276-4