Role of Double Metal Cyanides in Chemical Evolution: Interaction of Ribose Nucelotides with Metal Hexacyanocobaltate(III)

Rachana S Anand Kumar

doi:10.4172/2332-2519.1000138

Abstract

Based on the hypothesis on the presence of double metal cyanides in the primeval seas and their role as prebiotic catalyst, adsorption of RNA components, 5I-GMP, 5I-AMP, 5I-CMP and 5I-UMP on metal(II) hexacyanocobaltate(III) (MHCCo; M=Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn) has been investigated. The adsorption data obtained at neutral pH were found to follow Langmuir adsorption in the concentration range 1.0 × 10-4 M to 3.0 × 10-4 M. The value of Langmuir constants, Xm and KL were calculated from the slope and intercept of the respective isotherms. On the basis of infrared (IR) spectral studies of ribonucleotides, MHHCo, and ribonucleotides-MHCCo adducts, we propose that the nitrogen base, carbonyl and phosphate moiety of ribose nucleotides interact with the outer divalent metal ion of the MHCCo. A higher affinity as well as larger amount of adsorption of all the four ribonucleotides was found on the surface of FeHCCo, having a surface area of 238.67 m2/g. Based on our finding, it is proposed that surface area of MHCCos plays an important role in ribonucleotides adsorption by MHCCos. Among nucleotides studied adsorption affinity of 5I-AMP was found maximum.

Highlights

It is generally accepted that the transition metal ions present in primeval seas, might have complexed with simple molecule available to them
Reasonable to assume that cyanide ions might have complexed with different transition metal ions present in primeval seas, forming a number of soluble and insoluble metal cyanide complexes
As most of the double metal cyanide (DMC) complexes are insoluble in water, it is reasonable to assume that they might have locally settled at the bottom of primeval seas or at its shores

Summary

Introduction

It is generally accepted that the transition metal ions present in primeval seas, might have complexed with simple molecule available to them. Since cyanide ion is negatively charged, a good sigma donor and a good π-acceptor [5], a strong ligand, is capable of forming stable complexes with different transition metal ions in different oxidation states [6]. It is reasonable to assume that cyanide ions might have complexed with different transition metal ions present in primeval seas, forming a number of soluble and insoluble metal cyanide complexes. Biomonomers so concentrated could have been protected from degradation and undergone condensation, oligomerization and redox reactions etc. producing the essential molecules for the formation of first living cell

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Conclusion