Spectroscopic characterization of cysteine and methionine using density functional theory method

Abstract

The present study reports theoretical infrared and electronic absorption spectra of neutral cysteine and methionine molecules in gas phase, their ions and in water ice. We also report infrared and electronic absorption spectra of nitrogen-substituted (in place of sulfur atom) cysteine and methionine. The geometrical parameters, dipole moments, rotational and centrifugal distortional constants for these molecules are reported at B3LYP/6-311++g(d,p) level of theory. A large change in vibrational and electronic absorption spectra has been observed upon ionization of cysteine and methionine. Calculated vibrational frequencies are compared with the available experimental frequencies for the neutral cysteine and methionine in gas phase. An influence of water ice on vibrational frequencies of neutral cysteine and methionine is studied using integral equation formalism polarizable continuum model (IEFPCM) at the same level of theory. Time Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) approach has been adapted to calculate the electronic absorption spectra of these molecules. The intense lines are suggested in order to detect these molecules in space.