Behavior of Poly-A onto Kaolin

 

• María Guadalupe Torres-Duque
  Faculty of Higher Education Iztacala, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Avenida de los Barrios Number 1, Colonia Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico
• Claudia Camargo-Raya
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City
• Alicia Negrón-Mendoza
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City
• Sergio Ramos-Bernal
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2020.72017

Keywords: Poly-A, Clays, Kaolin, Chemical evolution

Abstract

A combination of geochemical variables is necessary to explain the origin of life on Earth. Thus, in this work the sorption of Poly-A on a clay mineral (kaolinite) was studied to get an insight about the sorption capacity at different times and pH values, as well as to confirm the capabilities of the clay to protect the sorbate from an external source of ionizing radiation. Poly-A presented a high percentage of sorption in the clay, especially in acidic environments, and this percentage sharply decrease in alkaline media. On the other hand, Poly-A’s recovery was higher in the system with clay, confirming its protection role.

 

References

A. Negrón-Mendoza, S. Ramos-Bernal, M. Colin-García and A. Heredia, Radiation & applications 1, 159 (2016). https://doi.org/10.21175/RadJ.2016.03.030

A. I. Oparin, The origin of life (MacMillan, New York, 1924), p. 109.

S. Chang and N. Lahav, J. Mol. Evol. 8, 357 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01739261

J. D. Bernal, The Physical Basis of Life (Routledge y Kegan Paul, London, 1951), p. 364.

W. Gilbert, Nature 319, 618 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/319618a0

P. G. Higgs and N. Lehman, Nat. Rev. Genet. 16, 1 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3841

S. Woodson and S. Mount, in The RNA world, edited by R. F. Gesteland, T. R. Cech and J. F. Atkins (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, USA, 1999), p. 709. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a006742

H. Hashizume, Clay Minerals in Nature (Intech Open, London, 2012), p. 197.

H. H. Murray, M. S. Prasad and K. J. Reid, Appl. Clay Sci. 6, 87 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-1317(91)90001-P

L. López-Esquivel, A. Negrón-Mendoza, F. Mosqueira and S. Ramos-Bernal, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A 619, 1 (2010).

J. Ramírez-Carreón, S. Ramos-Bernal and A. Negrón-Mendoza, J Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 318, 2435 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6264-8

N. Palomino-Aquino and A. Negrón-Mendoza, AIP Publishing 1671, 030007 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4927196

L. D. Perezgasga, F. G. Mosqueira, A. Negrón-Mendoza, L. De Pablo-Galán and A. Serrato-Díaz, Orig. Life Evol. Biospheres 35, 91 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11084-005-0199-0

M. M. Mortland, Advances in Agronomy 22, 75 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60266-7

D. Tunega, G. Haberhauer, M. H. Gerzabek, H. Lischka, Langmuir 181, 139 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1021/la010914e

Negrón-Mendoza and S. Ramos-Bernal, The role of clays in the origin of life. Origins: genesis, evolution and diversity of life (Kluwer Academic Publishers, USA, 2004), 181–194.

E. T. Degens, G. R. Harvey and K. Mopper, Chemical Geology 9, 1 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(72)90038-1

 

Issue

Vol 7 No 2 (2020): Special Issue 

 

 

How to Cite

María Guadalupe Torres-Duque; Claudia Camargo-Raya; Alicia Negrón-Mendoza; Sergio Ramos-Bernal. Behavior of Poly-A onto Kaolin. J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A. 2020, 7, 139-143.

 

Stability of Pyruvic Acid Adsorbed Onto Clays and Exposed to Ionizing Radiation: Relevance in Chemical Evolution

 

• R. C Acosta-Fernández
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences (ICN), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM); Faculty of Chemistry, UNAM
• A. Heredia-Barbero
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences (ICN), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
• A. Negrón-Mendoza
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences (ICN), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2020.72011

Keywords: Chemical evolution, Pyruvic acid, Clays, Gamma radiation

Abstract

Chemical evolution studies focus on the synthesis and stability of organic molecules during various transformative physicochemical processes. Gaining insight into the possible mechanisms behind these processes requires the use of various energy sources and catalysts that can produce such transformations. In this work, ionizing radiation (⁶⁰Co) was used as a source of energy, and two clays with different exchangeable cations-sodium and iron (III)-were combined with pyruvic acid, a key alpha keto acid in metabolism. The samples of pyruvic acid were prepared at a concentration of 0.01 M; then, adsorption experiments were carried out by combining sodium or iron montmorillonite at different times. The amount that adsorbed onto iron montmorillonite was greater than the amount that adsorbed onto sodium montmorillonite. Samples of alpha keto acid at the same concentration were irradiated-in the absence of clay-at 0 to 146.1 kGy and at two pHs (6.7 and 2.0). The suspended samples with sodium and iron clay were then irradiated at the same doses. The results show that keto acid decomposes more quickly at more acidic pHs. The main reaction to irradiation without clay involves the dimerization of pyruvic acid, and 2,3-dimethyltartaric acid is the majority product. When irradiated in the presence of clay, the main reaction is decarboxylation, and acetic acid is the majority product. The exchangeable cation type modifies the interactions between the organic molecule and the solid phase. The percentage of recovered pyruvic acid is higher for iron montmorillonite than for sodium montmorillonite.

 

References

E. C. Griffith, R. K. Shoemaker, and V. Vaida. Orig. Life Evol. Biospheres. 43, 341 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11084-013-9349-y

G. Albarrán, A. Negrón-Mendoza, C. Treviño, and J.L. Torres, Int. J. Radiat. Appl. Instrum. Part C Radiat. Phys. Chem. 31, 821 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1016/1359-0197(88)90263-9

G. D. Cody, N. Z. Boctor, T. R. Filley, R. M. Hazen, J. H. Scott, A. Sharma, H.S. Yoder Jr, Science. 289, 1337 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5483.1337

R. Saladino, G. Botta, M. Delfino, and E. Di Mauro, J. Chem. Eur. 19, 16916 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201303690

G. Cooper, C. Reed, D. Nguyen, M. Carter, and Y. Wang, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 108, 14015 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1105715108

R. M. Hazen, and D. W. Deamer, Orig. Life Evol. Biospheres. 37, 143 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11084-006-9027-4.

J. Ramírez-Carreón, S. Ramos-Bernal, and A. Negrón-Mendoza, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 318, 2435 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6264-8

M. Rao, D. G. Odom, and J. Oró, J. Mol. Evol. 15, 317 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01733138

Z. Gerstl, and A. Banin, Clays and clay Minerals 28, 335 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.1980.0280503

I. Draganic and Z. D. Draganic. The Radiation Chemistry of Water (Elsevier Science, Saint Louis 2014).

 

Issue

Vol 7 No 2 (2020): Special Issue 

 

 

How to Cite

R. C Acosta-Fernández; A. Heredia-Barbero; A. Negrón-Mendoza. Stability of Pyruvic Acid Adsorbed Onto Clays and Exposed to Ionizing Radiation: Relevance in Chemical Evolution. J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A. 2020, 7, 97-101.

 

Stability of Glycine in Saline Solutions Exposed to Ionizing Radiation

 

• Laura Patricia Cruz-Cruz
  Sciences Faculty, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City-04520, Mexico
• Alicia Negrón-Mendoza
  Department of Radiation Chemistry and Radio chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City-04520, Mexico
• Alejandro Heredia-Barbero
  Department of Radiation Chemistry and Radio chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City-04520, Mexico

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2020.72009

Keywords: Chemical evolution, Glycine, Saline water, Ionizing radiation

Abstract

The stability of biologically important molecules, such as amino acids, being subjected to high radiation fields is relevant for chemical evolution studies. Bodies of water were very important in the primitive Earth. In these bodies, the presence of dissolved salts, together with organic molecules, could influence the behavior of the systems in prebiotic environments.
The objective of this work is to examine the influence of sodium chloride on the stability of the amino acid glycine when subjected to high radiation doses. The analysis of the irradiated samples was followed by HPLC coupled with a UV-VIS detector. The results show that glycine in aqueous solutions (without oxygen) decomposed around 90% at a dose of 91 kGy. In the presence of salts, up to 80% of the amino acid was recovered at the same dose. Laboratory simulations demonstrate a protective role for sodium chloride (specifically the chloride ion) to glycine against an external source of ionizing radiation.

References

A. Negrón-Mendoza and G. Albarran. Chemical Evolution. Origin of life, 147–235 (1993).

J. Cruz-Castañeda, A. Negrón-Mendoza, D. Frías, M. Colín-García, A. Heredia, S. Ramos-Bernal and S. Villafañe-Barajas, J Radioanal Nucl. Chem. 304, 219–225 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3711-z

Garzón, L., and M. L. Garzón, Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere 31, 3 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006664230212

J. W. T. Spinks and R. J. Woods, Introduction to Radiation Chemistry. (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1990).

S. J. Mojzsis, T. M. Harrison and R. T. Pidgeon, Nature 409, 178 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35051557

W. H. Peck, J. W. Valley, S. A. Wilde and C. M. Graham, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 65, 4215 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(01)00711-6

R. F. Weiss, Deep Sea Research and Oceanographic Abstracts 17, 721 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1016/0011-7471(70)90037-9

S. A. Hassan, J Phys Chem B 109, 21989 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp054042r

D. A. M. Zaia, C. T. B. V. Zaia and H. De Santana, Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres 38, 469 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11084-008-9150-5

 

Issue

Vol 7 No 2 (2020): Special Issue

How to Cite

Laura Patricia Cruz-Cruz; Alicia Negrón-Mendoza; Alejandro Heredia-Barbero. Stability of Glycine in Saline Solutions Exposed to Ionizing Radiation. J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A. 2020, 7, 83-87.

 

Ionizing Radiation, an Instrument in Chemical Evolution Studies: Scope and Perspectives

 

• E Y Aguilar-Ovando
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
• A Negron-Mendoza
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
• M L Ramirez-Vazquez
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), 04510 Mexico City, Mexico; Postgraduate in Earth Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
• R C Acosta-Fernandez
  Chemistry Faculty, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2018.61017

Keywords: Chemical Evolution, Keto Acids, Ionizing Radiation

Abstract

The study of synthesis and stability of molecules in different environments it’s been part of chemistry evolution and origin of life studies for more than 70 years. Various kinds of ionizing radiation have been analyzed as possible sources of energy for the transformations undergone by the first organic molecules. Now experimental and computational simulation approaches continue with different groups of organic molecules, in search for more information that help us to understand and reconstruct somehow the mechanisms that took place on early Earth and space. In that line, this paper presents first approach of keto acids stability to ionizing radiation, an interesting group of molecules involved in the Krebs cycle and glycolysis. Preliminary results obtained by HPLC/UV analysis of irradiating aqueous solutions of 5 keto acids ranging from 3 to 6 carbons with a ⁶⁰Co gamma ray source, using doses up to 53 kGy, show different stabilities and a general tendency of shifting the keto-enol equilibrium to the enol tautomer before decomposition.

References

L. Garzon and M. Garzon, Origins Of Life And Evolution of Biospheres 31, (2001).

J. O’Donnell and D. Sangster, Principles of Radiation Chemistry (Edward Arnold, London, 1970), p. 176.

G. Cooper, C. Reed, D. Nguyen, M. Carter and Y. Wang, Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences 108, (2011).

A. Lehninger, D. Nelson and M. Cox, Principles Of Biochemistry, 6th ed. (W.H. Freeman, New York, 2013).

Z. Martins, Elements 7, (2011).

M. Sephton, Astronomy & Geophysics 45, (2004).

I. Draganic, Z. Draganic and J. Adloff, Radiation And Radioactivity On Earth And Beyond (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993).

R. Navarro-Gonzalez, A. Negron-Mendoza and G. Albarran, Journal Of Chromatography A 587, (1991).

A. Negron-Mendoza, G. Albarran and S. CastilloRojas, Journal of Radio analytical and Nuclear Chemistry 160, (1992). 

Issue

Vol 6 No 1 (2018) 

 

 

How to Cite

E Y Aguilar-Ovando; A Negron-Mendoza; M L Ramirez-Vazquez; R C Acosta-Fernandez. Ionizing Radiation, an Instrument in Chemical Evolution Studies: Scope and Perspectives. J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A. 2018, 6, 99-101.

 

 

 

Radiolysis of Nucleosides: Study of Sedimentary Microenvironment Models for the Protection of Bio-Organic Molecules on Early Earth

E Y AGUILAR-OVANDO1,2* AND A NEGRÓN-MENDOZA1

1 Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares (ICN), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

2 Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM)

*Email: ellen.aguilar@nucleares.unam.mx

Abstract Nucleic acid bases and their derivatives are important compounds in biological systems. Many efforts have been made to demonstrate the possible prebiotic origin of these molecules, but the abiotic synthesis of these compounds has proved to be very difficult in that conditions. So, if their synthesis actually took place, a study of their stability in prebiotic conditions is quite relevant in chemical evolution studies. In this work, it has been examined and compared the influence of Sodium Montmorillonite on the chemical transformations undergone by two nucleosides (guanosine – purinic– and uridine, –pyrimidinic–) when subjected to conditions simulating the primitive Earth during the period of chemical evolution. The experiments prove the concentration capacity and protective role against external sources of ionizing radiation (specifically γ-ray) that clays can provide to these specific compounds adsorbed on them. By using X-ray diffraction, UVvis spectrophotometry and HPLC for the analysis, it was found that purinic nucleosides (more than pyrimidinic) are quickly adsorbed on clay at low pH values, and the temperature of mineral desiccation applied after adsorption promotes their decomposition into their corresponding nitrogenous bases. In both, purinic and pyrimidinic, desorption occurs in neutral or slightly basic aqueous solutions, and both are protected by clay. Pyrimidinic nucleosides show more resistance to heat, but less resistance towards ionizing radiation, even when adsorbed in clay.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2017.51010

LINK: http://dspace.chitkara.edu.in/jspui/bitstream/1/870/1/51010_JNP_Aguilar%20-%20Negron.pdf