Luminescence and luminescence excitation spectra of stacking aggregates of Ade, Thy, Gua, Ura, Ado, Cyd, AMP, and TMP are studied in aqueous solutions of concentrations of 3·10–5–10–2 M and рН 7 and on a quartz surface. Luminescence spectra of different stacking aggregates lie in the region 400–600 nm, luminescence excitation spectra of aqueous solutions exhibit exciton splitting of 3000–4000 cm–1, which corresponds to the close packing of bases in the aggregate (interplanar distance ~2.9 Å). The temperature quenching of luminescence indicates that the detected stacking dimers in water do not dissociate up to 80–90°С and could act as proto-RNA and the first genetic templates. A model of the enzyme-free reproduction of these stacking dimers and aggregates at cyclic temperature rises and drops (0–20°С) in mixed solutions of complementary bases, for example, Ade–Thy or –Ura is considered.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProblems of Biosphere Origin and Evolution. Volume 1/ Ed. E. M. Galimov.
PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
Pages481, 239-250
ISBN (Print)978-1-62257-770-5
StatePublished - 2013

    Research areas

  • nucleic acids components, stacking aggregates, luminescence, proto-RNA

ID: 4645441