Several nucleic acids, thought to be primordial biomolecules (DNA, peptide nucleic acid, PNA), will be used as a model for information/catalysts. Non-water-soluble liquids will be used as the “oil phase” (decanol, chloroform, and acetonitrile) which becomes insoluble in sodium chloride solutions. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was mixed at various ratios with the negatively charged molecule didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) to bring ADP in an “oil phase”. This was successful due to the ability for DDAB to be utilized as a “phase transfer catalyst” to bring ADP into decanol as ADP is a negatively charged molecule. The presence of ADP in oil was detected using ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV VIS). The two phases (oil and water) were then analyzed for the presence of nucleic acid using UV absorbance at 260 nm. With the assistance of DDAB, the results showed the presence of a phase transfer (20-30%).

Transfer of biomolecules from an aqueous to non-aqueous liquid phase

2019 Spring National Meeting

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