Issue 12, 2023

Transport of double-stranded ribonucleic acids (dsRNA) and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) in sand and iron oxide-coated sand columns under varying solution chemistries

Abstract

Assessing ecological risks associated with the use of genetically modified RNA interference crops demands an understanding of the fate of crop-released insecticidal double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules in soils. We studied the adsorption of one dsRNA and two double-stranded DNA as model nucleic acids (NAs) during transport through sand- and iron oxide-coated sand (IOCS)-filled columns over a range of solution pH and ionic compositions. Consistent with NA-sand electrostatic repulsion, we observed only slight retention of NAs in sand columns. Conversely, pronounced NA retention in IOCS columns is consistent with strong and irreversible NA adsorption involving electrostatic attraction to and inner-sphere complex formation of NAs with iron oxide coatings. Adsorption of NAs to iron oxides revealed a fast and a slow kinetic adsorption regime, possibly caused by the excluded-area effect. Adsorption of NAs to sand and IOCS increased in the presence of dissolved Mg2+ and with increasing ionic strength, reflecting cation-bridging and screening of repulsive electrostatics, respectively. The co-solute phosphate and a pre-adsorbed dissolved organic matter isolate competitively suppressed dsRNA adsorption to IOCS. Similar adsorption characteristics of dsRNA and similarly sized DNA suggest that existing information on DNA adsorption to soil particles helps in predicting adsorption and fate of dsRNA molecules in soils.

Graphical abstract: Transport of double-stranded ribonucleic acids (dsRNA) and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) in sand and iron oxide-coated sand columns under varying solution chemistries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Jul 2023
Accepted
13 Okt 2023
First published
23 Okt 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2023,25, 2067-2080

Transport of double-stranded ribonucleic acids (dsRNA) and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) in sand and iron oxide-coated sand columns under varying solution chemistries

K. Sodnikar, R. Kaegi, I. Christl, M. H. Schroth and M. Sander, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2023, 25, 2067 DOI: 10.1039/D3EM00294B

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