Issue 27, 2020

Exploration of the theobromine–water dimer: comparison with DNA microhydration

Abstract

Understanding the molecular basis of the appearance of life on Earth is an exciting research field. Many factors may have influenced the election of the molecules used by living beings and evolution may have modified those original compounds. In an attempt to understand the role played by intermolecular interactions in the election of CGAT as the alphabet of life, we present here a thorough experimental and computational study on the interaction of theobromine with water. Theobromine is a xanthine derivative, structurally related to the nucleobases, and also present in many living beings. The experimental results demonstrate that the most stable isomer of theobromine–water was formed and detected in supersonic expansions. This isomer very well resembles the structure of the dimers between nucleobases and water, offering similar values of binding energy. A comparison between the results obtained for theobromine–water with those reported in the literature for monohydrates of nucleobases is also offered.

Graphical abstract: Exploration of the theobromine–water dimer: comparison with DNA microhydration

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 May 2020
Accepted
24 Jun 2020
First published
24 Jun 2020

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 15759-15768

Exploration of the theobromine–water dimer: comparison with DNA microhydration

I. Usabiaga, A. Camiruaga, C. Calabrese, A. Veloso, V. C. D’mello, S. Wategaonkar and J. A. Fernández, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 15759 DOI: 10.1039/D0CP02397C

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