Research into non-covalent interactions of nucleobases might hold the key to the development of materials for medical and molecular science applications.

Nucleobases, such as adenine, guanine and cytosine, bind to ribose derivatives and then pair up to form DNA. The interaction of these bases and their derivatives with metals plays a crucial role in the structure and function of nucleic acids. These interactions are also important in genetic information transfer and for the rational design and elaboration of biomimetic systems. 

Oscar Castillo and co-workers at the Universidad del Pais Vasco, Spain, have stabilised a form of adenine by non-covalent interactions in the solid state. They hope this work will deepen understanding of the non-covalent interactions that determine the supramolecular assembly of biomimetic systems such as those that are active in the control of biorecognition processes.

Knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of both covalent and non-covalent binding of nucleobases will allow the development of advanced functional materials with potential medical and molecular science applications, say the researchers. 

Helen Lunn