In this study on pure water ice, we show that protonated water species [H2O](n)(+) are more prevalent than (H2O)(n)(+) ions after bombardment by Au+ monoatomic and Au-3(+) and C-60(+) polyatomic projectiles. This data also reveals significant differences in water cluster yields under bombardment by these three projectiles. The amino acid alanine and the nucleic base adenine in solution have been studied and have been shown to have an effect on the water cluster ion yields observed using an Au-3(+) ion beam. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.