Document Detail


A guide to ions and RNA structure.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  14970378     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
RNA folding into stable tertiary structures is remarkably sensitive to the concentrations and types of cations present; an understanding of the physical basis of ion-RNA interactions is therefore a prerequisite for a quantitative accounting of RNA stability. This article summarizes the energetic factors that must be considered when ions interact with two different RNA environments. "Diffuse ions" accumulate near the RNA because of the RNA electrostatic field and remain largely hydrated. A "chelated" ion directly contacts a specific location on the RNA surface and is held in place by electrostatic forces. Energetic costs of ion chelation include displacement of some of the waters of hydration by the RNA surface and repulsion of diffuse ions. Methods are discussed for computing both the free energy of the set of diffuse ions associated with an RNA and the binding free energies of individual chelated ions. Such calculations quantitatively account for the effects of Mg(2+) on RNA stability where experimental data are available. An important conclusion is that diffuse ions are a major factor in the stabilization of RNA tertiary structures.
Authors:
David E Draper
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  RNA (New York, N.Y.)     Volume:  10     ISSN:  1355-8382     ISO Abbreviation:  RNA     Publication Date:  2004 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-02-18     Completed Date:  2004-03-24     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9509184     Medline TA:  RNA     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  335-43     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA. draper@jhu.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Humans
Ions / metabolism*
Magnesium / metabolism
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Potassium / metabolism
RNA / chemistry*,  metabolism
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01 GM58545/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Ions; 63231-63-0/RNA; 7439-95-4/Magnesium; 7440-09-7/Potassium
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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