Driving Forces of RNA Condensation Revealed through Coarse-Grained Modeling with Explicit Mg².

ABSTRACT: RNAs are major drivers of phase separation in the formation of biomolecular condensates, and can undergo protein-free phase separation in the presence of divalent ions or crowding agents. Much remains to be understood regarding how the complex interplay of base stacking, base pairing, electrostatics, ion interactions, and particularly structural propensities governs RNA phase behavior. Here we develop an intermediate resolution model for condensates of RNAs (iConRNA) that can capture key local and long-range structure features of dynamic RNAs and simulate their spontaneous phase transitions with Mg²⁺. Representing each nucleotide using 6-7 beads, iConRNA accurately captures base stacking and pairing and includes explicit Mg²⁺. The model does not o

SUBMITTER: Li S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11601354 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature