Effects of osmolytes on RNA secondary and tertiary structure stabilities and RNA-Mg2+ interactions.

ABSTRACT: Osmolytes are small organic molecules accumulated by cells in response to osmotic stress. Although their effects on protein stability have been studied, there has been no systematic documentation of their influence on RNA. Here, the effects of nine osmolytes on the secondary and tertiary structure stabilities of six RNA structures of differing complexity and stability have been surveyed. Using thermal melting analysis, m-values (change in DeltaG degrees of RNA folding per molal concentration of osmolyte) have been measured. All the osmolytes destabilize RNA secondary structure, although to different extents, probably because they favor solubilization of base surfaces. Osmolyte effects on tertiary structure, however, can be either stabilizing or destabilizing. We hypothesize that the stabil

SUBMITTER: Lambert D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1995082 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature