Thermal Stability of RNA Structures with Bulky Cations in Mixed Aqueous Solutions.

ABSTRACT: Bulky cations are used to develop nucleic-acid-based technologies for medical and technological applications in which nucleic acids function under nonaqueous conditions. In this study, the thermal stability of RNA structures was measured in the presence of various bulky cations in aqueous mixtures with organic solvents or polymer additives. The stability of oligonucleotide, transfer RNA, and polynucleotide structures was decreased in the presence of salts of tetrabutylammonium and tetrapentylammonium ions, and the stability and salt concentration dependences were dependent on cation sizes. The degree to which stability was dependent on salt concentration was correlated with reciprocals of the dielectric constants of mixed solutions, regardless of interactions between the cosolutes and RNA.

SUBMITTER: Nakano SI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5052467 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature