Mg²⁺ Impacts the Twister Ribozyme through Push-Pull Stabilization of Nonsequential Phosphate Pairs.

ABSTRACT: RNA molecules perform a variety of biological functions for which the correct three-dimensional structure is essential, including as ribozymes where they catalyze chemical reactions. Metal ions, especially Mg²⁺, neutralize these negatively charged nucleic acids and specifically stabilize RNA tertiary structures as well as impact the folding landscape of RNAs as they assume their tertiary structures. Specific binding sites of Mg²⁺ in folded conformations of RNA have been studied extensively; however, the full range of interactions of the ion with compact intermediates and unfolded states of RNA is challenging to investigate, and the atomic details of the mechanism by which the ion facilitates tertiary structure formation is not fully known. Here, umbrella sampling comb

SUBMITTER: Kognole AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7091459 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature