Occurrence and stability of anion–π interactions between phosphate and nucleobases in functional RNA molecules
Occurrence and stability of anion–π interactions between phosphate and nucleobases in functional RNA molecules
- June 14, 2026
- Posted by: Stem Skills Lab
Nucleic Acids Research · 2022 · Cited 16 times
Mohit Chawla, Kanav Kalra, Zhen Cao, Luigi Cavallo, Romina Oliva
This study characterises a less-studied contact in RNA — ‘anion–π’ stacking between a phosphate group and the flat face of a nucleobase. Combining structural surveys with quantum-mechanical calculations, the team found these interactions are most stable at a specific geometry and are driven mainly by electrostatics, and confirmed their stability with DFT-based molecular dynamics. The work refines our understanding of the forces that shape RNA’s 3D structure.
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