Comments on selected aspects of nucleic acid electrostatics.
Recent experimental, theoretical, and computational developments in the field of nucleic acid electrostatics have brought interesting concepts to the fore. The phosphate charge on the double helix apparently influences its structure. When the charge is neutralized asymmetrically, the resulting force imbalance drives bending toward the neutralized side. When the charge is uniformly neutralized, the force imbalance acts to buckle the helical axis, resulting in a compact tertiary conformation. Sharing of condensed counterions by single strands is a stabilizing factor for formation of the double helix. Sharing of condensed counterions by two double helices causes clustering of DNA and may be a factor in RNA folding. Support for these statements is reviewed.
Manning
Gerald S
GS
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8087, USA. gmanning@rutchem.rutgers.edu
D003198:Computer Simulation; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D055672:Static Electricity
D004247:DNA