Publications
2016
Auffinger P, D'Ascenzo L, Ennifar E
Sodium and Potassium Interactions with Nucleic Acids Book Chapter
In: Sigel, A; Sigel, H; Sigel, R (Ed.): The Alkali Metal Ions: Their Role for Life, vol. 16, pp. 167-201, Springer, 2016, ISBN: 26860302.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: DNA Hydration K+ Metal binding Molecular dynamics simulations Monovalent ions Na+·NMR Potassium RNA Sodium Solvation X-ray crystallography, ENNIFAR, Unité ARN
@inbook{,
title = {Sodium and Potassium Interactions with Nucleic Acids},
author = {P Auffinger and L D'Ascenzo and E Ennifar},
editor = {A Sigel and H Sigel and R Sigel},
url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26860302?dopt=Abstract},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-21756-7_6},
isbn = {26860302},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
booktitle = {The Alkali Metal Ions: Their Role for Life},
volume = {16},
pages = {167-201},
publisher = {Springer},
series = {Metal Ions in Life Sciences},
abstract = {Metal ions are essential cofactors for the structure and functions of nucleic acids. Yet, the early discovery in the 70s of the crucial role of Mg(2+) in stabilizing tRNA structures has occulted for a long time the importance of monovalent cations. Renewed interest in these ions was brought in the late 90s by the discovery of specific potassium metal ions in the core of a group I intron. Their importance in nucleic acid folding and catalytic activity is now well established. However, detection of K(+) and Na(+) ions is notoriously problematic and the question about their specificity is recurrent. Here we review the different methods that can be used to detect K(+) and Na(+) ions in nucleic acid structures such as X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance or molecular dynamics simulations. We also discuss specific versus non-specific binding to different structures through various examples.},
keywords = {DNA Hydration K+ Metal binding Molecular dynamics simulations Monovalent ions Na+·NMR Potassium RNA Sodium Solvation X-ray crystallography, ENNIFAR, Unité ARN},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
Metal ions are essential cofactors for the structure and functions of nucleic acids. Yet, the early discovery in the 70s of the crucial role of Mg(2+) in stabilizing tRNA structures has occulted for a long time the importance of monovalent cations. Renewed interest in these ions was brought in the late 90s by the discovery of specific potassium metal ions in the core of a group I intron. Their importance in nucleic acid folding and catalytic activity is now well established. However, detection of K(+) and Na(+) ions is notoriously problematic and the question about their specificity is recurrent. Here we review the different methods that can be used to detect K(+) and Na(+) ions in nucleic acid structures such as X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance or molecular dynamics simulations. We also discuss specific versus non-specific binding to different structures through various examples.