Post by Peter Zhang

I'm excited to share that part of my graduate work is now available as a preprint! "Temperature-Dependent Ion Migration Underlies Sequence-Specific RNA Collapse" We developed a new set of coarse-grained force field parameters grounded in counterion condensation theory and, for the first time, revealed how the RNA structural ensemble and its ion atmosphere dynamically reorganize across temperatures. Our results show that at high temperatures, diffusive ions migrate inward to coordinate directly with the negatively charged phosphate backbone, providing a molecular basis for understanding how simple RNA sequences undergo ion-mediated structural transitions and phase behaviors. 📜 Preprint: https://lnkd.in/e2bdp-sY I'd appreciate any feedback, comments, or questions whether it's on the methodology, interpretation, or broader implications for RNA folding and condensate behavior. Thanks in advance! Huge thanks to my PI: Hung Nguyen, and my co-author: Hiranmay Maity for their guidance and support!