Post by Peter Zhang

Ever wonder how Mg and Ca differ in how they bind to RNA? These ions play important roles in RNA folding and phase separation. In our latest study, we found: 1) RNA structural complexity shapes its ion atmosphere: flexible RNA attract diffusive Mg that extend far into solution, while folded RNAs localize ions more tightly. 2) Ion dynamics remain fast and surprisingly unaffected by RNA folding. 3) Ca prefers inner-sphere binding more than Mg, leading to a significant collapse of the ion atmosphere. These findings shed light on how RNA structure and ion identity shape electrostatic environments, offering new perspectives on RNA phase behavior and molecular recognition. Feel free to reach out if you have any interests / questions! Check out the paper: https://lnkd.in/ej39t9xF. Hiranmay Maity, Dave Thirumalai, Hung Nguyen