Water-nucleobase "stacking": H-pi and lone pair-pi interactions in the atomic resolution crystal structure of an RNA pseudoknot

J Am Chem Soc. 2003 Jul 30;125(30):8998-9. doi: 10.1021/ja0357801.

Abstract

The hydrogen bond acceptor capability of aromatic rings has been demonstrated both by experimental and theoretical studies, and D-H...pi interactions (H-pi interaction), where D is mainly N, O, and C, are ubiquitous in structures of macromolecules. By comparison, the interaction of a lone pair of water directly with the face of a pi-system (l.p.-pi interaction) seems counterintuitive and to date has only been studied theoretically. In the crystal structure of an RNA pseudoknot at atomic resolution, all nucleobases not involved in either intra- or intermolecular base-base stacking interactions exhibit stacking with water molecules either of the H-pi or the l.p.-pi type. The geometry observed for the l.p.-pi type water-nucleobase stacking is consistent with that predicted in recent ab initio studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Frameshifting, Ribosomal
  • Hydrogen / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • Water
  • Hydrogen