K. Chin et al., Calculating the electrostatic properties of RNA provides new insights intomolecular interactions and function, NAT ST BIOL, 6(11), 1999, pp. 1055-1061
Solutions to the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation were used to obtain t
he electrostatic potentials of RNA molecules that have known three-dimensio
nal structures. The results are described in terms of isopotential contours
and surface electrostatic potential maps. Both representations have unexpe
cted features: 'cavities' within isopotential contours and areas of enhance
d negative potential on molecular surfaces. Intriguingly, the sites of unus
ual electrostatic: features correspond to functionally important regions, s
uggesting that electrostatic properties play a key role in RNA recognition
and stabilization, These calculations reveal that the electrostatic potenti
als generated by RNA molecules have a variety of functionally important cha
racteristics that cannot be discerned by simple Visual inspection of the mo
lecular structure.