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Exact conformational analysis of 2'-OH group in RNA now possible

18 May 2011. The 2'-OH group in RNA is responsible for the change in the predominant sugar conformation, which is key to the catalytic activity and involved in critical H-bonding interactions. In a combined NMR spectroscopic and quantum chemical investigation in the groups of Schwalbe and Prof. Max Holthausen (Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Univ. Frankfzrt), the conformational dependence of 1J(C1',H1') and J(C2',H2') coupling constants is derived. The precise conformation of the sugar, nucleobase, and the 2 OH group can be determined based on these coupling constants. These parameters can be measured with high precision and accuracy also for very large RNAs and their macromolecular complexes.

Link to full publication Angewandte Chemie

 

Full reference
Nozinovic S, Gupta P, Fürtig B, Richter C, Tüllmann S, Duchardt-Ferner E, Holthausen MC, Schwalbe H (2011) Determination of the conformation of the 2′OH group in RNA by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Angew Chem Int Edit, Epub 20 April 2011.