Water−Nucleobase “Stacking”: H−π and Lone Pair−π Interactions in the Atomic Resolution Crystal Structure of an RNA Pseudoknot

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The hydrogen bond acceptor capability of aromatic rings has been demonstrated both by experimental and theoretical studies, and D−H···π interactions (H−π 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 π-system (l.p.−π 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−π or the l.p.−π type. The geometry observed for the l.p.−π type water−nucleobase stacking is consistent with that predicted in recent ab initio studies.

This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit: