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Compaction of RNA Duplexes in the Cell **
Author(s) -
Collauto Alberto,
Bülow Sören,
Gophane Dnyaneshwar B.,
Saha Subham,
Stelzl Lukas S.,
Hummer Gerhard,
Sigurdsson Snorri T.,
Prisner Thomas F.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202009800
Subject(s) - compaction , rna , chemistry , geology , geotechnical engineering , biochemistry , gene
The structure and flexibility of RNA depends sensitively on the microenvironment. Using pulsed electron‐electron double‐resonance (PELDOR)/double electron‐electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy combined with advanced labeling techniques, we show that the structure of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) changes upon internalization into Xenopus lævis oocytes. Compared to dilute solution, the dsRNA A‐helix is more compact in cells. We recapitulate this compaction in a densely crowded protein solution. Atomic‐resolution molecular dynamics simulations of dsRNA semi‐quantitatively capture the compaction, and identify non‐specific electrostatic interactions between proteins and dsRNA as a possible driver of this effect.