Doudna J A, Doherty E A
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA.
Fold Des. 1997;2(5):R65-70. doi: 10.1016/S1359-0278(97)00035-7.
RNAs, like proteins, readily form specific structures adapted for ligand binding and catalysis. Since they are composed of completely different chemical building blocks, however, RNAs and proteins necessarily use distinct strategies to assemble complex architectures. While burial of hydrophobic residues drives protein folding, the hydrophobic effect in RNA contributes primarily to the formation of secondary structure. To form tertiary structure, RNA must overcome electrostatic repulsions from the phosphate backbone. How do negatively charged double helices pack together to produce catalytic centers and ligand binding surfaces? Here, we review our understanding of the principles that underlie RNA folding based on the structural information currently available.
RNA与蛋白质一样，很容易形成适合配体结合和催化的特定结构。然而，由于它们由完全不同的化学构件组成，RNA和蛋白质必然采用不同的策略来组装复杂的结构。虽然疏水残基的埋藏驱动蛋白质折叠，但RNA中的疏水效应主要有助于二级结构的形成。为了形成三级结构，RNA必须克服来自磷酸骨架的静电排斥。带负电荷的双螺旋如何堆积在一起以产生催化中心和配体结合表面？在这里，我们根据目前可用的结构信息，回顾我们对RNA折叠基础原理的理解。
