Alkaline and alkaline earth ions, namely Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, are critical for the stability, proper folding and functioning of RNA. Moreover, those metal ions help to facilitate macromolecular interactions as well as the formation of supramolecular structures (e.g. the ribosome and the ribozymes). Therefore, identifying the interactions between ions and nucleic acids is a key to the better comprehension of the physical nature and biological functions of those biomolecules. The scope of this review is to highlight the preferential location and binding sites of alkaline and alkaline earth metal ions compensating the negatively charged backbone of nucleic acids and interacting with other electronegative centers, focusing on RNA. We summarize experimental studies from X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic analysis (infrared, Raman and NMR spectroscopies). Computational results obtained with classical and ab initio methods are presented afterwards.
In the present article,
graphene complexes with out-of-plane organic
substances such as a triphenylmethyl radical, anion, and cation are
studied. Comparison is made with the similar closed-shell molecule
(cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidenemethylene)dibenzene. The nearest contact
in the complexes is realized between a hydrogen atom of the organic
molecule and a carbon atom of graphene. The geometry of the organic
molecules does not change significantly, but changes in graphene’s
electronic density of states make possible the identification of the
formed π–π complex. This effect represents an extension
of the idea that graphene is capable of single-molecule detection
to graphene being capable of adsorption complex detection and, more
importantly, identification.
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