Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR
Published on: December 16, 2013
Characterization of tRNALeu binding interactions with Cu2+ and Pb2+ and their biological implications
Aleksandar Dimkovikj1, Mallory J Banton1, Lance A McDanel1
1Department of Chemistry and Physics, Coastal Carolina University, Smith Science Center, Room 216, 109 Chanticleer Dr. East, Conway, SC 29526, USA.
Abstract:
RNA is known to interact with Mg2+ when assuming higher-ordered tertiary configurations. Structurally, when tRNA molecules interact with Mg2+, they consistently form a "L-shape" conformation each time they are synthesized. Therefore, if Mg2+ can induce tertiary structure formation, then binding to alternative cations could produce alternative tertiary configurations. By utilizing circular dichroism and mobility gel-shift assays it was observed that tRNA structure can be altered when in the presence of different divalent cationic species. Formation of these alternative structural configurations was further validated by aminoacylating these tRNA structural anomalies with their native enzyme, which resulted in markedly different degrees of activity. Thus, it was confirmed that structural changes do occur when tRNA forms complexes with different cations. To better understand these structural changes, quantitative cation binding to tRNA was determined through titrations as well as ICP-OES analysis, which indicated that the metal ions can bind to the tRNA structure in specific and non-specific ways. Lastly, it was observed through stopped-flow kinetics that tRNA can associate/dissociate from different cations to varying degrees, thus forming cation-specific complexes at unique rates.
More Related Videos
11:04Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
Published on: September 7, 2019
11:38Quantifying the Binding Interactions Between Cu(II) and Peptide Residues in the Presence and Absence of Chromophores
Published on: April 5, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Nuclear Transmutation
The Equilibrium Binding Constant and Binding Strength
Ligand Binding and Linkage
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties
Phase II Reactions: Miscellaneous Conjugation Reactions
A key example involves the conjugation of cyanide ions, which impair cellular respiration and alter hemoglobin into non-oxygen-carrying cyanmethemoglobin. To neutralize this threat, a sulfur atom from thiosulphate is transferred to the cyanide ion, catalyzed by the enzyme rhodanese, resulting in an inactive compound called thiocyanate. The production of...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase