Question

Toward an Artificial Cell Scientists have recently constructed an artificial ribosome in vitro from purified ribosomal proteins and rRNAs. (Some of the following questions may require sleuthing in earlier chapters to answer.) What types of intermolecular forces do you think are holding the individual proteins and rRNAs together in this macromolecular complex

Answer 1

RNAs and proteins can bind via electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, Hydrogen bonding interactions and base stacking interactions

Explanation:

Proteins bind to nucleic acids (i.e., both DNA and RNA) through different types of interactions:

- electrostatic interactions, also known as van der Waals interactions, refer to attractive/repulsive interactions between molecules depending on their electric charges.

- hydrophobic interactions, i.e., interactions between nonpolar molecules and water molecules

- Hydrogen bonding interactions resulting from the interaction between a hydrogen (H) atom that bind to an electronegative atom (e.g., N, O, F, etc), and another electronegative atom.

- base stacking interactions that result from the arrangement of RNA nucleotides

In this case, it is also important to highlight that the interaction will depend on the specific tertiary structure of ribosomal proteins and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs).