When RNA molecules fold into compact structures, would it be disfavored by the charge repulsion between the phosphate groups in the backbone? How is this problem resolved? The Role of Electrostatic Repulsion in the Folding of RNA Molecules

How Electrostatic Repulsion plays a role in folding RNA molecules

A phosphate backbone joins RNA molecules together. The charge repulsion between phosphate groups may cause these molecules to stay unfolded when they fold into compact structures. The negatively charged phosphate group repels each other and prevents the molecules from folding properly. There have been several solutions to this problem. The first is to decrease the number phosphate group. The electrostatic attraction can be decreased by reducing the number phosphate group. This will allow the molecules to fold properly. Li et. al. A study by Li and colleagues (2020), showed that decreasing the number phosphate groups within an RNA molecule could lead to a stable folded structure. Altering the structure of phosphate group so they don’t repel one another is an alternative. Dai and colleagues. The 2016 study by Dai et al. showed that positive charges can be introduced into the phosphate group to stabilize the molecules and allow them to be folded properly. Cont…