Theoretical study of the sequence-dependent distribution of Na+ ions around DNA

Sodium ions play a crucial role in diverse biological processes. This study focuses on the sequence-dependent distribution of sodium ions around DNA, utilizing the bsc0 force field to simulate and accurately replicate the conformational changes observed in Raman spectroscopy experiments, and provide...

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Main Authors: Hui-ting Xu, Xiao-wei Jiang, Yu-jie Song, Bin Gu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Results in Chemistry
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715625002735
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author Hui-ting Xu
Xiao-wei Jiang
Yu-jie Song
Bin Gu
author_facet Hui-ting Xu
Xiao-wei Jiang
Yu-jie Song
Bin Gu
author_sort Hui-ting Xu
collection DOAJ
description Sodium ions play a crucial role in diverse biological processes. This study focuses on the sequence-dependent distribution of sodium ions around DNA, utilizing the bsc0 force field to simulate and accurately replicate the conformational changes observed in Raman spectroscopy experiments, and provides an explanation for the phenomenon of bimodal distribution of pAC sequences. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that Na+ ions exhibiting unique distributions in pAA, pGA, and pGG oligomers. These ions progressively shift from the phosphate group and minor groove towards the G-tract region of the major groove. Significantly, the pGC sequence exhibits a transition in Na+ ion distribution from the major to minor grooves. The overall binding of sodium ions to the pAC sequence is weak. The pAT sequence reduces the ionic affinity in the groove, and a small portion is distributed near the ATA·TAT base order in the minor groove. The study determined a 75 % neutralization rate across DNA oligonucleotides, independent of sequence. Analyses of weak interactions revealed stable G·C and A·T hydrogen bonds alongside diminished C-H···O bonds, and a reduction in base pair stacking interaction with sequence variation. Sodium ions bind to DNA with over 95 % electrostatic interaction energy, the pAA oligomer exhibits the lowest interaction energy. The distribution of water molecules around DNA is less affected by sequence. The study provides a deep atomic-level understanding of the behavior of sodium ions around DNA.
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spelling doaj-art-279ff8a79d944a24b711d22eb0012d862025-08-20T03:46:37ZengElsevierResults in Chemistry2211-71562025-05-011510229010.1016/j.rechem.2025.102290Theoretical study of the sequence-dependent distribution of Na+ ions around DNAHui-ting Xu0Xiao-wei Jiang1Yu-jie Song2Bin Gu3School of Physics and Electronics, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224007, China; Corresponding author.School of Physics and Electronics, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224007, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronics, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224007, ChinaDepartment of applied Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, ChinaSodium ions play a crucial role in diverse biological processes. This study focuses on the sequence-dependent distribution of sodium ions around DNA, utilizing the bsc0 force field to simulate and accurately replicate the conformational changes observed in Raman spectroscopy experiments, and provides an explanation for the phenomenon of bimodal distribution of pAC sequences. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that Na+ ions exhibiting unique distributions in pAA, pGA, and pGG oligomers. These ions progressively shift from the phosphate group and minor groove towards the G-tract region of the major groove. Significantly, the pGC sequence exhibits a transition in Na+ ion distribution from the major to minor grooves. The overall binding of sodium ions to the pAC sequence is weak. The pAT sequence reduces the ionic affinity in the groove, and a small portion is distributed near the ATA·TAT base order in the minor groove. The study determined a 75 % neutralization rate across DNA oligonucleotides, independent of sequence. Analyses of weak interactions revealed stable G·C and A·T hydrogen bonds alongside diminished C-H···O bonds, and a reduction in base pair stacking interaction with sequence variation. Sodium ions bind to DNA with over 95 % electrostatic interaction energy, the pAA oligomer exhibits the lowest interaction energy. The distribution of water molecules around DNA is less affected by sequence. The study provides a deep atomic-level understanding of the behavior of sodium ions around DNA.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715625002735Sodium ionDNASequence dependenceNucleic acid structureMolecular dynamics simulation
spellingShingle Hui-ting Xu
Xiao-wei Jiang
Yu-jie Song
Bin Gu
Theoretical study of the sequence-dependent distribution of Na+ ions around DNA
Results in Chemistry
Sodium ion
DNA
Sequence dependence
Nucleic acid structure
Molecular dynamics simulation
title Theoretical study of the sequence-dependent distribution of Na+ ions around DNA
title_full Theoretical study of the sequence-dependent distribution of Na+ ions around DNA
title_fullStr Theoretical study of the sequence-dependent distribution of Na+ ions around DNA
title_full_unstemmed Theoretical study of the sequence-dependent distribution of Na+ ions around DNA
title_short Theoretical study of the sequence-dependent distribution of Na+ ions around DNA
title_sort theoretical study of the sequence dependent distribution of na ions around dna
topic Sodium ion
DNA
Sequence dependence
Nucleic acid structure
Molecular dynamics simulation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715625002735
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AT xiaoweijiang theoreticalstudyofthesequencedependentdistributionofnaionsarounddna
AT yujiesong theoreticalstudyofthesequencedependentdistributionofnaionsarounddna
AT bingu theoreticalstudyofthesequencedependentdistributionofnaionsarounddna