Carbon-Oxygen Hydrogen Bonding in Biological Structure and Function

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry Vol. 287; no. 50; pp. 41576 - 41582
• Main Authors: Horowitz, Scott, Trievel, Raymond C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 07.12.2012; American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: Carbon - chemistry; CH···O; C–H···O; Enzyme Catalysis; Enzymes - chemistry; Hydrogen Bonding; Ligand-binding Protein; Minireviews; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Nucleic Acid Structure; Nucleic Acids - chemistry; Oxygen - chemistry; Protein Conformation; Protein Structure; RNA Folding; Structure-Activity Relationship; RNA Folding; Ligand-binding Protein; Hydrogen Bonding; Enzyme Catalysis; Nucleic Acid Structure; Protein Structure; CH···O; C–H···O
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.R112.418574

Carbon-oxygen (CH···O) hydrogen bonding represents an unusual category of molecular interactions first documented in biological structures over 4 decades ago. Although CH···O hydrogen bonding has remained generally underappreciated in the biochemical literature, studies over the last 15 years have begun to yield direct evidence of these interactions in biological systems. In this minireview, we provide a historical context of biological CH···O hydrogen bonding and summarize some major advancements from experimental studies over the past several years that have elucidated the importance, prevalence, and functions of these interactions. In particular, we examine the impact of CH···O bonds on protein and nucleic acid structure, molecular recognition, and enzyme catalysis and conclude by exploring overarching themes and unresolved questions regarding unconventional interactions in biomolecular structure.