Facing the current challenges posed by human health diseases
requires
the understanding of cell machinery at a molecular level. The interplay
between proteins and RNA is key for any physiological phenomenon,
as well protein–RNA interactions. To understand these interactions,
many experimental techniques have been developed, spanning a very
wide range of spatial and temporal resolutions. In particular, the
knowledge of tridimensional structures of protein–RNA complexes
provides structural, mechanical, and dynamical pieces of information
essential to understand their functions. To get insights into the
dynamics of protein–RNA complexes, we carried out all-atom
molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent on nine different
protein–RNA complexes with different functions and interface
size by taking into account the bound and unbound forms. First, we
characterized structural changes upon binding and, for the RNA part,
the change in the puckering. Second, we extensively analyzed the interfaces,
their dynamics and structural properties, and the structural waters
involved in the binding, as well as the contacts mediated by them.
Based on our analysis, the interfaces rearranged during the simulation
time showing alternative and stable residue–residue contacts
with respect to the experimental structure.