The RNA-metal binding database MERNA provides information that allows the classification of and search for specific metal binding motifs (e.g., tandem G-U pairs, loop E motif, A-platform motif). The RNA binding sites of 23 different metal ions are described, the most common of these being Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+, Cd2+ and K+. The user can browse the database or search by PDB or NDB identifier, metal ion, binding motif, type of binding, distance cutoff criteria, experimental conditions (NMR, X-ray, etc.), resolution and R-values, and any combination of the aforementioned criteria or author(s) name.
The design and development of the database of metal ion binding sites in RNA is part of a research program which focuses on classification and understanding of RNA motif structure, function, tertiary interactions and their relationships.
Using the information contained in our database, we will explore approaches to predicting metal ion binding sites in RNA sequence and structure and to identifying new RNA metal ion binding motifs, which will eventually lead to the design of RNA structures with specific metal binding characteristics.