RNA’s Thermodynamically Favored Position on Ice

Previous molecular dynamics (MD) work simulated an 8-nucleotide RNA strand on ice, speculatively concluding RNA is stabilized by hydrogen-bonding with the ice’s crystal lattice. That conclusion is investigated by studying a simpler RNA dinucleotide, simulated using GROMACS MD computer simulations. Umbrella sampling results indicate that the most thermodynamically stable position for the RNA to bond is to the uppermost layer of the ice crystal’s basal plane