Derewenda ZS. C-H Groups as Donors in Hydrogen Bonds: A Historical Overview and Occurrence in Proteins and Nucleic Acids.
Int J Mol Sci 2023;
24:13165. [PMID:
37685972 PMCID:
PMC10488043 DOI:
10.3390/ijms241713165]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen bonds constitute a unique type of non-covalent interaction, with a critical role in biology. Until fairly recently, the canonical view held that these bonds occur between electronegative atoms, typically O and N, and that they are mostly electrostatic in nature. However, it is now understood that polarized C-H groups may also act as hydrogen bond donors in many systems, including biological macromolecules. First recognized from physical chemistry studies, C-H…X bonds were visualized with X-ray crystallography sixty years ago, although their true significance has only been recognized in the last few decades. This review traces the origins of the field and describes the occurrence and significance of the most important C-H…O bonds in proteins and nucleic acids.
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