RNA catalysis emerges from dynamic structural ensembles.

RNA catalysis arises from diverse conformational ensembles with 76 coexisting active and inactive states, driven by dynamic RNA-Mg 2+ interactions.

• Why it matters: Understanding the structural basis of RNA function at near-atomic detail is crucial for revealing how RNA catalysis is regulated, which has been limited by the complexity of its dynamic nature.
• What they did: Using a heterogeneity-focused cryo-electron microscopy approach, the study analyzed conformationally flexible RNase P RNA particles, identifying multiple coexisting states and the roles of four Mg 2+ ion classes.
• The result: Findings demonstrate that catalysis is controlled through multimodal communication within RNA-Mg 2+ ensembles, enabling a new paradigm where RNA activity depends on dynamic structural ensembles rather than static structures.