Molecular electrostatic potential of the nucleic acids

It is generally acknowledged that geometrical and conformational properties of biopolymers have an important effect on their biochemical behaviour. It is less easily recognized that these properties depend also on their macromolecular electronic characteristics. The aim of this review is to demonstrate the significance of such macromolecular electronic effects. Particularly useful for this sake is the recently much developed concept of ‘molecular electrostatic potential’ (MEP) (Scrocco & Tomasi, 1973, 1978) by which is defined the electrostatic (Coulomb) potential created in the neighbouring space by the nuclear charges and the eletronic distribution of a molecule.