Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Analyzing and Building Nucleic Acid Structures with 3DNA
Published on: April 26, 2013
Calculating nucleic acid secondary structure
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University, St Louis, 63110, USA. zuker@ibc.wustl.edu
Abstract:
New results for calculating nucleic acid secondary structure by free energy minimization and phylogenetic comparisons have recently been reported. A complete set of DNA energy parameters is now available and the RNA parameters have been improved. Although databases of RNA secondary structures are still derived and expanded using computer-assisted, ad hoc comparative analysis, a number of new computer algorithms combine covariation analysis with energy methods.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Organization
Protein Folding
RNA Structure
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...
Protein Organization
The primary structure of a protein is its amino acid sequence.
RNA Structure
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three...
Nucleic Acid Structure
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...

