Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

RNA Structure01:19

RNA Structure

The basic structure of RNA consists of a string of ribonucleotides attached by phosphodiester bonds. 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) involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three...
RNA Structure01:23

RNA Structure

Overview
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...
RNA Structure01:23

RNA Structure

Overview
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...
Nucleic Acid Structure01:25

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...
RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Untying knots with force.

Nature chemical biology·2021
Same author

Co-temporal Force and Fluorescence Measurements Reveal a Ribosomal Gear Shift Mechanism of Translation Regulation by Structured mRNAs.

Molecular cell·2019
Same author

Full molecular trajectories of RNA polymerase at single base-pair resolution.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2018
Same author

EF-G catalyzed translocation dynamics in the presence of ribosomal frameshifting stimulatory signals.

Nucleic acids research·2016
Same author

Ribosome. Mechanical force releases nascent chain-mediated ribosome arrest in vitro and in vivo.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2015
Same author

Ribosome excursions during mRNA translocation mediate broad branching of frameshift pathways.

Cell·2015
Same journal

Lactate as a Chemical Modification on Proteins and Metabolites.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026
Same journal

Nucleocytoplasmic Transport.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026
Same journal

Packaging of Single-Stranded RNA in Viruses and Virus-Like Particles.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026
Same journal

Shaping of the Infant Gut Microbiome by Milk Oligosaccharides.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026
Same journal

Proteostasis Deregulation by Metabolism Drives the Hallmarks of Cancer.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026
Same journal

JoAnne Stubbe's Radical Path: A Story of Passion, Curiosity, and Persistence.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

How RNA unfolds and refolds.

Pan T X Li1, Jeffrey Vieregg, Ignacio Tinoco

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA. panli@albany.edu

Annual Review of Biochemistry
|June 4, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Single-molecule experiments reveal RNA unfolding energy and dynamics. This research explores how enzymes like helicases, polymerases, and ribosomes unwind RNA structures.

More Related Videos

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
09:12

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: February 27, 2026

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation
12:26

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation

Published on: February 12, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
09:12

Comparative RNA Structure Analysis of Nascent and Mature Transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: February 27, 2026

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation
12:26

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation

Published on: February 12, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The diverse functions of RNA necessitate a deeper understanding of its folding and unfolding mechanisms.
  • Investigating RNA's structural dynamics is crucial for comprehending its biological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the contributions of single-molecule experiments to understanding RNA unfolding.
  • To explore the energy requirements, kinetics, and mechanisms of RNA structure destabilization.
  • To compare the unwinding activities of different RNA-processing enzymes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing optical tweezers to monitor enzyme-mediated unfolding and apply direct force to RNA.
  • Employing fluorescence and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to measure RNA dynamics.
  • Analyzing the unwinding activities of helicases, RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, and ribosomes.

Main Results:

  • Single-molecule experiments provide quantitative insights into the energy landscape of RNA structures.
  • Optical tweezers and FRET enable direct observation of RNA unfolding processes and enzyme interactions.
  • Distinct unwinding mechanisms may exist for different classes of RNA-processing enzymes.

Conclusions:

  • Single-molecule techniques are powerful tools for dissecting RNA folding and unfolding.
  • Understanding RNA dynamics at the single-molecule level is key to elucidating complex biological functions.
  • Further research comparing enzyme activities will refine models of RNA processing.