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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...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

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

Salt contribution to RNA tertiary structure folding stability.

Zhi-Jie Tan1, Shi-Jie Chen

  • 1Department of Physics, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.

Biophysical Journal
|July 5, 2011
PubMed
Summary

This study quantifies salt

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Computational Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • RNA folding stability is crucial for predicting RNA functions.
  • Existing models like the Poisson-Boltzmann equation have limitations in treating multivalent ions.
  • The tightly bound ion (TBI) model offers improved treatment of ion interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the ionic contribution of Na(+) and Mg(2+) to RNA tertiary structure folding free energy.
  • To investigate the folding transition from intermediate to native states in RNA.
  • To develop predictive formulas for electrostatic free energy during RNA folding.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the tightly bound ion (TBI) model for electrostatic calculations.
  • Focused on the folding transition from intermediate to native RNA states.

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RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE
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RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

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

Published on: February 27, 2026

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Probing RNA Structure with Dimethyl Sulfate Mutational Profiling with Sequencing In Vitro and in Cells

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RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE
13:42

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE

Published on: May 31, 2013

  • Performed systematic calculations across various RNA molecules.

    • Main Results:

    • Derived empirical formulas for electrostatic free energy of RNA tertiary folding.
    • Formulas depend on RNA sequence length, compactness, and salt concentrations (Na(+), Mg(2+)).
    • TBI model demonstrated superior performance compared to Poisson-Boltzmann for multivalent ions.

    Conclusions:

    • The TBI model and derived formulas reliably quantify salt's contribution to RNA folding free energy.
    • This work enhances understanding and prediction of RNA functions.
    • The findings are well-supported by extensive comparisons with experimental data.