Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

For successful DNA replication, the unwinding of double-stranded DNA must be accompanied by stabilization and protection of the separated single strands of the DNA. This crucial task is performed by single-strand DNA-binding (SSB) proteins. They bind to the DNA in a sequence-independent manner, which means that the nitrogenous bases of the DNA need not be present in a specific order for binding of SSB proteins to it. The binding of SSB proteins straightens single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and makes...

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...

Proofreading

Proofreading

Synthesis of new DNA molecules is carried out by the enzyme DNA polymerase, which adds nucleotides on the daughter strand complementary to the template DNA strand. DNA polymerase has a higher affinity to add the correct base and ensures fidelity during DNA replication. Furthermore, it exhibits proofreading activity during replication, using an exonuclease domain that cuts off incorrect nucleotides from the nascent DNA strand.
Errors During Replication are Corrected by the DNA Polymerase Enzyme

Proofreading

Proofreading

Homologous Recombination

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Yield and fidelity of early steps of ribosome-free translation depend on the RNA anchoring.

Nucleic acids research·2026

Same author

ProTides for Antiviral Activity Beyond Liver Cells.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026

Same author

Translation-Promoting Effects of RNA Template Overhangs in the Absence of Ribosomes.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025

Same author

A quantitative model of enzyme-free copying of RNA with dimers.

Nucleic acids research·2025

Same author

What Makes a Branched Aromatic Compound a Crystallization Chaperone? Insights from a Comparison of Three Organic Scaffolds.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025

Same author

Ribosome-Free Translation up to Pentapeptides via Template Walk on RNA Sequences.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

Published on: November 1, 2012

Intrastrand locks increase duplex stability and base pairing selectivity.

Cora Prestinari¹, Clemens Richert

¹Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70565 Stuttgart, Germany.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)

|August 25, 2011

Summary

Disulfide-locked oligodeoxynucleotides enhance RNA binding affinity, significantly increasing duplex melting points. This modification improves the stability of nucleic acid interactions for potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

More Related Videos

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Published on: April 4, 2025

Design and Synthesis of a Reconfigurable DNA Accordion Rack

Design and Synthesis of a Reconfigurable DNA Accordion Rack

Published on: August 15, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

Published on: November 1, 2012

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Published on: April 4, 2025

Design and Synthesis of a Reconfigurable DNA Accordion Rack

Design and Synthesis of a Reconfigurable DNA Accordion Rack

Published on: August 15, 2018

Area of Science:

Oligonucleotide chemistry
Molecular biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are crucial in molecular biology for diagnostics and therapeutics.
Improving the binding affinity and stability of ODN-RNA duplexes is essential for enhanced performance.
Weakly pairing sequences like thymine-thymine (TT) dimers can limit duplex stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of disulfide locks on ODN-RNA duplex stability.
To synthesize novel locked nucleoside analogs for improved hybridization.
To evaluate the melting point increases achieved with these modified ODNs.

Main Methods:

Automated synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides incorporating locked 2'-deoxy-5-(thioalkynyl)uridine residues.
Formation of duplexes between modified ODNs and complementary RNA target strands.
Determination of duplex melting points (Tm) using standard hybridization techniques.

Main Results:

Disulfide locks between neighboring nucleobases in ODNs significantly increased duplex melting points with RNA targets.
Observed increases in melting point reached up to 7.6 °C.
The replacement of weakly pairing TT dimers with locked thioalkynyl uridine residues was successfully achieved via automated synthesis.

Conclusions:

Disulfide-locked oligodeoxynucleotides offer a promising strategy for enhancing ODN-RNA hybridization stability.
These modifications can improve the efficacy of ODN-based applications by increasing duplex stability.
The developed synthetic approach allows for the incorporation of these stabilizing modifications.