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Related Concept Videos

Entropy02:39

Entropy

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Salt particles that have dissolved in water never spontaneously come back together in solution to reform solid particles. Moreover, a gas that has expanded in a vacuum remains dispersed and never spontaneously reassembles. The unidirectional nature of these phenomena is the result of a thermodynamic state function called entropy (S). Entropy is the measure of the extent to which the energy is dispersed throughout a system, or in other words, it is proportional to the degree of disorder of a...
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Entropy01:18

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The first law of thermodynamics is quantitatively formulated via an equation relating the internal energy of a system, the heat exchanged by it, and the work done on it. A quantitative formulation of the second law of thermodynamics leads to defining a state function, the entropy.
When an ideal gas expands isothermally, the disorder in the gas increases. From the molecular perspective, the gas molecules have more volume to move around in.
Consider an infinitesimal step in the expansion, which...
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Standard Entropy Change for a Reaction03:00

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Entropy is a state function, so the standard entropy change for a chemical reaction (ΔS°rxn) can be calculated from the difference in standard entropy between the products and the reactants.
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RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

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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...
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Improving Translational Accuracy02:07

Improving Translational Accuracy

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Base complementarity between the three base pairs of mRNA codon and the tRNA anticodon is not a failsafe mechanism. Inaccuracies can range from a single mismatch to no correct base pairing at all. The free energy difference between the correct and nearly correct base pairs can be as small as 3 kcal/ mol. With complementarity being the only proofreading step, the estimated error frequency would be one wrong amino acid in every 100 amino acids incorporated. However, error frequencies observed in...
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Translation01:31

Translation

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Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 15, 2026

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

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Translational Entropy and DNA Duplex Stability.

Peter L Privalov1, Colyn Crane-Robinson2

  • 1Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.

Biophysical Journal
|January 11, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Superprecise calorimetry reveals DNA duplex stability is governed by temperature-dependent enthalpy and entropy. The AT pair

Area of Science:

  • Biophysical Chemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Thermodynamics

Background:

  • The forces driving DNA double helix formation have been extensively studied.
  • Previous models often assumed simplified thermodynamic contributions for base pairs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the thermodynamic forces governing DNA duplex folding and unfolding.
  • To re-evaluate established beliefs about DNA double helix stability using high-precision calorimetry.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized superprecise calorimetry to measure the folding/unfolding thermodynamics of DNA duplexes.
  • Analyzed duplexes of varying sizes and base-pair compositions (AT and CG).

Main Results:

  • Enthalpy and entropy of unfolding are temperature-dependent and increase with temperature.

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  • AT pairs contribute more to enthalpy than CG pairs, but CG pairs offer greater stability due to entropic factors related to ordered water in the minor groove.
  • Translation entropy, influenced by ordered water molecules, dictates length and concentration dependence, and nearest-neighbor effects.

    • Conclusions:

    • Established thermodynamic components provide a quantitative framework for DNA duplex stability.
    • Revised understanding of the roles of enthalpy, entropy, and hydration in DNA structure.
    • Highlighted the significant contribution of ordered water in the minor groove to DNA stability.