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RNA Stability

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 Structure

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 Structure

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 Structure

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...

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE

Published on: May 31, 2013

Theoretical basis for stabilizing messenger RNA through secondary structure design.

Hannah K Wayment-Steele^1,2, Do Soon Kim^2,3,4, Christian A Choe^2,5

¹Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|September 2, 2020

Summary

Researchers developed

Keywords:

Biophysics Computational biology RNA degradation RNA structure mRNA therapeutics mRNA vaccines

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Last Updated: Dec 10, 2025

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE

RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE

Published on: May 31, 2013

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

Published on: June 12, 2019

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

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

Published on: December 9, 2022

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Bioinformatics

Background:

Messenger RNA (mRNA) hydrolysis poses significant challenges for vaccine and therapeutic manufacturing, storage, delivery, and in vivo stability.
Stabilizing mRNA through redesign to form double-stranded regions is a promising but underexplored strategy.
Understanding the extent of stabilization and optimal algorithmic approaches is crucial.

Conclusions:

'Superfolder' mRNA designs offer a viable strategy to significantly enhance mRNA stability.
Computational and crowdsourcing approaches can effectively design highly stable mRNA constructs.
These stable mRNA designs hold promise for improving mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics.