Thermodynamics of RNA duplexes modified with unlocked nucleic acid nucleotides.

ABSTRACT: Thermodynamics provides insights into the influence of modified nucleotide residues on stability of nucleic acids and is crucial for designing duplexes with given properties. In this article, we introduce detailed thermodynamic analysis of RNA duplexes modified with unlocked nucleic acid (UNA) nucleotide residues. We investigate UNA single substitutions as well as model mismatch and dangling end effects. UNA residues placed in a central position makes RNA duplex structure less favourable by 4.0-6.6 kcal/mol. Slight destabilization, by ∼0.5-1.5 kcal/mol, is observed for 5'- or 3'-terminal UNA residues. Furthermore, thermodynamic effects caused by UNA residues are extremely additive with ΔG°(37) conformity up to 98%. Direct mismatches involving UNA residues decrease the thermodynamic stabili

SUBMITTER: Pasternak A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2965255 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature