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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 stability less than unmodified mismatches in RNA duplexes. Additionally, the presence of UNA residues adjacent to unpaired RNA residues reduces mismatch discrimination. Thermodynamic analysis of UNA 5'- and 3'-dangling ends revealed that stacking interactions of UNA residues are always less favourable than that of RNA residues. Finally, circular dichroism spectra imply no changes in overall A-form structure of UNA-RNA/RNA duplexes relative to the unmodified RNA duplexes.
Base Pair Mismatch, Nucleotides, Circular Dichroism, RNA, Thermodynamics, RNA, Double-Stranded
Base Pair Mismatch, Nucleotides, Circular Dichroism, RNA, Thermodynamics, RNA, Double-Stranded
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 54 | |
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influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |