title: Thermodynamic and kinetic properties of short RNA helices: the oligomer sequence AnGCUn.
abstract: We studied the thermodynamic, kinetic and optical properties of the double helices formed by the series of self-complementary oligonucleotides, (AP)(n)GpC(pU)(n), 2 </= n </= 4, and found that the shortest helix, containing just 6 base pairs, is less stable than would be predicted from the properties of the larger molecules. It also shows a markedly smaller hyperchromism on melting than expected. These anomalous properties of a short helix indicate that one cannot always assume that base pair free energies and extinction coefficient changes are independent of helix size.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravetch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gralla
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Crothers
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009843:Oligoribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D009843:Oligoribonucleotides; D012313:RNA