title: Kinetic subpopulations detected by single-molecule spectroscopy: fundamental property of functional nucleic acids or experimental artefact?
abstract: Single-molecule spectroscopy allows the direct observation of conformational dynamics in individual biomolecules. Here, we describe how single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) reveals heterogeneous kinetics in the EBS1*/IBS1* interaction, two RNA sequences that play an important role in group II intron mediated self-cleavage. Further examples of dynamic heterogeneity in functional nucleic acids are provided and the possible origins of this phenomenon are discussed.
authors: Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich.
authors: Sebastian L B
authors: SL
authors: König
authors: Danny
authors: D
authors: Kowerko
authors: Roland K O
authors: RK
authors: Sigel
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D009696:Nucleic Acids