Basics of nucleic acid structure

Abstract

Basic structural features of nucleic acids are reviewed. Based mostly on crystal structures, the following are described: Nucleic acid building blocks, double helical DNA (B-, A-, Z-) and RNA forms (A-), and other repetitive nucleic acid forms such as tetraplexes and folded RNA forms, as well as selected folded nucleic acids, tRNA, and ribozymes. Also discussed are complexes of nucleic acids with small molecules and proteins. Briefly shown are web resources dedicated to nucleic acid structures, mainly the Nucleic Acid Database. © 2006 Springer.