Elements of thermodynamics in RNA evolution

Abstract

The paper presents some aspects correlating thermal stability of RNA folding and the occurrence of structural motifs in natural ribonucleic acids. Particularly, the thermodynamic stability of 2′-5′ and 3′-5′ linked RNA and the contribution of unpaired terminal nucleotides (dangling ends) in secondary (2D) and tertiary (3D) structures of RNA are discussed. Both examples suggest that during evolution nature selected sequences and structures of RNA which are the most thermally stable and efficient for their biological function.