Application of NIR Raman Spectroscopy to Probe the Flexibility of RNA Structure

Abstract

NIR Raman spectroscopy has great potential for the detection of very weak Stokes-shifted Raman scattering emitted by biomolecules. Reports relating Raman spectroscopy analyses of ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are minimal. Nevertheless, correlation between Raman vibrational spectra and specific structural features of RNA from Avocado sunblotch viroids (ASBVds) has been clearly established. In this chapter, we discuss how to obtain NIR Raman RNA spectra and applications of Raman spectroscopy for the structural analysis of RNA, based on the analysis of ASBVd RNA. This chapter includes the analysis of spectral changes upon thermal denaturation, deuteration, and self-cleavage perturbations.