RNA structure

Abstract

This review is concerned primarily with the physical structure and changes in the structure of RNA molecules. It will be evident that we have not attempted comprehensive coverage of what amounts to a vast literature. We have tried to stay away from particular areas that have been recently reviewed elsewhere. Citations to and information from them are included, however, so that access to the literature is available. Much of what we treat in depth deals with the crystal structures and solution behaviour of model RNA compounds, including synthetic polymers and molecular fragments such as dinucleoside phosphates. Sequence data on natural RNA are cited, but not in detail. Similarly, apart from tRNA, natural RNAs the structural determinations of which are presently not so far advanced, are not dwelt upon. We have tried to present in detail the available structural data with scaled drawings that permit facile comparisons of molecular geometries.