Flexibility of nucleic acids: from DNA to RNA

TL;DR

This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the structural flexibility of DNA and RNA, highlighting experimental findings and factors influencing flexibility such as salt, temperature, and sequence.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of experimental and theoretical progress in nucleic acid flexibility, emphasizing key factors and unresolved questions.

Findings

Salt, temperature, and sequence significantly affect nucleic acid flexibility

Extensive experimental studies have advanced understanding of DNA and RNA dynamics

Major unanswered questions remain in fully understanding nucleic acid flexibility

Abstract

The structural flexibility of nucleic acids plays a key role in many fundamental life processes, such as gene replication and expression, DNA-protein recognition, and gene regulation. To obtain a thorough understanding of nucleic acid flexibility, extensive studies have been performed using various experimental methods and theoretical models. In this review, we will introduce the progress that has been made in understanding the flexibility of nucleic acids including DNAs and RNAs, and will emphasize the experimental findings and the effects of salt, temperature, and sequence. Finally, we will discuss the major unanswered questions in understanding the flexibility of nucleic acids.