A-RNA Structure

Show the:

RNA only.

Waters only.

Whole complex. Rotate:

X 90°

X -90°

Y 90°

Y -90° Distances:

RNA, one turn (11bp) (length in Å units)

RNA, diameter (width in Å units)

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The dodecamer of alternating A-U is shown using the Ball & Stick display. The 5' and 3' ends of each chain are labeled.

A single A-U base pair (distance in Å between C^1' carbons). The sugar phosphate backbone groups are white.

Remove distances.
Three stacked A-U base pairs.

A U-A bp (Ball & Stick with dots) is stacked above an A-U base pair (Spacefill). Note the difference in geometry between this dinucleotide stack and that seen with the next highlight button.

The middle A-U base pair (Ball & Stick with dots) is stacked above the bottom U-A base pair (Spacefill).

Place any of the above base pairs in the original double helix.
The differences in stacking geometry is related to the fact that the stability of RNA and DNA helices depends on the sequence of dinucleotide units, and not on individual base pairs alone.
A-RNA Structure for Molecular Biology The A-Form RNA Structure.

Viewing tips:

Use the buttons to the right of the image to show only portions of the structure; then use the Chime menu to display or color the molecule. The rotate buttons act on the entire structure. Remove the distance monitors with a second click.
On this and other pages that display RNA structures, the nucleotides can be identified by choosing Shapely under the Chime Colors menu. The Shapely colors for RNA are: