Nucleic Acid Structural Energetics

Abstract Nucleic acids perform many functions essential for life, and exhibit a correspondingly diverse array of structures. This article provides an overview of nucleic acid structure, as well as the forces that govern its formation. The current state of knowledge of nucleic acid thermodynamics is discussed, as well as techniques for predicting and designing structures of interest. Experimental methods used to determine the structure of nucleic acids and the thermodynamics of their reactions are also surveyed.