中国物理B ›› 2016, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (1): 18703-018703.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/25/1/018703

所属专题: TOPICAL REVIEW — 8th IUPAP International Conference on Biological Physics

• TOPICAL REVIEW—8th IUPAP International Conference on Biological Physics • 上一篇    下一篇

Flexibility of nucleic acids: From DNA to RNA

Lei Bao(鲍磊), Xi Zhang(张曦), Lei Jin(金雷), Zhi-Jie Tan(谭志杰)   

  1. Department of Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro-and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
  • 收稿日期:2015-05-01 修回日期:2015-07-09 出版日期:2016-01-05 发布日期:2016-01-05
  • 通讯作者: Zhi-Jie Tan E-mail:zjtan@whu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2011CB933600), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11175132, 11575128, and 11374234), and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents, China (Grant No. NCET 08-0408).

Flexibility of nucleic acids: From DNA to RNA

Lei Bao(鲍磊), Xi Zhang(张曦), Lei Jin(金雷), Zhi-Jie Tan(谭志杰)   

  1. Department of Physics and Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro-and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
  • Received:2015-05-01 Revised:2015-07-09 Online:2016-01-05 Published:2016-01-05
  • Contact: Zhi-Jie Tan E-mail:zjtan@whu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2011CB933600), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11175132, 11575128, and 11374234), and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents, China (Grant No. NCET 08-0408).

摘要: 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.

关键词: DNA, RNA, flexibility, computer simulation

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.

Key words: DNA, RNA, flexibility, computer simulation

中图分类号:  (Elasticity theory)

  • 87.10.Pq
87.14.G- (Nucleic acids) 87.15.ap (Molecular dynamics simulation) 87.15.H- (Dynamics of biomolecules)