Nucleic acid tertiary structure

Nucleic acid primary structureNucleic acid secondary structureNucleic acid double helixStem-loopPseudoknotNucleic acid quaternary structure
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Interactive image of nucleic acid structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary) using DNA helices and examples from the VS ribozyme and telomerase and nucleosome. (PDB: ADNA, 1BNA, 4OCB, 4R4V, 1YMO, 1EQZ​)
This article is about tertiary structure in nucleic acid. For the article about tertiary structure in protein, see Protein tertiary structure.

Nucleic acid tertiary structure is the three-dimensional shape of a nucleic acid polymer.[1] RNA and DNA molecules are capable of diverse functions ranging from molecular recognition to catalysis. Such functions require a precise three-dimensional structure. While such structures are diverse and seemingly complex, they are composed of recurring, easily recognizable tertiary structural motifs that serve as molecular building blocks. Some of the most common motifs for RNA and DNA tertiary structure are described below, but this information is based on a limited number of solved structures. Many more tertiary structural motifs will be revealed as new RNA and DNA molecules are structurally characterized.

  1. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "tertiary structure". doi:10.1351/goldbook.T06282