Mechanical unfolding of long human telomeric RNA (TERRA)

Chem Commun (Camb). 2013 Jul 21;49(57):6397-9. doi: 10.1039/c3cc42981d.

Abstract

We report the first single molecule investigation of TERRA molecules. By using optical-tweezers and other biophysical techniques, we have found that long RNA constructions of up to 25 GGGUUA repeats form higher order structures comprised of single parallel G-quadruplex blocks, which unfold at lower forces than their DNA counterparts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Humans
  • RNA / chemistry*
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA Folding
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Telomere / genetics

Substances

  • RNA