| Abstract: | We present CD spectra of four trinucleoside diphosphates, UpUpG, GpUpG, ApUpA, and ApUpG, of four single-stranded polymers, poly AC, poly GU, poly AU, and poly AdU, and of five double-stranded polymers, poly A:U, poly G:C, poly AU:AU, poly AdU:AdU, and poly GC:GC. The measured spectra are compared with empirical firstneighbor calculations. Our results, taken together with data from the literature, suggest that UpA and UpG sequences are relatively unstacked in a single-stranded RNA compared with these isolated dimers in solution. These sequences may influence the structure and function of natural RNAs. Our results on double-stranded RNAs indicate that the spectral changes which occur upon formation of a double helix are unique to the type of base pair involved and are relatively independent of sequence. |
