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Nucleic Acids

storing genetic information and more

DNA and RNA are the cell’s way of storing and deploying genetic information. Structural biology is revealing that some nucleic acids also fold to form complex molecular machines. Guided by these structures, nanotech scientists are building new machines composed of nucleic acid.

Molecule of the Month Articles (19)

Adenine Riboswitch in Action

Designed DNA Crystal

DNA

Fluorescent RNA Aptamers

	Adenine Riboswitch in Action XFEL serial crystallography reveals what happens when adenine binds to a riboswitch
	Designed DNA Crystal Small pieces of DNA have been engineered to form a nanoscale lattice
	DNA Atomic structures reveal how the iconic double helix encodes genomic information
	Fluorescent RNA Aptamers RNA aptamers are being engineered to track molecules inside living cells
	Nucleosome The cell's genome is stored and protected by nucleosomes
	RecA and Rad51 Broken DNA strands may be repaired by matching sequences in a duplicate copy of the DNA
	Restriction Enzymes Bacterial enzymes that cut DNA are useful tools for genetic engineering
	Ribonuclease P The ribozyme ribonuclease P cleaves pre-tRNA to form functional tRNA.
	Ribosomal Subunits Atomic structures of the ribosomal subunits reveal a central role for RNA in protein synthesis
	Ribosome Ribosomes are complex molecular machines that build proteins
	Riboswitches Special sequences of messenger RNA can bind to regulatory molecules and affect synthesis of proteins
	Self-splicing RNA Special sequences of RNA are able to splice themselves
	Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) Our cells continually look for pieces of double-stranded RNA, a possible sign of viral infection
	Spliceosomes Cryoelectron microscropy is revealing how spliceosomes cut-and-paste messenger RNA molecules.
	Telomerase Telomerase maintains the ends of our chromosomes.
	Thymine Dimers Ultraviolet light damages our DNA, but our cells have ways to correct the damage
	Transfer RNA Transfer RNA translates the language of the genome into the language of proteins
	Transfer-Messenger RNA tmRNA rescues ribosomes that are stalled by damaged messenger RNA
	Vitamin D Receptor Vitamin D helps regulate the use of calcium throughout the body

Learning Resources (6)

Award-winning RNA Polymerase Illustration

(Poster)

The Ribosome

(Flyer)

Transfer Ribonucleic Acid (tRNA)

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

Z-DNA

DNA

	Transfer Ribonucleic Acid (tRNA) Geis illustrates the structure of transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA), the nucleic acid that translates the language of the genome into the language of proteins.
	Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Geis illustrates three possible forms of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). He highlights the differences between each structure by displaying them in a side-by-side manner.
	Z-DNA In this sketch, Geis illustrates the left handed Z-form of double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Z-DNA is indicated by the zig-zag like pattern of the two strands in relationship to each other. Geis shows a line of symmetry down the middle of the illustration highlighting the helix axis of the molecule.
	DNA Geis illustrates a double helix in his depiction of DNA. He portrays the helices with a soft ribbon structure. The white "box-like" structures represent a base pair in the DNA strand.
	A-DNA Geis uses a thin ball and stick representation of a section of A-DNA, the more compact conformation of DNA less often seen in biological systems. He draws it from a perspective looking down into the double helix, showing the increase in diameter of the middle of the helix from the B form DNA.
	B-DNA Geis illustrates B-DNA in blue looking from above, through the double helix. The two bases on top are highlighted in white to distinguish one individual section of the layered scene.

Goodsell Molecular Landscapes (6)

Escherichia coli Bacterium

RecA and DNA

Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses

Mycoplasma mycoides

	DNA Paper Model Atomic structures reveal how the iconic double helix encodes genomic information
	tRNA Paper Model Transfer RNA translates the language of the genome into the language of proteins
	Award-winning RNA Polymerase Illustration Poster
	The Ribosome Flyer This flyer commemorates the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome.
	Ribosomal Subunits GIF Atomic structures of the ribosomal subunits reveal a central role for RNA in protein synthesis. Ribosomes are complex molecular machines that build proteins.
	Molecular Backgrounds For Virtual Meetings Other Resources Download images created by David Goodsell to add a molecular backdrop to your next virtual meeting. Click on the image to expand.

	Escherichia coli Bacterium A cross-section through an Escherichia coli cell reveals the crowded nature of the cell and diverse molecular processes.
	RecA and DNA RecA assists with the pairing of DNA strands during DNA repair.
	Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses (2018) by David S. Goodsell
	Mycoplasma mycoides Mycoplasma mycoides (2011) by David S. Goodsell. doi: 10.2210/rcsb_pdb/goodsell-gallery-011
	Biosites: Nucleus Biosites: Nucleus (2005) by David S. Goodsell
	Escherichia coli Escherichia coli (1999) by David S. Goodsell

Nucleic Acids

Molecule of the Month Articles (19)

Learning Resources (6)

Geis Digital Archive (6)

Goodsell Molecular Landscapes (6)