Double-stranded RNA under force and torque: Similarities to and striking differences from double-stranded DNA

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1407197111
• Publication Date: 2014-10-14T04:00:15Z
• Authors: Jan Lipfert; Gary M. Skinner; Johannes M. Keegstra; Toivo Hensgens; Tessa Jager; David Dulin; Mariana Köber; Zhongbo Yu; Serge P. Donkers; Fang-Chieh Chou; Rhiju Das; Nynke H. Dekker
• Keywords: Magnetic tweezers; RNA Silencing; Double stranded

Significance RNA, like DNA, can form double helices held together by the pairing of complementary bases, and such are ubiquitous in functional RNAs. Here we apply external forces torques to individual double-stranded RNA molecules determine mechanical properties conformational transitions these fundamental biological building blocks. For small torques, behave elastic rods, have determined their bending, stretching, twisting stiffness. Surprisingly, find that shortens when it is overwound, whereas DNA lengthens. Finally, twist until buckles forms a loop, timescale this transition be much slower for compared with suggesting unexpected differences flexibilities on short length scales.