Title
Reversible unfolding of single RNA molecules by mechanical force
Date Issued
27 April 2001
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Liphardt J.
Onoa B.
Smith S.B.
Tinoco I. J.
University of California
Abstract
Here we use mechanical force to induce the unfolding and refolding of single RNA molecules: a simple RNA hairpin, a molecule containing a three-helix junction, and the P5abc domain of the Tetrahymena thermophila ribozyme. All three molecules (P5abc only in the absence of Mg2+) can be mechanically unfolded at equilibrium, and when kept at constant force within a critical force range, are bi-stable and hop between folded and unfolded states. We determine the force-dependent equilibrium constants for folding/unfolding these single RNA molecules and the positions of their transition states along the reaction coordinate.
Start page
733
End page
737
Volume
292
Issue
5517
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Nano-tecnología Bioquímica, Biología molecular
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-0035957720
PubMed ID
Source
Science
ISSN of the container
00368075
Sponsor(s)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences- R01GM010840 NIGMS
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus