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Introduction: Nucleic Acids Structure, Function, and Why Studying Them In Vacuo

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Nucleic Acids in the Gas Phase

Part of the book series: Physical Chemistry in Action ((PCIA))

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Abstract

This introductory chapter sets the stage for the various methods and application that will be described in the book “Nucleic acids in the gas phase.” Using key review articles as references, nucleic acid structures are introduced, with progression from primary structure to the main secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of DNA and RNA. Nucleic acid function is also overviewed, from the roles of natural nucleic acids in biology to those of artificial nucleic acids in the biotechnology, biomedical, or nanotechnology fields. Importantly, the question of why studying nucleic acids in the gas phase is addressed from three different points of view. First, because isolated molecules in vacuo cannot exchange energy with their surroundings, reactivity can be studied in well-defined energetic conditions. Second, isolating molecules from their solvent and environment allow to study their intrinsic properties. Finally, the rapidly expanding field of mass spectrometry, an intrinsically gas-phase analysis method, calls for better understanding of ion structure and reactivity in vacuo.

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Abbreviations

A:

Adenine

BIRD:

Blackbody infrared radiation-induced dissociation

bp:

Base pair

C:

Cytosine

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

FDA:

Food and Drug Adminstration

G:

Guanine

G4-DNA:

G-quadruplex DNA

IR:

Infrared

LNA:

Locked nucleic acid

miRNA:

Micro RNA

mRNA:

Messenger RNA

MS:

Mass spectrometry

MS/MS:

Tandem mass spectrometry

ncRNA:

Noncoding RNA

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance

nt:

Nucleotide

ODN:

Oligodeoxynucleotide

PDB:

Protein data bank

PNA:

Peptide nucleic acid

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

rRNA:

Ribosomal RNA

SASA:

Solvent-accessible surface area

siRNA:

Silencing RNA

T:

Thymine

TFO:

Triplex forming oligonucleotide

tRNA:

Transfer RNA

U:

Uracil

UV:

Ultraviolet

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IECB, ARNA Laboratory, Univ. Bordeaux, 33600, Pessac, France

    Valérie Gabelica

  2. U869, ARNA Laboratory, Inserm, 33000, Bordeaux, France

    Valérie Gabelica

Authors
  1. Valérie Gabelica
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Correspondence to Valérie Gabelica .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Pessac, France

    Valérie Gabelica

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Gabelica, V. (2014). Introduction: Nucleic Acids Structure, Function, and Why Studying Them In Vacuo. In: Gabelica, V. (eds) Nucleic Acids in the Gas Phase. Physical Chemistry in Action. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54842-0_1

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