Conformational Analysis of Nucleic Acids: Problems and Solutions

There are numerous problems associated with the determination of nucleic acid structures in solution using NMR methods. These include spin diffusion, anisotropic rotation, conformational averaging, low density of experimental constraints and lack of long-range information. The difficulties arising from the first two problems can be treated reliably, but new experimental methods are needed for the last two. To deal effectively with conformational averaging, newer computational procedures are required. Approaches to these problems are described, and illustrated with an example of a DNA.RNA hybrid duplex.