PubReading [220] - Interbase FRET in RNA: from A to Z - A. Fuechtbauer, M. Wilhelmsson et al.

<p><strong>Interbase FRET</strong> can reveal highly detailed information about distance, orientation and dynamics in <strong>nucleic acids</strong>, complementing the existing structure and dynamics techniques. We here report the first RNA base analogue FRET pair, consisting of the donor <strong>tCO</strong> and the non-emissive acceptor <strong>tCnitro</strong>. The acceptor ribonucleoside is here synthesised and incorporated into RNA for the first time. This FRET pair accurately reports the average structure of <strong>A-form RNA</strong>, and its utility for probing RNA structural changes is demonstrated by monitoring the transition from A- to Z-form RNA. Finally, the measured FRET data were compared with theoretical FRET patterns obtained from two previously reported <strong>Z-RNA</strong> PDB structures, to shed new light on this elusive RNA conformation.</p><p><em>doi: 10.1093/nar/gkz812 - 2019</em></p>