Figure 6.

Comparison of the structural parameters of a dsRNA AU-tract (left) and a dsDNA A-tract (right). The average structure of the simulated Seq. 3 and a recent NMR (56) structure of the Drew Dickerson Dodecamer (DDD) were taken, respectively, as representative examples of a dsRNA AU-tract and a dsDNA A-tract structure. The analysis was performed using Curves+ (42). In addition to the major groove width, the structural parameters propeller twist, roll and minor groove width, which are typically used in the characterization of A-tracts (18) were computed.