Single-stranded RNA

This is an RNA chain with 12 nucleotides, single-stranded (a dodecaribonucleotide).

This oligonucleotide (which is synthetic) adopts in this case a helix arrangement, that allows a partial stacking of the bases, although it is not very stable and can adopt other conformations.

spheres or spacefilling model.

backbone (hydrophilic, polar) and bases (hydrophobic, nonpolar).

Quiz:

In which part of the molecule is base stacking reduced?

Number the residues.

between nucleotides 1 and 2
between nucleotides 5 and 6
between nucleotides 11 and 12
between A and T