A computational model developed by researchers at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute is the first to accurately simulate the complex twists of
a short sequence of RNA as it folds into a critical hairpin structure known as
a “tetraloop.” The research, published today in Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, is a glimpse into RNA, found in all life on Earth, and
could advance a variety of research areas, including the search for new
antibiotics and cures for protein-related diseases.