Pseudoknots

Pseudoknots are structural elements in nucleic acid molecules that are similar to, but distinct from, the well-known double-helix motif. These complex structures are formed by bonding between non-contiguous regions of a single strand of nucleic acid, and have been shown to have important roles in gene expression and translation of the genetic code into proteins. They may also play a role in other cellular processes such as RNA splicing and translational control. Because of the significance of these structures, research into pseudoknots has grown rapidly over the past few decades, and they are now viewed as essential components of the nucleic acid structures that mediate our genetic information.