RNA Biochemistry and Biotechnology describes various aspects of nucleic acid and protein structure, mainly RNA structure and proteins, interacting with specific RNA species. Papers deal with DNA protein interactions, telomerase, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, elongation factor Tu, DNA repair, RNA structure, NMR technology, RNA aptamer interaction of biological macromolecules with metal ions. Two papers deal with theoretical aspects of RNA structure production and computer modelling. Many papers describe the possibility of commercial application of RNA biotechnology. One article discusses the impact of direct democracy on basic science supporting biotechnology. Readership: Advanced graduate students, Ph.D. students and young scientists as well as specialists in the field.

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Preface. List of Contributors. 1. Why RNA? J. Barciszewski, B.F.C. Clark. 2. Algorithms and thermodynamics for RNA secondary structure prediction: a practical guide; M. Zuker, et al. 3. Recurrent RNA motifs: Analysis at the basepair level; N.B. Leontis, E. Westhof. 4. Towards the 3D structure of 5S rRNA; M. Perbandt, et al. 5. Structure and dynamics of adenosine loops in RNA bulge duplexes. RNA hydration at the bulge site; L. Bielecki, et al. 6. The structure and function of the ribozyme RNAse P RNA is dictated by magnesium(II) ions; L. Kirsebom. 7. Metal ion-induced cleavages in probing of RNA structure; J. Ciesiotko. 8. Protein-DNA recognition; D. Rhodes. 9. Specific interaction between damaged bases in DNA and repair enzymes; K. Morikawa. 10. Telomeric DNA recognition; D. Rhodes. 11. Recognition of one tRNA by two classes of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase; M. Ibba, et al. 12. Functional structures of class-I-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases; O. Nureki, et al. 13. Aminoacylation of tRNA induces a conformational switch on the 3'-terminal ribose; A. Schlosser, et al. 14. Point mutants of elongation factor Tu from E. coli impaired in binding aminoaycl-tRNA; C.R. Knudsen, et al. 15. RNA structure and RNA-protein recognition during regulation of eukaryotic gene expression; G. Varani, et al. 16. RNA-aptamers for studying RNA-protein interactions; M. Sprinzl, et al. 17. Probing of ribonucleoprotein complexes with site-specifically derivatized RNAs; M.M. Konarska, et al. 18. The IRE model for families of RNA structures: Selective recognition by binding proteins (IRPs), NMR spectroscopy and probing with metal coordination complexes; E.C. Theil, et al. 19. Functional analysis of RNA signals in the HIV-1 genome by forced evolution; B. Berkhout, A.T. Das. 20. Interaction of native RNAs with Tat peptides; E. Wyszko, et al. 21. Biogenesis, structure and function of small nucleolar RNAs; W. Filipowicz, et al. 22. RNA structure modules with trinucleotide repeat motifs; W. Krzyzosiak, et al. 23. Phosphorothioate oligonucleotides as aptamers of retroviral reverse transcriptases; M. Koziotkiewicz, et al. 24. Oxathiaphospholane method of the stereocontrolled cynthesis of phosphorothioate analogues of oligonucleotides; A. Okruszek. 25. Towards improved applications of cell-free protein biosynthesis &endash; the influence of mRNA structure and suppressor tRNAs on the efficiency of the system; M. Gerrits, et al. 26. RNA on the web; M. Szymański, et al. 27. How risky is direct democracy for basic science? P. Mani. Subject Index.