Despite a half century of structural biophysical and biochemical investigations of ribonucleic
acids they are still mysterious. RNAs stand at fertile crossroads of disciplines integrating
concepts from genomics proteomics dynamics as well as biochemistry and molecular biology.
From 20 years it is clear that genetic regulation of eukaryotic organisms has been
misunderstood for the last years that the expression of genetic information is effected only by
proteins. Basic understanding of nucleic acids has enhanced our foundation to probe novel
biological functions. This is especially evident for RNA molecules whose functionality
maturation and regulation require formation of correct secondary structure through encoded
base-pairing interactions.
