2′‐Fluoro RNA Shows Increased Watson–Crick H‐Bonding Strength and Stacking Relative to RNA: Evidence from NMR and Thermodynamic Data

The way it is: Incorporation of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluororibonucleotides (2′-F RNA) into RNA oligomers leads to a marked increase in duplex stability. Using NMR spectroscopy (see picture) with native (red circles) and 2′-F modified (black squares) RNA duplexes, and UV melting and osmotic stress experiments the higher stability of 2′-F RNA relative to RNA is shown to be the result of both increased Watson–Crick H-bonding strength and favorable base stacking.