Abstract
The non-Watson-Crick base-pairing interactions in tRNAs are reviewed in relation to the base types (complementary/noncomplementary), glycosyl configuration (cis/trans), and backbone chain direction (antiparallel/parallel). It is found that all but one of the tertiary base pairs, including one within a helix, exhibit non-Watson-Crick pairing schemes regardless of whether or not complementary bases are involved, thus emphasizing that complementary bases are not necessarily engaged in Watson-Crick pairs only. It is suggested that similar non-Watson-Crick pairs may form a significant proportion of the tertiary interactions in other ribonucleic acids (such as ribosomal and viral RNAs) and perhaps also turn out to be important in nucleic acid-nucleic acid and nucleic acid-oligonucleotide interactions. The biological significance of such interactions in “information transfer” should not be underestimated.
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