Heat capacity changes associated with nucleic acid folding

Whereas heat capacity changes (Delta C(p)s) associated with folding transitions are commonplace in the literature of protein folding. they have long been considered a minor energetic contributor nucleic acid folding. Recent advances in the understanding of nucleic acid folding and improved technology for measuring the energetics of folding transitions have allowed a greater experimental window for measuring these effects. We present in this review a survey of current literature that confronts the issue of Delta C(p)s associated with nucleic acid folding transitions. This work helps to gather the molecular insights that call be gleaned from analysis of Delta C(p)s and points toward the challenges that will need to be overcome if the energetic contribution of Delta C-p terms are to be put to use in improving free energy calculations for nucleic acid structure prediction. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.