  The structural flexibility of nucleic acids plays a key role in many
fundamental life processes, such as gene replication and expression,
DNA-protein recognition, and gene regulation. To obtain a thorough
understanding of nucleic acid flexibility, extensive studies have been
performed using various experimental methods and theoretical models. In this
review, we will introduce the progress that has been made in understanding the
flexibility of nucleic acids including DNAs and RNAs, and will emphasize the
experimental findings and the effects of salt, temperature, and sequence.
Finally, we will discuss the major unanswered questions in understanding the
flexibility of nucleic acids.
