Thus, reliably predicting G·U pairing would be advantageous
for deciphering RNA function from new transcriptome data.
However, while Watson−Crick nucleotide pairing can be
predicted reasonably accurately at the sequence level,
predictions of pairing between guanines and uracils (G·U
pairs) is much more difficult. Tandem G·U pairs inside a helix
can be thermodynamically destabilizing, with the notable
exception of the sequence 5′-GGUC-3′/3′-CUGG-5′.11−14 In
contrast, all consecutive terminal G·U pairs are stabilizing
(Table 1)