RNA/DNA hybrid duplexes with identical nearest-neighbor base-pairs have identical stability.

Energetic behaviors of eight pairs of RNA/DNA hybrid duplexes with identical nearest neighbors have been investigated by UV melting analysis. In the pairs with identical nearest-neighbor pairs, the melting curve traces at the same strand concentration were very similar. The average difference in stabilization energy of these pairs was 4%, which was about expected within experimental error. These results indicate that the nearest-neighbor model is valid for predicting the stability of RNA/DNA hybrid duplexes as well as RNA/RNA and DNA/DNA duplexes.