Phenomena and Processes

Inverted Repeat Sequences

Copies of nucleic acid sequence that are arranged in opposing orientation. They may lie adjacent to each other (tandem) or be separated by some sequence that is not part of the repeat (hyphenated). They may be true palindromic repeats, i.e. read the same backwards as forward, or complementary which reads as the base complement in the opposite orientation. Complementary inverted repeats have the potential to form hairpin loop or stem-loop structures which results in cruciform structures (such as CRUCIFORM DNA) when the complementary inverted repeats occur in double stranded regions.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Copies of nucleic acid sequence that are arranged in opposing orientation. They may lie adjacent to each other (tandem) or be separated by some sequence that is not part of the repeat (hyphenated). They may be true palindromic repeats, i.e. read the same backwards as forward, or complementary which reads as the base complement in the opposite orientation. Complementary inverted repeats have the potential to form hairpin loop or stem-loop structures which results in cruciform structures (such as CRUCIFORM DNA) when the complementary inverted repeats occur in double stranded regions.

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

30 entry terms
  • Inverted Repeat Sequence
  • Repeat Sequence, Inverted
  • Repeat Sequences, Inverted
  • Sequence, Inverted Repeat
  • Sequences, Inverted Repeat
  • Hairpin Loop Sequence
  • Inverted Tandem Repeats
  • Palindromic Repeat Sequences
  • Sequence Palindromes
  • Stem-Loop Sequence
  • Hairpin Loop Sequences
  • Inverted Tandem Repeat
  • Palindrome, Sequence
  • Palindromes, Sequence
  • Palindromic Repeat Sequence
  • Repeat Sequence, Palindromic
  • Repeat Sequences, Palindromic
  • Repeat, Inverted Tandem
  • Repeats, Inverted Tandem
  • Sequence Palindrome
  • Sequence, Hairpin Loop
  • Sequence, Palindromic Repeat
  • Sequence, Stem-Loop
  • Sequences, Hairpin Loop
  • Sequences, Palindromic Repeat
  • Sequences, Stem-Loop
  • Stem Loop Sequence
  • Stem-Loop Sequences
  • Tandem Repeat, Inverted
  • Tandem Repeats, Inverted

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

History Note

2009; for INVERTED REPEAT SEQUENCE use REPETITIVE SEQUENCES, NUCLEIC ACID 1990-2008

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. G02.111.570.080w.708w.800w.325w
  2. G05.360w.080w.708w.800w.325w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Inverted Repeat Sequences. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D055029. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D055029
  2. Inverted Repeat Sequences. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_repeat
  3. Inverted Repeat Sequences. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4852694