Nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleic acids are at the forefront when it comes to information, energy and metabolism. DNA and RNA are the polymers responsible for storing and the transfer of information. RNA is, likewise, involved in the modulation of this information (miRNA, siRNA), in catalysis (ribozymes), and in the coding process (tRNA). ATP is the master molecule when it comes to cell’s energy functions. Nucleotide receptors are involved in the transfer of information through the cell membrane and cAMP is a ubiquitous intracellular effector. Nucleosides and nucleotides are involved in metabolism as reagent (for example S-adenosylmethionine) or as cofactor (for example NAD). There is hardly a cellular process where nucleosides or nucleotides or nucleic acids are not involved.

Synthetic nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleic acids have found applications in biotechnology, biology and medicine. Nucleoside analogues, for example, have delivered many life saving drugs for the treatment of cancers and viral infections. Oligonucleotides, their analogues and conjugates have revealed new methods for controlling gene expression by means of antisense approaches. High affinity binding oligonucleotides selected as aptamers, have similar potential in research and medicine as monoclonal antibodies.

The remarkable chemical properties of nucleotide polymers make them privileged structures as diagnostic tools (for example SNP detection), nanoprobes and (bio)sensors. As a result of the many applications of nucleotides and oligonucleotides, they have been central in technology development (sequencing, oligonucleotide synthesis, PCR, microarrays) and represent an important economic sector.

More recently, nucleic acid analogs, have been applied in new scientific fields such as synthetic biology and systems chemistry. One part of synthetic biology is concerned about the design and construction of new biological parts, devices and systems for useful purposes. New base pair systems to expand the genetic code is one of the main stream ideas to synthetic life. Systems chemistry asks for experiments that can help in understanding life’s processes in a chemical way such as self-organization, exponential growth and autocatalysis.

This GRC has the aim to discuss frontline developments in research on nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleic acids in medicine, biology, chemical - and material sciences. Selected topics are biological active nucleosides, miRNA/siRNA, systems chemistry, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, biological active oligonucleotides. Additionally, the Biological Chemistry of Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Oligonucleotides will be discussed with emphasis on Systems, Chemistry, Synthetic Biology, miRNA/siRNA, Nucleotide Receptors, Apatmers/Aptazymes, Epigenetics, Structural Biology and Antiviral/Antitumoral Activity