Motif: In DNA
and RNA
a pattern formed by a repeated nucleoside
or nucleotide
sequence (i.e., in the primary
structure). In peptides
and proteins
a pattern formed by a repeated sequence of amino
acids (i.e., in the primary
structure), or in the spatial arrangement of the atoms
(i.e., in the secondary
structure). Taken from visual arts such as architecture,
where the term refers to a repeated pattern such as doors or
arches.
