Up to 40% of nucleotides in structured RNAs are in hairpin, internal and junction loops.
Loops are structured by non-Watson-Crick base-pairing and -stacking interactions.
RNA 3D motifs found in loops can be extracted and clustered into motif groups.
Many RNA 3D motif geometries are modular and recurrent with similar non-WC pairing.
Corresponding motifs in homologous structures frequently conserve 3D structure.