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Modeling the Size and Structure of RNA: Viral vs. Non-viral Sequences
Modeling the Size and Structure of RNA: Viral vs. Non-viral Sequences
- Source :
- Biophysical Journal. 96:15a
- Publication Year :
- 2009
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2009.
-
Abstract
- Based on a simple linear polymer model we derive a scaling relationship between the “maximum-ladder-distance” characterizing the secondary structure of folded, single stranded, RNA and the radius of gyration characterizing its spatial dimensions. Secondary structures are calculated for a large number of viral RNA sequences as well as non-viral sequences of comparable length and nucleotide composition. The results show that viral RNAs fold into significantly smaller 3D structures than non-viral sequences, consistent with an evolutionary pressure to package the viral sequences inside small rigid protein capsids. We also present a theory explaining why the two ends of a folded RNA are generally found close to each other, independent of nucleotide sequence and length.
Details
- ISSN :
- 00063495
- Volume :
- 96
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Biophysical Journal
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....50020ab30c778f47ef7d3648ae2f2a8e
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2008.12.979