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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

Authors :
Aron M. Yoffe
William M. Gelbart
Peter Prinsen
Avinoam Ben-Shaul
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