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Investigation of de novo Totally Random Biosequences, Part IV
Author(s) -
De Lucrezia Davide,
Franchi Marco,
Chiarabelli Cristiano,
Gallori Enzo,
Luisi Pier Luigi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
chemistry and biodiversity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.427
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1612-1880
pISSN - 1612-1872
DOI - 10.1002/cbdv.200690090
Subject(s) - rna , chemistry , computational biology , nucleic acid , value (mathematics) , computer science , biochemistry , biology , gene , machine learning
This work lies within the framework of a broader project aimed at exploring the realm of all possible folded polypeptides; the main question addressed here is whether the corresponding RNAs also assume a folded conformation. We present an investigation on the structural properties of de novo , totally random RNAs by means of the ‘RNA Foster’ assay. Experimental results show that all RNAs studied are folded at 37°, so that fold seems to be a common feature of RNAs. Random RNAs' fold shows a surprising thermal stability with an average T m value at ca. 50° which prompts the idea that thermo‐stable structures might not be as rare as they are commonly thought to be. The results are discussed within the general framework of random RNA properties such as those that might have been produced in a prebiotic scenario.