95-07-058
Abstract:
Generic Properties of Combinatory Maps: Neutral Networks of RNA
Secondary Structures
Christian Reidys, Peter F. Stadler, and Peter Schuster
Random graph theory is used to model relationships between sequences
and secondary structure of RNA molecules. Sequences folding into
identical structures form neutral networks which percolate sequence
space if the fraction of neutral nearest neighbors exceeds a threshold
value. The networks of any two different structures almost touch
each other, and sequences folding into almost all "common" structures can
be found in a small ball of an arbitrary location in sequence space.
The results from random graph theory are compared with data obtained
by folding large samples of RNA sequences. Differences are explained
in terms of RNA molecular structures.
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