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Titel:
Concurrent neutral evolution of mRNA secondary structures and encoded proteins
Author(s):
Jaromir Konecny, Michael Schöniger, Ivo L. Hofacker, Marc-Denis Weitze,
G. Ludwig Hofacker
Appeared in:
J. Mol. Evol., 50: 238-242 (2000)
Abstract:
Messenger RNA sequences often have to preserve functional secondary
structure elements in addition to coding for proteins. We present a
statistical analysis of retroviral mRNA which supports the hypothesis that
the natural genetic code is adapted to such complementary coding. These
sequences are still able to efficiently explore the space of possible
proteins by point mutations. This is borne out by the observation that in
stem regions of retroviral mRNA foldings silent mutations on one strand are
preferentially accompanied by conservative mutations on the
other. Distances between amino acids based on physicochemical properties
are used to quantify the conservation of protein function under the
constraint of maintained RNA secondary structure. We find that preservation
of RNA secondary structure by compensatory mutations is evolutionary
compatible with the efficient search for new variants on the protein level.
Keywords:
Neutral evolution, mRNA secondary structure, Functional conservation
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