Session B26: Focus Session: Single Molecule Biophysics: DNA & RNA

11:15 AM–2:15 PM, Monday, March 13, 2006
Baltimore Convention Center Room: 323

Sponsoring Units: DBP DPOLY
Chair: Ching-Hwa Kiang, Rice University

Abstract ID: BAPS.2006.MAR.B26.9

Abstract: B26.00009 : Abundance of pseudoknots in the RNA world

1:15 PM–1:27 PM

Preview Abstract MathJax On | Off   Abstract  

Authors:

  Daniel Aalberts
  Evan Miller
    (Williams College)

The pseudoknot fold is often seen in auto-catalytic RNA and in viruses. A recent polymer physics model and statistical-mechanical theory predicts relative probabilities of different pseudoknot folds consonant with a database of known folds. Now we extend that theory for a preliminary estimate of the abundance of pseudoknot folds in RNA sequences, finding approximately 1 per 40,000 nucleotides. This theoretical probability density compares favorably to what we infer from structure databases and has implications for genome organization, RNA folding algorithms, and the RNA World.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2006.MAR.B26.9