RNA FOLDING ENERGY LANDSCAPES

生物分子经历协同折叠转变。 分析 理论已经提供了一个详细的了解，只有为 螺旋/卷曲过渡。 我们发展了一种新的理论， 二级结构之间的一类序列依赖性转换， RNA分子和蛋白质中的β-发夹。 该理论预测， 5种不同RNA分子的稳定状态及其变性 热力学 据预测，RNA具有丰富的 行为，包括1-状态和2-状态转换和“路径上” 和“非途径”中间状态，这取决于核苷酸 顺序和溶剂条件。 与蛋白质相比，RNA折叠 地形可能相当崎岖。 计算机图形实验室 为展示RNA结构提供了非常有用的工具。 的 展示真实的分子结构有助于我们更好地 理解序列结构关系。

Biomolecules undergo cooperative folding transitions. Analytical theory has been available to provide a detailed understanding only for the helix/coil transition. We developed a new theory for a broad class of sequence-dependent transitions among secondary structures in RNA molecules and beta-hairpins in proteins. The theory predicts the stable states of 5 different RNA molecules and their denaturation thermodynamics. RNAs are predicted to have a rich variety of behaviors, including 1-state and 2- state transitions and "on-pathway" and "off-pathway" intermediate states, depending on the nucleotide sequence and solvent conditions. Compared to proteins, RNA folding landscapes may be quite rugged. The Computer Graphics Laboratory provides very useful facilities to display the RNA structures. The display of the actual molecular structure helps us to better understand the sequence-structure relationships.