Stability of mRNA/DNA and DNA/DNA duplexes affects mRNA transcription

PLoS One. 2007 Mar 14;2(3):e290. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000290.

Abstract

Nucleic acids, due to their structural and chemical properties, can form double-stranded secondary structures that assist the transfer of genetic information and can modulate gene expression. However, the nucleotide sequence alone is insufficient in explaining phenomena like intron-exon recognition during RNA processing. This raises the question whether nucleic acids are endowed with other attributes that can contribute to their biological functions. In this work, we present a calculation of thermodynamic stability of DNA/DNA and mRNA/DNA duplexes across the genomes of four species in the genus Saccharomyces by nearest-neighbor method. The results show that coding regions are more thermodynamically stable than introns, 3'-untranslated regions and intergenic sequences. Furthermore, open reading frames have more stable sense mRNA/DNA duplexes than the potential antisense duplexes, a property that can aid gene discovery. The lower stability of the DNA/DNA and mRNA/DNA duplexes of 3'-untranslated regions and the higher stability of genes correlates with increased mRNA level. These results suggest that the thermodynamic stability of DNA/DNA and mRNA/DNA duplexes affects mRNA transcription.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / genetics*
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Drug Stability
  • Introns / genetics
  • Open Reading Frames
  • RNA, Fungal / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / chemistry*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces / genetics*
  • Thermodynamics
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Messenger
  • DNA