title: Secondary structure of MS2 phage RNA and bias in code word usage.
abstract: Based on the secondary structural model of MS2 RNA, it is shown that, in base-pairing regions of the RNA, there is a bias in the use of synonymous codons which favours C and/or G over U and/or A in the third codon positions, and that in non-pairing regions, there is an opposite bias which favours U and/or A over C and/or G. This nature is interpreted as a result of selective constraint which stabilises the secondary structure of the single-stranded RNA genome of the MS2 phage.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003062:Codon; D003090:Coliphages / Q000235:genetics*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012317:RNA Phages / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral