title: RNA folding energy landscapes.
abstract: Using a statistical mechanical treatment, we study RNA folding energy landscapes. We first validate the theory by showing that, for the RNA molecules we tested having only secondary structures, this treatment (i) predicts about the same native structures as the Zuker method, and (ii) qualitatively predicts the melting curve peaks and shoulders seen in experiments. We then predict thermodynamic folding intermediates. For one hairpin sequence, unfolding is a simple unzipping process. But for another sequence, unfolding is more complex. It involves multiple stable intermediates and a rezipping into a completely non-native conformation before unfolding. The principle that emerges, for which there is growing experimental support, is that although protein folding tends to involve highly cooperative two-state thermodynamic transitions, without detectable intermediates, the folding of RNA secondary structures may involve rugged landscapes, often with more complex intermediate states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Box 1204, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-1204, USA. chenshi@showme.missouri.edu
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dill
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation / Q000187:drug effects; D009876:Operon; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000737:chemistry; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D009025:Morpholines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S; C008550:morpholinopropane sulfonic acid; D012313:RNA; D011189:Potassium Chloride