title: Constraint counting on RNA structures: linking flexibility and function.
abstract: RNA structures are highly flexible biomolecules that can undergo dramatic conformational changes required to fulfill their diverse functional roles. Constraint counting on a topological network representation of an RNA structure can provide very efficiently detailed insights into the intrinsic flexibility characteristics of the biomolecule. In the network, vertices represent atoms and edges represent covalent and strong non-covalent bonds and angle constraints. Initially, the method has been successfully applied to identify rigid and flexible regions in proteins. Here, we present recent progress in extending the approach to RNA structures. As a case study, we analyze stability characteristics of the ribosomal exit tunnel and relate these findings to the tunnel's active role in co-translational processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Molecular Bioinformatics Group, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fulle
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gohlke
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D001665:Binding Sites; D003198:Computer Simulation; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012313:RNA