Evidence that microRNA precursors, unlike other non-coding RNAs, have lower folding free energies than random sequences.

@article{citeulike:118649, abstract = {MOTIVATION: Most non-coding RNAs are characterized by a specific secondary and tertiary structure that determines their function. Here, we investigate the folding energy of the secondary structure of non-coding RNA sequences, such as microRNA precursors, transfer RNAs and ribosomal RNAs in several eukaryotic taxa. Statistical biases are assessed by a randomization test, in which the predicted minimum free energy of folding is compared with values obtained for structures inferred from randomly shuffling the original sequences. RESULTS: In contrast with transfer RNAs and ribosomal RNAs, the majority of the microRNA sequences clearly exhibit a folding free energy that is considerably lower than that for shuffled sequences, indicating a high tendency in the sequence towards a stable secondary structure. A possible usage of this statistical test in the framework of the detection of genuine miRNA sequences is discussed.}, address = {Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.}, author = {Bonnet, E. and Wuyts, J. and Rouz\'{e}, P. and Van de Peer, Y. }, citeulike-article-id = {118649}, doi = {10.1093/bioinformatics/bth374}, issn = {1367-4803}, journal = {Bioinformatics}, month = {November}, number = {17}, pages = {2911--2917}, posted-at = {2007-09-10 16:18:37}, priority = {0}, title = {Evidence that microRNA precursors, unlike other non-coding RNAs, have lower folding free energies than random sequences.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/bth374}, volume = {20}, year = {2004} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:118649 L3 - citeulike-article-id:118649 TI - Evidence that microRNA precursors, unlike other non-coding RNAs, have lower folding free energies than random sequences. JF - Bioinformatics VL - 20 IS - 17 SP - 2911 EP - 2917 AD - Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium. SN - 1367-4803 N2 - MOTIVATION: Most non-coding RNAs are characterized by a specific secondary and tertiary structure that determines their function. Here, we investigate the folding energy of the secondary structure of non-coding RNA sequences, such as microRNA precursors, transfer RNAs and ribosomal RNAs in several eukaryotic taxa. Statistical biases are assessed by a randomization test, in which the predicted minimum free energy of folding is compared with values obtained for structures inferred from randomly shuffling the original sequences. RESULTS: In contrast with transfer RNAs and ribosomal RNAs, the majority of the microRNA sequences clearly exhibit a folding free energy that is considerably lower than that for shuffled sequences, indicating a high tendency in the sequence towards a stable secondary structure. A possible usage of this statistical test in the framework of the detection of genuine miRNA sequences is discussed. AU - Bonnet, E AU - Wuyts, J AU - Rouzé, P AU - Van de Peer, Y PY - 2004/11/22/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/bth374 ER -