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Does rapid sequence divergence preclude RNA structure conservation in vertebrates?
Stefan E Seemann1,2, Aashiq H Mirza1,3, Claus H Bang-Berthelsen1,4
1Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health (RTH), University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nucleic Acids Research
|February 21, 2022
Summary
RNA sequences can evolve rapidly while maintaining their structure, even in vertebrates. This accelerated evolution, though rare, was observed in newly identified and known RNA structures, some linked to immune response.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genomics
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Accelerated genome evolution often indicates adaptation and positive selection.
- Structured RNAs are crucial for function, but their rapid sequence evolution is understudied.
- RNA structures typically evolve via negative selection to preserve base pairing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rate of primary sequence evolution in structured RNAs while conserving their structure.
- To identify rapidly evolving RNA structures within vertebrate genomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of predicted and known RNA structures in vertebrate genomes (human and mouse).
- Identification of structures with sequences diverging at least twice as fast as neutral evolution.
- Rigorous control of false discovery rates.
Main Results:
- 13 de novo and 3 known RNA structures with rapidly evolving sequences were identified.
- These rapidly evolving sequences maintain structural integrity.
- Two known structures are involved in translation inhibition related to infection and immune response.
Conclusions:
- Rapid sequence divergence is compatible with RNA structure conservation in vertebrates.
- These instances of accelerated sequence evolution in structured RNAs are relatively rare.
- Findings provide insights into RNA evolution and adaptation mechanisms.
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