<< Every second, a myriad of shapeless strands of RNA fold, origami-style, into intricate structures inside living cells. Now, for the first time, researchers can watch a data-driven video of this folding as RNA molecules are made by the cellular machinery. >>
<< as the RNA strand grows, it twists, forming knot-like structures. But as more RNA building blocks are added to the strand, the knots unravel, allowing the molecule’s structure to emerge. >>
Ground-breaking films show RNA’s complex curves take shape. Experimental data and predictive algorithms combine to reveal the essential biomolecule’s shape-shifting.
Nature. Jan 19, 2021.
AA << model the folding of an RNA called SRP, an ancient RNA found in all kingdoms of life. The molecule is well-known for its signature hairpin shape. When watching the videos, the researchers discovered that the molecule ties itself into a knot and unties itself very quickly. Then it suddenly flips into the correct hairpin-like structure using an elegant folding pathway called toehold mediated strand displacement. >>
<< To the best of our knowledge, this has never been seen in nature, (..) We think the RNA has evolved to untie itself from knots because if knots persist, it can render the RNA nonfunctional. The structure is so essential to life that it had to evolve to find a way to get out of a knot. >> Julius Lucks.
Amanda Morris. New Videos Show RNA as it's Never Been Seen. First-ever data-driven movies illuminate RNA's mysterious folding process. McCormick School of Engineering. Jan 15, 2021.
Angela M Yu, Paul M. Gasper, et al. Computationally reconstructing cotranscriptional RNA folding from experimental data reveals rearrangement of non-native folding intermediates. Molecular Cell. doi: 10.1016/ j.molcel.2020.12.017
Jan 15, 2021.
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