Abstract
An introduction into the usage of graph or network theory tools for the study of RNA molecules is presented. By using vertices and edges to define RNA secondary structures as tree and dual graphs, we can enumerate, predict, and design RNA topologies. Graph connectivity and associated Laplacian eigenvalues relate to biological properties of RNA and help understand RNA motifs as well as build, by computational design, various RNA target structures. Importantly, graph theoretical representations of RNAs reduce drastically the conformational space size and therefore simplify modeling and prediction tasks. Ongoing challenges remain regarding general RNA design, representation of RNA pseudoknots, and tertiary structure prediction. Thus, developments in network theory may help advance RNA biology.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 941-955 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | WSEAS Transactions on Mathematics |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 9 |
State | Published - Sep 2013 |
Keywords
- In Vitro Selection
- Network Theory
- RNA Prediction
- RNA-As-Graphs
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Algebra and Number Theory
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Statistics and Probability
- Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
- Management Science and Operations Research
- Control and Optimization
- Computational Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics