[Computerized ribosomal RNA secondary structure modeling of mutants found in Rett syndrome patients and their mothers].

OBJECTIVE

To identify the secondary structure of rRNA mutants, mtDNA2835(C-->T) and mtDNA2706(A-->G) found in Rett syndrome patients and their mothers.

METHODS

Both wild type mtDNA sequence of rRNA gene and mutated sequence were input into computer (converted into RNA sequences) and analyzed by the sofware DNASIS v6. 14. The unique prediction size is set 300 bases and the maximum bulge and interior loop size,30 bases.

RESULTS

Similar to the positive controls, the mtDNA2835(C-->T) made the 16S rRNA secondary structure totally different,and the energy changes a lot. On the contrary, the mtDNA2706(A-->G) altered little of secondary structure with a small energy shift.

CONCLUSION

Computerized folding programs have provided us with a quick prediction of rRNA structure changes induced by these two mutations. Of them, the mtDNA2835(C-->T) might relate to the pathogenesis of Rett syndrome, but the mtDNA2706(A--> G) might be less meaningful.