3 ms·

I wonder if the formation of an i-motif could change the behavior of the "normal" DNA code. Like a flag on a function to slightly change how it works. Could ma

by foxhop 9y ago

I wonder if the formation of an i-motif could change the behavior of the "normal" DNA code. Like a flag on a function to slightly change how it works. Could make certain parts of reading normal double helix DNA a no-op, for example by accumulating parts before they can be read. Another idea is maybe this is just a structure for temporary memory for use in a more complex "algorithm". We used to think DNA was just mostly static data but now it seems there is some computation going on. If not computation to change behavior, maybe the i-motif act like a check sum to make sure a complex or essential part of DNA isn't corrupted (by a storage failure or a virus)

subroutine 9y ago
I dont think this motif brings anything spooky/special to the fore. DNA is swarmed by proteins, ribocomplexes, acetyl/methyl histone mods, etc. all of its own making. Whatever special computation one might speculate this motif could perform- that computation or fidelity check or whatever else is probably a known and well-documented function of some DNA-associating complex. While it's fun to speculate how this might 'change the game', in all likelihood, this finding is a very small drop in a very large bucket. But if we are speculating... That a motif forms by a single strand of DNA or RNA is expected (given certain properties or symmetries). What the image in the article depicts and given the quote that this is often seen at start codons, to me, suggests this motif forms whenever transcription machinery has opened the helix creating two single strands. And instead of hanging out as single strands (a very vulnerable state, to DNase degradation, etc) they coil unto themselves. This might also suggest this segment of DNA is relatively easy to unzip, and has built-in degredation protection, making for ideal consensus sequences as start codons.

by foxhop 9y ago

subroutine 9y ago

I dont think this motif brings anything spooky/special to the fore. DNA is swarmed by proteins, ribocomplexes, acetyl/methyl histone mods, etc. all of its own making. Whatever special computation one might speculate this motif could perform- that computation or fidelity check or whatever else is probably a known and well-documented function of some DNA-associating complex. While it's fun to speculate how this might 'change the game', in all likelihood, this finding is a very small drop in a very large bucket. But if we are speculating... That a motif forms by a single strand of DNA or RNA is expected (given certain properties or symmetries). What the image in the article depicts and given the quote that this is often seen at start codons, to me, suggests this motif forms whenever transcription machinery has opened the helix creating two single strands. And instead of hanging out as single strands (a very vulnerable state, to DNase degradation, etc) they coil unto themselves. This might also suggest this segment of DNA is relatively easy to unzip, and has built-in degredation protection, making for ideal consensus sequences as start codons.