Structure Modeling of Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) of Copper Resistant Ciliates

Journal Article
Shakoori, Raheela Chaudhry1,3, Muhammad Tausif Chaudhry1, Khalid Al-Ghanim2, Shahid Meboob2 and Abdul Rauf . 2014
Publication Work Type: 
Euplotes sp., Free energy minimization, Secondary structure of RNA , SSU rRNA, Tetrahymena sp.
Tags: 
Euplotes sp., Free energy minimization, Secondary structure of RNA , SSU rRNA, Tetrahymena sp.
Magazine \ Newspaper: 
Pakistan J. Zool
Issue Number: 
6
Volume Number: 
46
Pages: 
1625-1632
Publication Abstract: 

The most suitable secondary structures of SSU rRNA of Euplotes adiculatus lahorensis and two new
subspecies Tetrahymena tropicalis lahorensis subsp. nov. and Euplotes muscicola SBSrc subsp. nov. are being
proposed based on minimum free energy. These ciliates were highly resistant to copper with minimum inhibitory
concentration of 50 ppm. T. t. lahorensis SSU rRNA structure with 564 base pairs consists of 117 stems, while the
free energy of the structure is -380.71 kcal at 37 ºC. The SS rRNA structure of E. muscicola SBSrc has 126 stems and
606 base pairs with -396.17 kcal free energy, whereas E. adiculatus lahorensis has 121 stems, 609 base pairs and the
free energy of its structure is -425.23 kcal at 37 ºC. There are number of salient features located in all the three rRNA
secondary structures. Most important are the sequence complementary to ribosome binding site (RBS) of mRNA and
the variable regions (V1–V9). Alignments of these regions indicate noticeable variation in sequence, which may be
considered as basis for classification of ciliates.