INVARIANT SECONDARY STRUCTURE OF LEFT AND RIGHT MONOMERS OF ALU REPEATS IN HUMAN GENOME
Blinov V. M., Resenchuk S. M., Uvarov D. L., Chirikova G. B., Denisov S. I., Kisselev L. L.
Institute of Molecular Biology, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vektor, 633159, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; Fax: (3832) 328-831, E-mail: Blinov@vector.nsk.su ;; Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sc
Non-random distribution of more than 1 million Alu elements in the human
genome suggests their structural and/or functional role. Numerous efforts
have not succeeded in clarifying the structural organization and evolution
of Alu elements. The Alu elements are mainly composed of two monomers:
left (L) and right (R). This study demonstrates the invariant secondary
structures of the Alu repeats. These structures allow high diversity of
compensatory mutations. On the other hand, conservative secondary structures
appear important for the functioning of Alu repeats in the human genome.
The tetraplex GC-rich clusters GGGC and GCCC were identified in the dimeric
Alu repeats and shown to form a unique core structure in both L and R monomers.
Medium-scale interactions (triplex structures) were found between the GC-rich
clusters, and the fine structure of the repeated and complementary modules
within the Alu elements was analyzed. All Alu repeats were shown to contain
invariant tRNA-like structures. The core Alu model may be applied at a
higher chromosomal level when mono-, di-, and trimeric Alu forms are considered
as interacting units. The set of Alu elements in the human genome may be
regarded as a dynamic system. Reording and selection of the Alu interactions
at both the DNA and the chromosomal scale may be described with a certain
chromosomal code.