Messenger RNA Structure: Compatibility of Hairpin Loops with Protein Sequence

Abstract

Examination of the amino acid sequences of human cytochrome c and the alpha-chain variant of human hemoglobin Constant Spring has revealed the possiblity for base-paired hairpin loops in the messenger RNA's for these proteins. A similar analysis of the bacteriophage R17 coat protein suggests an additional unobserved loop in the R17 RNA. If such loops are present in messenger RNA's generally, it would suggest that DNA has more than one stable base-paired conformation.