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29/03/24
05:46:15

Laboratory of Mathematic methods and models in bioinformatics,
Institute for Information Transmission Problems,
Russian Academy of Sciences

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Model of RNA-related regulation in bacteria

[ Run model online ] [ Download local version ]

Definition of the model, its implementation and use was described in [1-3,5,6]. The model uses Monte-Carlo method with big number of repetitions, so it is designed as a command line application for batch processing in Windows and Linux environment. This Web site provides for running the model directly on the server. It is designed to acquaint with the model and perform some preliminary tests. Due to server constraints, the model operation is somewhat limited; downloadable version of the program does not have such limitations.

The model has many parameters and options to control its operating mode, performance and output. Some of those arguments are available via interface form which opens when you "Run model". Provided controls are listed below with explanation and references to the equation numbers in [5]. The program distribution includes a detailed description of the complete set of parameters available in the local version.

The whole form consists of the following three sections separated by horizontal rules.

Top section of the form - Problem definition

Examples
For testing convenience, a list is here provided of leader regions for several operons in certain bacteria. Each sequence starts from the start codon of the leader peptide gene and ends with U-run. Wild type genomes are presented as well as two E. coli mutants obtained by substitute A for G at positions 75 and 132 from the start of transcription. (These mutants and experimental data are described in [4] ). Select an example and click "Select organism" button; the selected sequence will appear in the "Sequence" field, and other arguments will set to default.
Sequence
This field allows user to enter or paste a sequence or make some mutation manually. The sequence must consist of only letters G, C, A, T, U; no other characters are allowed. The sequence is not case sensitive, T and U are considered equivalent.
Amino acid(s)
This list allows for selection of the amino acid on which concentration depends the expression of the gene. Multiple amino acids may be selected using Ctrl key.
Concentration
For the amino acid selected, user should enter its relative concentration that is a quantity in the range [0, 1]. (Hereinafter a period is used as decimal separator, exponential form is also allowed eg 2.0e-3 = 0.002). Each model run deals with the concentration value specified here. Therefore, if you want to obtain a dependency of the concentration, you need to run the model several times or to use downloadable version, which includes automation scripts.
Exclude positions
Here user may specify a comma separated list of up to 6 segments of the sequence that cannot participate in complementary bond due to eg ligand bond. Each segment is encoded by two numbers, first being start position in the sequence and second being length of the segment. The field cannot contain spaces or other characters except digits or commas.

Middle section of the form - Model parameters

Row "Energy calculation":
α, lmax
These parameters allow for correction in bonding energy of the microstate according to Eq. 26. By default, α=0 and the correction is not applied.
Bloop, Bbulge, Bintloop, C
Parameters B and C for computation of loops energy (see Eq. 2), respectively, for terminal loop (hairpin loop), bulge and internal loop (two-side bulge) cases. Value of C is the same in all cases.
Thermodynamic temperature of the environment.

Row "Transitions":

Formula
Choice of equation for transition rate between macrostates: symmetric (Eq. 6) or asymmetric (Eqs. 4,5). Options marked "+q" use additional weighting factor for calculated transition rate, see [5, sec. 4.1]. The weighting factor exponentially decrease with occurrence frequency of the target macrostate. This helps to reduce an oscillatory looping, thus improving the model performance.
MAX #
Limit of slow transitions between macrostates. Upon reaching this threshold, either ribosome or polymerase move becomes possible rather than further transitions.
κ
Constant of slow closure that represents "viscosity" of cytoplasm.
λpol
Constant of polymerase transition rate to the next nucleotide (in absence of slowdown caused by the secondary structure).
λrib
Constant of ribosome transition rate to the next codon (from a non-regulatory codon).
λura
Constant of the polymerase slip off rate at a U-rich region.
q
A constant determining diminution rate of weighting factor mentioned in "Formula" item above. Only used if an equation marked "+q" is chosen.
Spol
Initial position after which 5´-edge of polymerase starts.
Srib
Initial position of the P-region of ribosome.

Row "Polymerase slowdown":

β
Additional coefficient in argument of tangent in Eq. 16. Equals 1 by default, ie not used. A zero value is also allowed.
L1, p0, r0, δ
These parameters are used in Eq. 14 which define a polymerase slowdown force caused by a hairpin of RNA secondary structure.
Hairpin
Choice of algorithm using Eq. 20 or Eq. 21, that is to consolidate slowdown from all existing hairpins (SUM) or only from one hairpin having maximum effect on polymerase (MAX).
MAXbulge, MAXintloop
Respectively, threshold size of bulge and internal loop that will be ignored in hairpin stem determination.

Row "Limits":

Helix
Minimum shoulder length of a helix.
Hypoelix
Minimum shoulder length of a hypohelix.
MINloop, MAXloop
Minimum and maximum length of helix loop.
Lpol
"Size" of polymerase from exit point of RNA strand to the point of transcription.
Lrib
"Size" of ribosome from the P-region to 3´-edge.
Uminlen
Minimum length of U-rich segment or minimal number of letters U in U-rich segment, depending on Ufraction value.
Ufraction
Minimum fraction of letters U in U-rich segment (if a number is between 0 and 1) or maximum gap of non-U letters between next U's within U-rich segment (if a number is equal to or greater than 1).
Ulast #
Number of U-rich segments taken into account, starting from 3´-edge of the sequence. By default, equals 1 so the very last seqment is taken, other are ignored.

Bottom section of the form - Run parameters

Repetition
This field is provided for setting desired number of repeated runs of the model used to estimate the probability of premature termination. The value is limited by 100 for online version, and is in effect only in "std" and "more" output modes (see "Output" below). In the "most" output modes only a single run is performed. In the mode of finding stable RNA secondary structures (see below) the user may enter in this field the desired number of such structures (20 by default).
Seed
Random number generator of the model will be initialized by the timer value, if this field is not set. To obtain reproducible results, the user can enter a certain number here that will be used instead of the timer value.
Lic.
The field is reserved for service purposes.
Clear
Click this button to cancel changes of the parameters and restore initial state of the form.
Equilibrium
Clicking this button, the model will run in a special mode with motionless ribosome and polymerase. It can be helpful in finding stable RNA secondary structures.
Attention! You cannot stop or otherwise affect the process after clicking the button.
Run model
Clicking this button will run the model in normal mode.
Attention! You cannot alter parameters or otherwise affect the process after clicking the button.
Output
Three types of output result are available:
std
Standard output mode where each run of the model results in one output line containing outcome of modeling (ie termination or anti-termination) and some additional characteristics of that run.
more
Extended output mode where an additional page is generated, which contains the final macrostate and outcome for each modeling trajectory.
most
Maximum output mode in a single run of the model. "Repetition" field is ignored if user chooses this mode, and the mode is presumed if user sets repetition number to 1. Each move of ribosome or polymerase generates one output line. In addition, another page is generated with graphical representation of model trajectory in terms of original sequence where current window and hypohelices are color-coded. To have more obvious representation, possible loops of any length are presented only once. Nevertheless, the file can include many lines so online version outputs only begin and end of the trajectory.

After clicking "Run model" or "Equilibrium" button, the interface form disappears and (provided that parameters are correct) the message "Your request has been accepted with ID: xxxxx" appears along with a link "view results" to the future result page. Time of a processing varies in a wide range depending on the request and the server load. On completion, the message "Request successfully completed" is displayed, and you can go to link "view results". Alternatively, you may save the link and close the window rather than wait for completion. Later you can go to the link and check if the processing is completed, and to get complete or partial results.

Link "view results" opens a new browser window with an output text file depending on previously selected parameters and output mode. Buttons "Delete result" in the top and bottom of the page allow the user to remove all data and result files related to his/her request. In "more" and "most" output modes, a link is also provided to view graphical presentation of the final states or a model trajectory in a separate window. User is strongly suggested to save both pages on a local system and then click button "Delete result". Otherwise, the server may delete the result at any moment without notice, and you cannot save the data needed.

For a bug report or more information on the model, please use contact email.

References

  1. V. Lyubetsky, L. Rubanov, A. Seliverstov, S. Pirogov. Model of gene expression regulation in bacteria via formation of RNA secondary structures. Molecular Biology. Vol.40, 3, 2006, p. 440-453.
  2. V.A. Lyubetsky, K.Yu. Gorbunov, S.A. Pirogov, L.I. Rubanov, A.V. Seliverstov. Algorithm and results for model of gene expression regulation in bacteria based on formation of RNA secondary structures. Information Processes. Vol.5, 5, 2005, p. 337-366. (In Russian) http://www.jip.ru/2005/337-366.pdf
  3. V.A. Lyubetsky, A.V. Seliverstov. Computation of effectiveness of tryptophan biosynthesis regulation in bacteria based on model of classic attenuation. Information Processes. Vol.6, 1, 2006, p. 55-57. (In Russian) http://www.jip.ru/2006/55-57-2006.pdf
  4. Das A., Crawford I.P., Yanofsky C. Regulation of tryptophan operon expression by attenuation in cellfree extracts of Escherichia coli. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Vol.257, 15, 1982, p. 8795-8798. http://www.jbc.org/cgi/reprint/257/15/8795.pdf
  5. Lyubetsky V., Pirogov S., Rubanov L., Seliverstov A. Modeling Classic Attenuation Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria. Journal of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. Vol.5, 1, 2007, p. 155-180.
  6. Lev Rubanov and Vassily Lyubetsky. RNAmodel Web Server: Modeling Classic Attenuation in Bacteria. In Silico Biology. Vol.7, 3, 2007, p. 285-308.

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