Inverted repeat
Inverted Repeat (in-vur-ted ree-peat) is a sequence of nucleotides that is the reverse complement of another sequence further downstream. Inverted repeats are found in various types of genetic material, including DNA and RNA, and play a crucial role in the formation of secondary structures such as hairpin loops and palindromes in the genetic sequence.
Etymology
The term "Inverted Repeat" is derived from the nature of the sequence itself. "Inverted" refers to the reverse orientation of the sequence, while "Repeat" signifies the repetition of a particular sequence of nucleotides.
Structure and Function
Inverted repeats consist of two sequences of nucleotides that are identical but run in opposite directions. These sequences are separated by a spacer sequence that varies in length. The presence of inverted repeats can lead to the formation of secondary structures in the DNA or RNA molecule, such as hairpin loops in RNA and stem-loops in DNA. These structures can have significant effects on the function and regulation of the genes where they are found.
Inverted repeats are also involved in the process of recombination, where they can lead to the inversion of the intervening sequence. This can result in the alteration of gene expression, potentially leading to various genetic disorders.
Related Terms
- Direct Repeat: A sequence of nucleotides that is identical to another sequence further downstream, running in the same direction.
- Palindrome (genetics): A sequence of nucleotides that reads the same forwards and backwards, similar to a linguistic palindrome.
- Hairpin Loop: A type of secondary structure formed by inverted repeats in RNA.
- Stem-Loop: A type of secondary structure formed by inverted repeats in DNA.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Inverted repeat
- Wikipedia's article - Inverted repeat
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