SIREs

SIREs predicts iron-responsive elements (IREs) in mRNA sequences to identify cis-acting motifs involved in post-transcriptional regulation of genes in iron metabolism.

Key Features:

• IRE prediction: Detects iron-responsive elements (IREs) in mRNA sequences based on sequence and structural properties.
• Improved sensitivity and accuracy: Reports enhanced sensitivity and accuracy compared with earlier IRE prediction programs.
• Structural analysis: Provides predicted RNA folds and folding energy data to characterize IRE secondary-structure features.
• Quality assessment: Generates an overall quality flag based on properties of well-characterized IREs.

Scientific Applications:

• Iron metabolism research: Enables identification of regulatory IREs to study gene expression responses to iron availability.
• Post-transcriptional regulation studies: Facilitates analysis of cis-acting motifs that mediate IRP-dependent control of mRNA stability and translation.
• Disease association investigations: Supports exploration of disruptions in the IRP/IRE system linked to human disorders of iron homeostasis.

Methodology:

Analyzes RNA sequence and predicted secondary-structure data, including predicted RNA folds and folding energy, to identify IRE cis-acting motifs that bind trans-acting factors IRP-1 and IRP-2.