The DUF1874 RNA motif is a conserved

nucleic acid Nucleic acids are large biomolecules that are crucial in all cells and viruses. They are composed of nucleotides, which are the monomer components: a pentose, 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base. The two main classes of nuclei ...

structure that was discovered by bioinformatics. The DUF1874 motif has not (as of 2018) been detected in any classified organism, but rather is known only in

metagenomic Metagenomics is the study of all genetic material from all organisms in a particular environment, providing insights into their composition, diversity, and functional potential. Metagenomics has allowed researchers to profile the microbial co ...

DNA sequences isolated from

hot spring A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a Spring (hydrology), spring produced by the emergence of Geothermal activity, geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow ...

s. DUF1874 are frequently present in consecutive

intergenic region An intergenic region is a stretch of DNA sequences located between genes. Intergenic regions may contain functional elements and junk DNA. Properties and functions Intergenic regions may contain a number of functional DNA sequences such as p ...

s between consecutive

gene In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...

s. All of these genes are encoded on the same

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...

strand. For this reason, it was proposed that DUF1874 motif examples likely function as "''attC''" sites as part of an

integron Integrons are genetic mechanisms that allow bacteria to adapt and evolve rapidly through the stockpiling and expression of new genes. These genes are embedded in a specific genetic structure called gene cassette (a term that is lately changing to i ...

, as ''attC'' sites occur in integrons between a run of consecutive genes that have been taken up by the integron. ''attC'' sites are singled-stranded DNA elements that are used by integrons to enabling the rearrangement and integration of new genes into the intron. Thus, if the preceding hypothesis is true, then the DUF1874 motif function as single-stranded DNA. Although the arrangement of DUF1874 motif examples and genes is typical of integrons, no

integrase Retroviral integrase (IN) is an enzyme An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme ...

gene was detected in the metagenomic

contig A contig (from ''contiguous'') is a set of overlapping DNA segments that together represent a consensus region of DNA.Gregory, S. ''Contig Assembly''. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, 2005. In bottom-up sequencing projects, a contig refers to over ...

s that contain DUF1874 motif examples. This absence could occur because the sequences are truncated in metagenomic contigs, because some integrons lack integrases or because the ''attC'' site hypothesis is incorrect.

References

{{reflist Non-coding RNA