Deletions across the SARS-CoV-2 Genome: Molecular Mechanisms and Putative Functional Consequences of Deletions in Accessory Genes.

ABSTRACT: The analysis of deletions may reveal evolutionary trends and provide new insight into the surprising variability and rapidly spreading capability that SARS-CoV-2 has shown since its emergence. To understand the factors governing genomic stability, it is important to define the molecular mechanisms of deletions in the viral genome. In this work, we performed a statistical analysis of deletions. Specifically, we analyzed correlations between deletions in the SARS-CoV-2 genome and repetitive elements and documented a significant association of deletions with runs of identical (poly-) nucleotides and direct repeats. Our analyses of deletions in the accessory genes of SARS-CoV-2 suggested that there may be a hypervariability in ORF7A and ORF8 that is not associated with repetitive

SUBMITTER: Rogozin IB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9862619 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature