The optimization of mRNA expression level by its intrinsic properties-Insights from codon usage pattern and structural stability of mRNA.

Codon usage bias (CUB) and mRNA structural stability are important intrinsic features of mRNA that correlate positively with mRNA expression level. However, it remains unclear whether the mRNA expression level can be regulated by adjusting these two parameters, influencing the mRNAs' structure. Here we explored the influence of CUB and mRNA structural stability on mRNA expression levels in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using both wild type and computationally mutated mRNAs. Although in wild type, both CUB and mRNA stability positively regulate the mRNA expression level, any deviation from natural situation breaks such equilibrium. The naturally occurring codon composition is responsible for optimizing the mRNA expression, and under such composition, the mRNA structure having highest stability is selected by nature.