Figure 1.
A schematic diagram of the hypothesis that nascent RNA folding mitigates transcription-associated mutagenesis. (A) With weaker RNA folding, an R-loop accumulates, which increases the exposure time of the naked nontemplate DNA and error-prone DNA synthesis, leading to a higher mutation rate. (B) With stronger RNA folding, the R-loop is dissolved, which reduces the exposure time of the naked nontemplate DNA and error-prone DNA synthesis, resulting in a lowered mutation rate.
