Comparison of assembly efficiency for RNAs with optimised and uniform PS distributions.

For each move set, the average percentage of assembled capsid was computed from 5 stochastic simulations using an RNA with one of the four PS distributions; uniform ΔGps = −4, −8, −10 kcal M−1, or the optimal RNA PS distribution identified from the genetic algorithm. Additionally, two other PS distributions were tested. The first (knockout) involved taking the optimal RNA for a move set and setting the nucleation site, i.e. the section of 2-4 PSs with high affinity for CP shown as red dots in Fig 3, to ΔGps = −4 kcal M−1. The second (Nuc. Only) set all other PSs, except the nucleation site, to ΔGp s = −4 kcal M−1.