Figure 3. AREScore distribution in comparison to randomized controls.

(A) The AREScore distribution of the H. sapiens transcriptome (every annotated transcript with a 3′UTR length ≥10 nt) was compared to a fully adjusted, randomized control set of sequences with identical lengths and A/T/G/C-content. Percentage of transcripts is depicted on a logarithmic scale. (B) The same analysis was done with the D. melanogaster transcriptome, as in panel A. Frequencies of 0 were omitted from the graph. (C) The same analysis was done with the C. elegans transcriptome, as in panel B. (D) The frequency of mRNAs with an AREScore ≥10 in the actual transcriptome of 14 species was compared to the frequency in fully adjusted, randomized control sequences. The analysis was carried out for Amphimedon queenslandica (demosponge), Hydra magnipapillata (freshwater polyp), Aplysia californica (California sea hare), Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworm), Ixodes scapularis (deer tick), Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (purple sea urchin), Ciona intestinalis (vase tunicate), Branchiostoma floridae (Florida lancelet), Danio rerio (zebrafish), Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog), Gallus gallus (chicken), Mus musculus (common house mouse) and Homo sapiens (man). The Φ coefficient serves as a measure for how strongly AREScores ≥10 are associated with the actual transcriptome as compared to the randomized control. P-values were calculated by χ²-test, n represents the number of transcripts. Species labeled in red show a significant enrichment of mRNAs with AREScores ≥10.