Single deletion mutations are better tolerated than larger (2-3 residue) deletions

Summary

Deletion mutations of 1 amino acid are better tolerated than deletion mutations of 2-3 AAs. This is not true of insertions (1).

1.

Topolska M, Beltran A, Lehner B. Deep indel mutagenesis reveals the impact of amino acid insertions and deletions on protein stability and function. Nature Communications. 2025;16(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57510-5