The global and local distribution of RNA structure throughout the SARS-CoV-2 genome

摘要: Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is the causative viral agent of COVID-19, disease at center current global pandemic. While knowledge highly structured regions integral for mechanistic insights into infection cycle, very little known about location and folding stability functional elements within massive, ~30kb RNA genome. In this study, we analyze genome relative to structural landscape other well-known RNAs. We present an in-silico pipeline locate high base pair content across long also identify well-defined structures, a method that allows direct comparisons complexity several domains in report genomic propensity stable exceptional among viruses, superseding even HCV, one most RNAs nature. Furthermore, our analysis reveals varying levels structure regions, with accessory ORFs containing highest density Finally, take step further examine how individual structures formed by these are affected differences subgenomic contexts. The conclusions reported study provide foundation structure-function hypotheses biology, turn, may guide 3D characterization potential drug targets COVID-19 therapeutics.