VfoldMCPX: predicting multistrand RNA complexes
- 1Department of Physics, Department of Biochemistry, and Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
- 2Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
- Corresponding author: chenshi{at}missouri.edu
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↵3 These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
Multistrand RNA complexes play a critical role in RNA-related biological processes. The understanding of RNA functions and the rational design of RNA nanostructures require accurate prediction of the structure and folding stability of the complexes, including those containing pseudoknots. Here, we present VfoldMCPX, a new model for predicting two-dimensional (2D) structures and folding stabilities of multistrand RNA complexes. Based on a partition function-based algorithm combined with physical loop free energy parameters, the VfoldMCPX model predicts not only the native structure but also the folding stability of the complex. An important advantage of the model is the ability to treat pseudoknotted structures. Extensive tests on structure predictions show the VfoldMCPX model provides improved accuracy for multistranded RNA complexes, especially for RNA complexes with three or more strands and/or containing pseudoknots. We have developed a freely accessible VfoldMCPX web server at http://rna.physics.missouri.edu/vfoldMCPX2.
Keywords
- Received October 15, 2021.
- Accepted January 10, 2022.
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