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Updated: May 28, 2026

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RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Using High-throughput SHAPE
Published on: May 31, 2013
Simplified RNA secondary structure mapping by automation of SHAPE data analysis
Phillip S Pang1, Menashe Elazar, Edward A Pham
1Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Nucleic Acids Research
|October 4, 2011
Summary
Selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analysed by primer extension (SHAPE) technology now has faster data processing. The new Fast Analysis of SHAPE traces (FAST) program simplifies RNA secondary structure determination, including for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Virology
Background:
- Selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analysed by primer extension (SHAPE) is a key method for nucleotide-level RNA secondary structure analysis.
- Current SHAPE methods face challenges due to complex and time-consuming data processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a modified data collection method and algorithms for faster SHAPE data processing.
- To introduce the Fast Analysis of SHAPE traces (FAST) program.
Main Methods:
- Developed a modified data collection protocol for SHAPE.
- Created a suite of algorithms implemented in the FAST program.
- Applied SHAPE/FAST to analyze the secondary structure of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome (~900 nt).
Main Results:
- The FAST program significantly reduces SHAPE data processing time.
- Successfully resolved the secondary structure of the first ~900 nucleotides of the HCV genome, including the core gene.
- Demonstrated SHAPE/FAST's capability to detect small molecule inhibitor binding to the HCV internal ribosomal entry site (IRES).
Conclusions:
- FAST enables high-throughput data processing, aligning with high-throughput SHAPE data generation.
- The FAST program lowers the barrier to determining RNA structures.
- Facilitates structural studies of RNAs, including viral genomes and drug-target interactions.
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