Identification and comparison of RNA structures in 5’- and 3’-terminal genomic regions across four coronavirus genera by SHAPE analysis

The 5' and 3' terminal RNA structures in the represented α, β, γ and δ coronaviruses are analyzed and compared by using the chemical probing method SHAPE. Although different degrees of variations are found in the 5'- and 3'-terminal genomic regions across the four coronavirus genera, conserved RNA structures are identified. The determined RNA structures, the potential long-range RNA‒RNA interactions and the predicted 3D RNA structures within these genomic regions may contribute to the identification of RNA elements important for coronavirus gene expression.