Identification of consensus hairpin loop structure among the negative sense sub-genomic RNAs of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of worldwide pandemic disease COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 bears positive sense RNA genome, that have organized and complex pattern of replication/transcription process including the generation of subgenomic RNAs. Transcription regulatory sequences (TRS) have important role in the pausing of replication/transcription and generation of subgenomic RNAs. In the present bioinformatics analysis a consensus secondary structure was identified among negative sense subgenomic RNAs at the adjacent of initiation codon. This study proposed that consensus structured domain could involve in mediating the long pausing of replication/transcription complex and responsible for subgenomic RNA production.