Sequence comparison and secondary structure analysis of the 3' noncoding region of flavivirus genomes reveals multiple pseudoknots.

Sequences of 191 flavivirus RNAs belonging to four sero-groups were used to predict the secondary structure of the 3' noncoding region (3' NCR) directly upstream of the conserved terminal hairpin. In mosquito-borne flavivirus RNAs (n = 164) a characteristic structure element was identified that includes a phylogenetically well-supported pseudoknot. This element is repeated in the dengue and Japanese encephalitis RNAs and centers around the conserved sequences CS2 and RCS2. In yellow fever virus RNAs that contain one CS2 motif, only one copy of this pseudoknotted structure was found. The conserved pseudoknotted element is absent from the 3' NCR of tick-borne virus RNAs, which altogether adopt a secondary structure that is very different from that of mosquito-borne virus RNAs. The strong conservation of the pseudoknot in mosquito-borne flavivirus RNAs implies a stronger relationship between these viruses than concluded from previous secondary structure analyses. The role of the (tandem) pseudoknots in flavivirus replication is discussed.