DeCoRE: A computational method to resolve RNA structural heterogeneity from RNA structure probing data by direct RNA sequencing.

Authors

Yong Huang, Jinsong Zhang, Lei Sun, Qiangfeng Cliff Zhang

Published in

Science advances. Volume 12. Issue 40. Pages eaef0670. Oct 02, 2026. Epub Oct 02, 2026.

Abstract

RNA molecules are inherently dynamic, forming complex structural ensembles of alternative conformations that direct their cellular functions. Current methods for resolving RNA structural heterogeneity and dynamics have been developed for short-read sequencing-based structure probing, limiting their sensitivity and resolution. Here, we introduce DeCoRE (deconvolving complex RNA structural ensembles), a computational method that leverages direct RNA sequencing to resolve RNA structural heterogeneity and dynamics at the individual transcript level. DeCoRE combines enhanced structural signal detection with direct clustering of sequencing reads to sensitively deconvolve RNA structural ensembles at single-nucleotide resolution. We demonstrate DeCoRE's capabilities by resolving the known alternative conformations of the lysine and TPP riboswitches and uncover a previously uncharacterized cotranscriptional folding pathway of bacterial ribosomal RNA, where two conformations coexist during early elongation and progressively converge into a single mature conformation. DeCoRE represents a powerful tool for dissecting RNA structural heterogeneity and dynamics, advancing our understanding of RNA function.

PMID:
42826179
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 03 Oct 2026.

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