Directional translocation resistance of Zika xrRNA

Abstract

Zika xrRNAs survive in host cells because they can be unwound and copied by replicases, but resist degradation by exonucleases. Here authors use atomistic models and simulations and uncover that pulling into a pore the xrRNA $${3}^{\prime}$$ 3′ end, as done by replicases, causes progressive unfolding; pulling the $${5}^{\prime}$$ 5′ end, as done by exonucleases, triggers molecular tightening.