Computational solution to model 3D RNA structures could speed medical discoveries by decades

Ribonucleic acid, commonly known as RNA, is involved in many biological functions, and some, including gene silencing, are utilized to cure diseases. RNA has recently gained attention as a promising drug target. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of RNA structures have been determined experimentally, and the process of uncovering these structures requires significant time and effort. Using this time scale, the structures of many lifesaving RNA structures may not be discovered for years. As a result, there is a significant gap between the types of known RNA and the available structural data.