Assaying RNA Structure Inside Living Cells with SHAPE.

RNA molecules have emerged as key players in nearly every facet of gene regulation. Such functions are governed by RNA's unique ability to fold into intricate secondary and tertiary structures. In order to understand, on the molecular level, how such structures from several chemical and enzymatic methods have been developed. One such method is RNA Selective Hydroxyl Acylation analyzed by Primer Extension, or SHAPE. SHAPE has emerged as a premier method of measuring RNA structure, with recent developments extending SHAPE into living cells. Here, we describe the use of SHAPE for measuring RNA structure inside living cells.