Provided by: vienna-rna_2.7.0+dfsg-1_amd64 bug

NAME

       RNALfold - manual page for RNALfold 2.7.0

SYNOPSIS

       RNALfold [OPTION]...

DESCRIPTION

       RNALfold 2.7.0

       calculate locally stable secondary structures of RNAs

       Compute locally stable RNA secondary structure with a maximal base pair span.  For a sequence of length n
       and  a  base  pair  span  of  L the algorithm uses only O(n+L*L) memory and O(n*L*L) CPU time. Thus it is
       practical to "scan" very large genomes for short RNA structures.  Output consists of a list of  secondary
       structure  components  of  size  <=  L, one entry per line. Each output line contains the predicted local
       structure its energy in kcal/mol and the starting position of the local structure.

       -h, --help
              Print help and exit

       --detailed-help
              Print help, including all details and hidden options, and exit

       --full-help
              Print help, including hidden options, and exit

       -V, --version
              Print version and exit

       -v, --verbose
              Be verbose.  (default=off)

              Lower the log level setting such that even INFO messages are passed through.

   I/O Options:
              Command line options for input and output (pre-)processing

       -i, --infile=filename
              Read a file instead of reading from stdin

              The default behavior of RNALfold is to read input from stdin. Using this parameter  the  user  can
              specify an input file name where data is read from.

       -o, --outfile[=filename]
              Print output to file instead of stdout.

              This  option  may  be used to write all output to output files rather than printing to stdout. The
              number of output files created for batch input (multiple sequences) depends on  three  conditions:
              (i)  In case an optional filename is given as parameter argument, a single file with the specified
              filename will be written into. If the optional argument is omitted, (ii) FASTA input or an  active
              --auto-id  switch will write to multiple files that follow the naming scheme "prefix.lfold". Here,
              "prefix" is taken from the sequence id as specified in the FASTA header. Lastly, (iii) single-line
              sequence input without FASTA header will be written to a single file  "RNALfold_output.lfold".  In
              case  an  output file already exists, any output of the program will be appended to it.  Since the
              filename argument is optional, it must immediately follow the short option flag to not be mistaken
              as  new  parameter  to  the  program.  For  instance  \'-ornafold.out\'  will  write  to  a   file
              "rnafold.out".   Note:  Any  special  characters  in the filename will be replaced by the filename
              delimiter, hence there is no way to pass an entire directory path through this  option  yet.  (See
              also the "--filename-delim" parameter)

       --noconv
              Do not automatically substitute nucleotide "T" with "U".

              (default=off)

       --auto-id
              Automatically generate an ID for each sequence.  (default=off)

              The  default  mode of RNALfold is to automatically determine an ID from the input sequence data if
              the input file format allows to do that. Sequence IDs are usually given in  the  FASTA  header  of
              input  sequences.  If  this  flag is active, RNALfold ignores any IDs retrieved from the input and
              automatically generates an ID for each sequence. This ID consists of a prefix  and  an  increasing
              number. This flag can also be used to add a FASTA header to the output even if the input has none.

       --id-prefix=STRING
              Prefix for automatically generated IDs (as used in output file names).

              (default=`sequence')

              If  this  parameter  is  set,  each sequence will be prefixed with the provided string. Hence, the
              output files will obey the following naming scheme: "prefix_xxxx.lfold" where xxxx is the sequence
              number. Note: Setting this parameter implies --auto-id.

       --id-delim=CHAR
              Change the delimiter between prefix and increasing number for automatically generated IDs (as used
              in output file names).

              (default=`_')

              This parameter can be used to change the default delimiter "_" between the prefix string  and  the
              increasing number for automatically generated ID.

       --id-digits=INT
              Specify the number of digits of the counter in automatically generated alignment IDs.

              (default=`4')

              When  alignments IDs are automatically generated, they receive an increasing number, starting with
              1. This number will always be left-padded by leading zeros,  such  that  the  number  takes  up  a
              certain  width.  Using  this  parameter,  the  width  can be specified to the users need. We allow
              numbers in the range [1:18]. This option implies --auto-id.

       --id-start=LONG
              Specify the first number in automatically generated IDs.

              (default=`1')

              When sequence IDs are automatically generated, they receive an increasing number, usually starting
              with 1. Using this parameter, the first number can be specified to the users  requirements.  Note:
              negative  numbers  are  not  allowed.   Note:  Setting  this  parameter  implies to ignore any IDs
              retrieved from the input data, i.e. it activates the --auto-id flag.

       --filename-delim=CHAR
              Change the delimiting character used in sanitized filenames.

              (default=`ID-delimiter')

              This parameter can be used to change the delimiting character  used  while  sanitizing  filenames,
              i.e.  replacing invalid characters. Note, that the default delimiter ALWAYS is the first character
              of the "ID delimiter" as supplied through the --id-delim option. If the delimiter is a  whitespace
              character  or empty, invalid characters will be simply removed rather than substituted. Currently,
              we regard the following characters as illegal for use in  filenames:  backslash  '\',  slash  '/',
              question  mark  '?', percent sign '%', asterisk '*', colon ':', pipe symbol '|', double quote '"',
              triangular brackets '<' and '>'.

       --filename-full
              Use full FASTA header to create filenames.  (default=off)

              This parameter can be used to deactivate the default behavior of limiting output filenames to  the
              first  word  of  the  sequence  ID.  Consider  the  following  example: An input with FASTA header
              '>NM_0001 Homo Sapiens some gene' usually produces output files with the prefix "NM_0001"  without
              the  additional  data  available in the FASTA header, e.g. "NM_0001_ss.ps" for secondary structure
              plots. With this flag set, no truncation of the output filenames is done,  i.e.  output  filenames
              receive  the  full  FASTA header data as prefixes. Note, however, that invalid characters (such as
              whitespace) will be substituted by a  delimiting  character  or  simply  removed,  (see  also  the
              parameter option --filename-delim).

       --log-level=level
              Set log level threshold.  (default=`2')

              By  default,  any  log messages are filtered such that only warnings (level 2) or errors (level 3)
              are printed. This setting allows for specifying the  log  level  threshold,  where  higher  values
              result  in  fewer  information. Log-level 5 turns off all messages, even errors and other critical
              information.

       --log-file[=filename]
              Print log messages to a file instead of stderr.  (default=`RNALfold.log')

       --log-time
              Include time stamp in log messages.

              (default=off)

       --log-call
              Include file and line of log calling function.

              (default=off)

   Algorithms:
              Select additional algorithms which should be included  in  the  calculations.   The  Minimum  free
              energy (MFE) and a structure representative are calculated in any case.

       -L, --span=INT
              Set the maximum distance between any two pairing nucleotides.

              (default=`150')

              This  option  specifies the window length L and therefore the upper limit for the distance between
              the bases i and j of any pair (i, j), i.e. (j - i + 1) <= L.

       -z, --zscore[=DOUBLE]
              Limit the output to predictions with a Z-score below a threshold.

              (default=`-2')

              This option activates z-score regression using a trained SVM. Any predicted structure that exceeds
              the specified threshold will be ommited from the output.  Since the Z-score threshold is given  as
              a  negative  number, it must immediately preceed the short option to not be mistaken as a separate
              argument, e.g. -z-2.9 sets the threshold to a value of -2.9

       --zscore-pre-filter
              Apply the z-score filtering in the forward recursions.

              (default=off)

              The default mode of z-score filtering considers the entire structure space to  decide  whether  or
              not  a  locally  optimal  structure  at  any  position  i  is  reported  or  not.  When using this
              post-filtering step, however, alternative locally optimal structures

              starting at i with higher energy but lower z-score can be easily missed. The

              pre-filter

              option restricts the structure space already in the forward recursions, such

              that

              only optimal solution among those candidates that satisfy the z-score

              threshold are considered. Therefore, good results according to the z-score threshold criterion are
              less likely to be superseded  by  results  with  better  energy  but  worse  z-score.  Note,  that
              activating  this  switch  results  in  higher  computation  time which scales linear in the window
              length.

       --zscore-report-subsumed
              Report subsumed structures if their z-score is less than that of the enclosing structure.

              (default=off)

              In default mode, RNALfold only reports locally optimal structures if they are no  constituents  of
              another, larger structure with less free energy. In z-score mode, however, such a larger structure
              may  have a higher z-score, thus may be less informative than the smaller substructure. Using this
              switch activates reporting both, the smaller and the  larger  structure  if  the  z-score  of  the
              smaller is lower than that of the larger.

       -b, --backtrack-global
              Backtrack a global MFE structure.  (default=off)

              Instead  of  just  reporting  the locally stable secondary structure a global MFE structure can be
              constructed that  only  consists  of  locally  optimal  substructures.  This  switch  activates  a
              post-processing  step  that  takes  the  locally  optimal  structures  to  generate the global MFE
              structure which constitutes the MFE value reported in the last line.  The  respective  global  MFE
              structure  is printed just after the inut sequence part on the last line, preceding the global MFE
              score.  Note, that this option implies -o/--outfile since the locally optimal structures  must  be
              read  after  the  regular  prediction  step! Also note, that using this option in combination with
              -z/--zscore implies --zscore-pre-filter to ensure proper construction of the global MFE structure!

       -g, --gquad
              Incoorporate G-Quadruplex formation into the structure prediction algorithm.

              (default=off)

   Structure Constraints:
              Command line options to interact with the structure constraints feature of this program

       --shape=filename
              Use SHAPE reactivity data to guide structure predictions.

       --shapeMethod=method
              Select SHAPE reactivity data incorporation strategy.

              (default=`D')

              The following methods can be used to convert SHAPE reactivities into pseudo energy contributions.

              'D': Convert by using the linear equation according to Deigan et al 2009.

              Derived pseudo energy terms will be applied for every nucleotide involved in a stacked pair.  This
              method  is  recognized  by a capital 'D' in the provided parameter, i.e.: --shapeMethod="D" is the
              default setting. The slope 'm' and the intercept  'b'  can  be  set  to  a  non-default  value  if
              necessary,  otherwise  m=1.8  and  b=-0.6. To alter these parameters, e.g. m=1.9 and b=-0.7, use a
              parameter string like this: --shapeMethod="Dm1.9b-0.7". You may also provide only one of  the  two
              parameters like: --shapeMethod="Dm1.9" or --shapeMethod="Db-0.7".

              'Z': Convert SHAPE reactivities to pseudo energies according to Zarringhalam

              et al 2012. SHAPE reactivities will be converted to pairing probabilities by using linear mapping.
              Aberration from the observed pairing probabilities will be penalized during the folding recursion.
              The   magnitude   of   the   penalties   can   affected   by   adjusting  the  factor  beta  (e.g.
              --shapeMethod="Zb0.8").

              'W': Apply a given vector of perturbation energies to unpaired nucleotides

              according to Washietl et al 2012. Perturbation vectors can be calculated by using RNApvmin.

       --shapeConversion=method
              Select method for SHAPE reactivity conversion.

              (default=`O')

              This parameter is useful when dealing with the SHAPE incorporation according  to  Zarringhalam  et
              al.  The  following  methods  can be used to convert SHAPE reactivities into the probability for a
              certain nucleotide to be unpaired.

              'M': Use linear mapping according to Zarringhalam et al.  'C': Use  a  cutoff-approach  to  divide
              into paired and unpaired nucleotides (e.g. "C0.25") 'S': Skip the normalizing step since the input
              data  already  represents  probabilities for being unpaired rather than raw reactivity values 'L':
              Use a linear model to  convert  the  reactivity  into  a  probability  for  being  unpaired  (e.g.
              "Ls0.68i0.2"  to  use  a slope of 0.68 and an intercept of 0.2) 'O': Use a linear model to convert
              the log of the reactivity into a probability for being unpaired (e.g. "Os1.6i-2.29" to use a slope
              of 1.6 and an intercept of -2.29)

       --commands=filename
              Read additional commands from file

              Commands include hard and soft constraints, but also structure  motifs  in  hairpin  and  internal
              loops  that  need to be treeted differently. Furthermore, commands can be set for unstructured and
              structured domains.

   Energy Parameters:
              Energy parameter sets can be adapted or loaded from user-provided input files

       -T, --temp=DOUBLE
              Rescale energy parameters to a temperature of temp C. Default is 37C.

              (default=`37.0')

       -P, --paramFile=paramfile
              Read energy parameters from paramfile, instead of using the default parameter set.

              Different sets of energy parameters for RNA and DNA should accompany your distribution.   See  the
              RNAlib  documentation  for details on the file format. The placeholder file name 'DNA' can be used
              to load DNA parameters without the need to actually specify any input file.

       -4, --noTetra
              Do not include special tabulated stabilizing energies for tri-, tetra- and hexaloop hairpins.

              (default=off)

              Mostly for testing.

       --salt=DOUBLE
              Set salt concentration in molar (M). Default is 1.021M.

       -m, --modifications[=STRING]
              Allow for modified bases within the RNA sequence string.

              (default=`7I6P9D')

              Treat  modified  bases  within  the  RNA  sequence  differently,  i.e.  use  corresponding  energy
              corrections  and/or pairing partner rules if available.  For that, the modified bases in the input
              sequence must be marked by their corresponding one-letter code. If  no  additional  arguments  are
              supplied, all available corrections are performed. Otherwise, the user may limit the modifications
              to  a  particular subset of modifications, resp. one-letter codes, e.g. -mP6 will only correct for
              pseudouridine and m6A bases.

              Currently supported one-letter codes and energy corrections are:

              '7': 7-deaza-adenonsine (7DA)

              'I': Inosine

              '6': N6-methyladenosine (m6A)

              'P': Pseudouridine

              '9': Purine (a.k.a. nebularine)

              'D': Dihydrouridine

       --mod-file=STRING
              Use additional modified base data from JSON file.

   Model Details:
              Tweak the energy model and pairing rules additionally using the following parameters

       -d, --dangles=INT
              How to treat "dangling end" energies for bases adjacent to helices in free ends and multi-loops.

              (default=`2')

              With -d1 only unpaired bases can participate in at most one dangling end.  With -d2 this check  is
              ignored,  dangling  energies  will be added for the bases adjacent to a helix on both sides in any
              case; this is the default for mfe and partition function folding (-p).   The  option  -d0  ignores
              dangling ends altogether (mostly for debugging).  With -d3 mfe folding will allow coaxial stacking
              of  adjacent  helices  in  multi-loops.  At  the  moment the implementation will not allow coaxial
              stacking of the two enclosed pairs in a loop of degree 3 and works only for mfe folding.

              Note that with -d1 and -d3 only the MFE computations will be using this  setting  while  partition
              function uses -d2 setting, i.e. dangling ends will be treated differently.

       --noLP Produce structures without lonely pairs (helices of length 1).

              (default=off)

              For partition function folding this only disallows pairs that can only occur isolated. Other pairs
              may still occasionally occur as helices of length 1.

       --noGU Do not allow GU pairs.

              (default=off)

       --noClosingGU
              Do not allow GU pairs at the end of helices.

              (default=off)

       --nsp=STRING
              Allow other pairs in addition to the usual AU,GC,and GU pairs.

              Its  argument is a comma separated list of additionally allowed pairs. If the first character is a
              "-" then AB will imply that AB and BA are allowed pairs, e.g. --nsp="-GA"  will allow  GA  and  AG
              pairs. Nonstandard pairs are given 0 stacking energy.

       --energyModel=INT
              Set energy model.

              Rarely  used  option  to fold sequences from the artificial ABCD... alphabet, where A pairs B, C-D
              etc.  Use the energy parameters for GC (--energyModel 1) or AU (--energyModel 2) pairs.

       --helical-rise=FLOAT
              Set the helical rise of the helix in units of Angstrom.

              (default=`2.8')

              Use with caution! This value will be re-set automatically to 3.4 in case DNA parameters are loaded
              via -P DNA and no further value is provided.

       --backbone-length=FLOAT
              Set the average backbone length for looped regions in units of Angstrom.

              (default=`6.0')

              Use with caution! This value will be re-set automatically to  6.76  in  case  DNA  parameters  are
              loaded via -P DNA and no further value is provided.

REFERENCES

       If you use this program in your work you might want to cite:

       R.  Lorenz,  S.H. Bernhart, C. Hoener zu Siederdissen, H. Tafer, C. Flamm, P.F. Stadler and I.L. Hofacker
       (2011), "ViennaRNA Package 2.0", Algorithms for Molecular Biology: 6:26

       I.L. Hofacker, W. Fontana, P.F. Stadler, S. Bonhoeffer, M. Tacker, P. Schuster (1994), "Fast Folding  and
       Comparison of RNA Secondary Structures", Monatshefte f. Chemie: 125, pp 167-188

       R.  Lorenz,  I.L. Hofacker, P.F. Stadler (2016), "RNA folding with hard and soft constraints", Algorithms
       for Molecular Biology 11:1 pp 1-13

       I.L. Hofacker, B. Priwitzer, and P.F.  Stadler  (2004),  "Prediction  of  Locally  Stable  RNA  Secondary
       Structures for Genome-Wide Surveys", Bioinformatics: 20, pp 186-190

       The energy parameters are taken from:

       D.H.  Mathews,  M.D.  Disney,  D.  Matthew,  J.L. Childs, S.J. Schroeder, J. Susan, M. Zuker, D.H. Turner
       (2004), "Incorporating chemical  modification  constraints  into  a  dynamic  programming  algorithm  for
       prediction of RNA secondary structure", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA: 101, pp 7287-7292

       D.H  Turner, D.H. Mathews (2009), "NNDB: The nearest neighbor parameter database for predicting stability
       of nucleic acid secondary structure", Nucleic Acids Research: 38, pp 280-282

AUTHOR

       Ivo L Hofacker, Peter F Stadler, Ronny Lorenz

REPORTING BUGS

       If in doubt our program is right, nature is at fault.  Comments should be sent to rna@tbi.univie.ac.at.

SEE ALSO

       RNAplfold(1) RNALalifold(1)

RNALfold 2.7.0                                   September 2025                                      RNALFOLD(1)