Figure 5

Model depicting the role of sfRNA in flaviviral RNA replication and translation. A. The diagrammatic representation of flaviviral cyclization, through the cyclization elements, which promote antigenome synthesis. The sfRNA disrupts genome cyclization by interacting with the 5' cyclization elements and thereby reduces antigenome synthesis. B. Flaviviral genome contains protein-binding elements in the 3'-UTR. Viral and host proteins bind to their respective RNA elements in the 3'-UTR and promote translation and replication. The presence of sfRNA sequesters most of the proteins reducing its availability for flaviviral translation and replication.