IMES-3 RNA motif

The IMES-3 RNA motif is a conserved RNA structure that was identified based on metagenomics and bioinformatics,^[1] and the underlying RNA sequences were identified independently by an earlier study.^[2] These RNAs are present in environmental sequences, and as of 2009 are not known to be present in any cultivated species. IMES-3 RNAs are abundant in comparison to ribosomes^[1] in RNAs sampled from the Pacific Ocean.^[2][3]

Consensus secondary structure of IMES-3 RNAs. This figure is adapted from supplementary data of a previous publication.^[1]