RAFA: RNA all-atom structure reconstruction from sparse anchor coordinates.

RAFA reconstructs RNA all-atom structures from sparse anchor coordinates with 73.3% outperforming Arena in RMSD accuracy across diverse input modes.

• Why it matters: Accurate RNA structural modeling from limited experimental data remains challenging, hindering insights into RNA function and interactions. Improving reconstruction methods can bridge the gap between sparse data and detailed atomic models.
• What they did: RAFA is a C++ command-line tool that retrieves 3-5 nucleotide RNA fragments, fits them to local anchors, and combines overlapping estimates using weighted consensus, handling both sparse and rich inputs.
• The result: RAFA achieves lower all-atom RMSD than Arena in most comparisons, especially with minimal structural constraints, enabling more precise RNA modeling from limited experimental information.