Learning torus PCA-based classification for multiscale RNA correction with application to SARS-CoV-2

Abstract Three-dimensional RNA structures frequently contain atomic clashes. Usually, corrections approximate the biophysical chemistry, which is computationally intensive and often does not correct all clashes. We propose fast, data-driven reconstructions from clash-free benchmark data with two-scale shape analysis: microscopic (suites) dihedral backbone angles, mesoscopic sugar ring centre landmarks. Our analysis relates concentrated mesoscopic scale neighbourhoods to microscopic scale clusters, correcting within-suite-backbone-to-backbone clashes exploiting angular shape and size-and-shape Fréchet means. Validation shows that learned classes highly correspond with literature clusters and reconstructions are well within physical resolution. We illustrate the power of our method using cutting-edge SARS-CoV-2 RNA.