Flavivirus DB element

Flavivirus DB elements are found in the 3' UTR of the viral genome. There are two DB elements called DB1 and DB2 which found adjacent and are thought to be required for efficient translation. Deletion of DB1 had a small but significant reduction in translation and DB2 deletion had little effect, but deleting both DB1 and DB2 reduced translation efficiency to 25%. The secondary structure is composed of three helices.