[1] RNAs within this motif are always found in the presumed 5' UTR of sucA genes.

sucA encodes a subunit of an enzyme that participates in the citric acid cycle by synthesizing succinyl-CoA from 2-oxoglutarate.

A part of the conserved structure overlaps predicted Shine-Dalgarno sequences (involved in ribosome binding) of the downstream sucA genes.

Because of the RNA motif's consistent gene association and a possible mechanism for sequestering the ribosome binding site, it was proposed that the sucA RNA motif corresponds to a cis-regulatory element.

However, the function of this RNA motif remains unknown.