PMID: 23722840

Authors:

Kondo J, Dock-Bregeon AC, Willkomm DK, Hartmann RK, Westhof E

Title:

Structure of an A-form RNA duplex obtained by degradation of 6S RNA in a crystallization droplet.

Journal:

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2013 Jun;69(Pt 6):634-9. doi:, 10.1107/S1744309113013018. Epub 2013 May 24.

Abstract:

In the course of a crystallographic study of a 132 nt variant of Aquifex aeolicus 6S RNA, a crystal structure of an A-form RNA duplex containing 12 base pairs was solved at a resolution of 2.6 A. In fact, the RNA duplex is part of the 6S RNA and was obtained by accidental but precise degradation of the 6S RNA in a crystallization droplet. 6S RNA degradation was confirmed by microscopic observation of crystals and gel electrophoresis of crystallization droplets. The RNA oligomers obtained form regular A-form duplexes containing three GoU wobble-type base pairs, one of which engages in intermolecular contacts through a ribose-zipper motif at the crystal-packing interface.