Characterization of single crystals of the large ribosomal particles from Bacillus stearothermophilus.
Single, three-dimensional crystals of the 50 S ribosomal subunit from Bacillus stearothermophilus (strain NCA) have been characterized using a synchrotron X-ray source. The crystals are orthorhombic with unit cell dimensions: a = 350 A, b = 670 A, c = 905 A, and contain at least one 2-fold screw axis. With cooling to -2 degrees C, the large crystals (1.0 mm X 0.2 mm X 0.1 mm) diffract to 15 to 18 A resolution and are stable in the synchrotron beam for several hours. Despite the large cell dimensions, the reflections are readily resolved when the X-ray diffraction patterns are densitometered with a 25 microns faster.
A
A
Yonath
M A
MA
Saper
I
I
Makowski
J
J
Müssig
J
J
Piefke
H D
HD
Bartunik
K S
KS
Bartels
H G
HG
Wittmann
D003460:Crystallization; D003461:Crystallography; D001411:Geobacillus stearothermophilus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012270:Ribosomes; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction