title: Cocrystallizing natural RNA with its unnatural mirror image: biochemical and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a 5S rRNA A-helix racemate.
abstract: Chemically synthesized RNAs with the unnatural L-configuration possess enhanced in vivo stability and nuclease resistance, which is a highly desirable property for pharmacological applications. For a structural comparison, both L- and D-RNA oligonucleotides of a shortened Thermus flavus 5S rRNA A-helix were chemically synthesized. The enantiomeric RNA duplexes were stochiometrically cocrystallized as a racemate, which enabled analysis of the D- and L-RNA enantiomers in the same crystals. In addition to a biochemical investigation, diffraction data were collected to 3.0 A resolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystals belonged to space group P3(1)21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 35.59, c = 135.30 A, gamma = 120 degrees and two molecules per asymmetric unit.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Förster
authors.forename: Arnd B E
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Brauer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Tordis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borowski
authors.forename: Svenja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brode
authors.forename: Jens P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fürste
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perbandt
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betzel
authors.forename: Volker A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Erdmann
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000502:physiology; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S