Cocrystallizing natural RNA with its unnatural mirror image: biochemical and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a 5S rRNA A-helix racemate.
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.
Förster
Charlotte
C
Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Brauer
Arnd B E
AB
Lehmann
Daniel
D
Borowski
Tordis
T
Brode
Svenja
S
Fürste
Jens P
JP
Perbandt
Markus
M
Betzel
Christian
C
Erdmann
Volker A
VA
D003460:Crystallization; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000502:physiology; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*
D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S