205d

Publication Abstract from PubMed

The crystal structure of the RNA dodecamer 5'-GGACUUUGGUCC-3' has been determined from X-ray diffraction data to 2.6 A resolution. This oligomer forms an asymmetric double helix in the crystal. Four consecutive non-Watson-Crick base-pairs are formed in the middle of the duplex including the first intrahelical U-U (or T-T) pairs observed in an oligonucleotide crystal structure. Two different conformations of U-U pairs are observed in the context of the surrounding sequence. One of these pairs is highly twisted, allowing a bound water to bridge across strands in the major groove. The crystal packing illustrates a new form of RNA helix-helix interaction.

Structure of an RNA double helix including uracil-uracil base pairs in an internal loop.,Baeyens KJ, De Bondt HL, Holbrook SR Nat Struct Biol. 1995 Jan;2(1):56-62. PMID:7719854^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.