Electron microscopic study of 5S rRNA crystals from Thermus thermophilus HB8

Several types of crystals were grown from 5S rRNA, which was purified from the highly thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus HB8. Crystal lattice parameters were determined by X-ray and electron diffraction. One type of crystal was suitable for electron microscopy after staining with uranyl acetate. Two projections derived from micrographs taken at different tilt angles were processed for image analysis. This result enabled us to deduce the arrangement of molecules within the crystal lattice.