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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
Published on: August 20, 2014
Metals, motifs, and recognition in the crystal structure of a 5S rRNA domain
C C Correll1, B Freeborn, P B Moore
1Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114, USA.
Abstract:
Two new RNA structures portray how non-Watson-Crick base pairs and metal ions can produce a unique RNA shape suitable for recognition by proteins. The crystal structures of a 62 nt domain of E. coli 5S ribosomal RNA and a duplex dodecamer encompassing an internal loop E have been determined at 3.0 and 1.5 A, respectively. This loop E region is distorted by three "cross-strand purine stacks" and three novel, water-mediated noncanonical base pairs and stabilized by a four metal ion zipper. These features give its minor groove a unique hydrogen-bonding surface and make the adjacent major groove wide enough to permit recognition by the ribosomal protein L25, which is expected to bind to this surface.
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