Recently, the group has been involved in the determination of RNA
structures by NMR. It has also been investigating components of the gene
expression system by X-ray crystallography. Advances in spectroscopic
technology and isotopic labeling techniques have gradually raised the size
limit of RNAs that can be addressed to about 20,000, and the number of
biologically significant RNA structure/function problems accessible by NMR has
expanded significantly. Among the RNA/ribonucleoprotein systems now being
investigated by NMR are: the helix II-III arm of bacterial 5S rRNA, the loop E
arm of chloroplast 5S rRNA, and complexes of L18 and L25 with 5S rRNA. The
large ribosomal subunit (MW~ 1,500,000) is the principle target of our
crystallographic efforts. The structure of the large ribosomal subunit from H.
marismortui has been solved to 9 A resolution, and electron density maps of
significantly higher resolution should emerge shortly.
Recent Publications
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