Three-dimensional structure of yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA: folding of the polynucleotide chain

Science. 1973 Jan 19;179(4070):285-8. doi: 10.1126/science.179.4070.285.

Abstract

At 4 A resolution the polynucleotides in yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA are seen in a series of electron dense masses about 5.8 A apart. These peaks are probably associated with the phosphate groups, while lower levels of electron density between segments of adjacent polynucleotide chains are interpreted as arising from hydrogen-bonded purine-pyrimidine base pairs. It is possible to trace the entire polynucleotide chain with only two minor regions of ambiguity. The polynucleotide chain has a secondary structure consistent with the cloverleaf conformation; however, its folding is different from that proposed in any model. The molecule is made of two double-stranded helical regions oriented at right angles to each other in the shape of an L. One end of the L has the CCA acceptor; the anticodon loop is at the other end, and the dihydrouridine and TpsiC loops form the corner.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Models, Structural
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*
  • Phenylalanine
  • Polynucleotides / analysis
  • RNA, Transfer*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / analysis*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Polynucleotides
  • Phenylalanine
  • RNA, Transfer