Issue June 2000

category image Volume 17
No. 6 (p 933-1192)
June 2000
ISSN 0739-1102

Structure of Poly (U)·Poly (A)·Poly (U) (p. 1023-1034)

The molecular structure of poly (U)·poly (A)·poly (U) has been determined and refined using the continuous x-ray intensity data on layer lines in the diffraction pattern obtained from an oriented fiber of the RNA. The final R-value for the preferred structure is 0.24, far lower than that for the plausible alternatives. The polymer forms an 11-fold right-handed triple-helix of pitch 33.5Å and each base triplet is stabilized by Crick-Watson-Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds. The ribose rings in the three strands have C3'-endo, C2'-endo and C2'-endo conformations, respectively. The helix derives additional stability through systematic interchain hydrogen bonds involving ribose hydroxyls and uracil bases. The relatively grooveless cylindrical shape of the triple-helix is consistent with the lack of lateral organization.

Rengaswami Chandrasekaran*
Andrea Giacometti1
Struther Arnott

Whistler Center for Carbohydrate Research
1160 Food Science Building
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
1Current address:
Dept. of Environmental Science
Facolta di Scienze MM.FF.NN
University of Ca? Foscari
Calle Larga S. Marta, 2137
I-30123 - Venezia, Italy
*chandra@purdue.edu

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