Molecular Model for 5‐S RNA

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Abstract
A tertiary structural model is suggested for Escherichia coli 5-S RNA that consists of one large and two small double helices arranged in the form of the letter Y. This model is consistent with the small-angle X-ray scattering data of native 5-S RNA, measured in the angular range 2 θ≤ 140 mrad. The radius of gyration is 3.61 ± 0.1 rim. Denatured 5-S RNA yields a much lower radius of gyration, 2.7 nm, which might indicate that during denaturation one minor double-helical arm of the Y-shaped structure partially collapses into single-stranded areas. At high concentrations (60 mg/ml) of 5-S RNA, the X-ray scattering data indicate that 5-S RNA is aggregated.