Biological small angle scattering: theory and practice

Small angle solution scattering is now often applied to biological problems. When applied in appropriate circumstances with carefully structured questions, the technique can provide unique information not available from other techniques. This book offers understanding of the experiments with a simple and intuitive approach to the underlying theory

Crystal structure of a conserved ribosomal protein-RNA complex

The structure of a highly conserved complex between a 58-nucleotide domain of large subunit ribosomal RNA and the RNA-binding domain of ribosomal protein L11 has been solved at 2.8 angstrom resolution. It reveals a precisely folded RNA structure that is stabilized by extensive tertiary contacts and contains an unusually large core of stacked bases. A bulge loop base from one hairpin of the RNA is intercalated into the distorted major groove of another helix; the protein locks this tertiary interaction into place by binding to the intercalated base from the minor groove side. This direct interaction with a key ribosomal RNA tertiary interaction suggests that part of the role of L11 is to stabilize an unusual RNA fold within the ribosome. The most important functional sites of ribo-somes are associated with highly conserved domains of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs); among these are the mRNA decoding site, the peptidyl transferase, and the site at which tw