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Title: Crystallization of ribosomes from Thermus thermophilus

Journal Article · · Dokl. Biochem. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5841916

An understanding of the molecular bases of the process of protein biosynthesis on the ribosome requires a knowledge of its structure with high three-dimensional resolution involving the method of x-ray crystallographic analysis. The authors report on the production of crystals of the 70S ribosomes from a new source - the highly thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus. Ribosomes for crystallization were obtained from Th. thermophilus strain HB8 by two washings in buffer with high ionic strength. The ribosome preparation was investigated for homogeneity by the method of high-speed sedimentation in a buffer containing 15 mM MgCl/sub 2/, 50 mM NH/sub 4/Cl, and 10 MM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5. Analysis showed that the preparation if homogeneous. The same preparation was investigated for intactness of ribosomal RNA by the method of gel electrophoresis in 2.75% acrylamide 0.5% agarose gel in a buffer containing 30 mM Tris, 30 mM NaH/sub 2/PO/sub 4/, 10 mM EDTA, 1-2% SDS, and 6 M urea. Analysis showed that the preparation possesses intact 16S and 23S RNA. The latter did not degrade, at least in a week of exposure of the ribosomes in buffer solution at 5/sup 0/C. The ribosome preparation had no appreciable RNase activity, which was verified by incubating 4.5 micrograms of ribosomes with 3 micrograms of /sup 14/C-labeled 16S rRna (50/sup 0/C, 90 min) in a buffer containing 10 mM MgCl/sub 2/, 100 mM NH/sub 4/Cl, and 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH/sub 20/sup 0// 7.5. The incubated nonhydrolyzed RNA was precipitated with 5% trichloroacetic acid and applied on a GF/C filter. The radioactivity was determined in a toluene scintillator on an LS-100C counter.

Research Organization:
Protein Institute, Pushchino, USSR
OSTI ID:
5841916
Journal Information:
Dokl. Biochem. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Vol. 289:1-6; Other Information: Translated from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR; 289: No.5, 1263-1266(Aug 1986)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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