3P59

First Crystal Structure of a RNA Nanosquare

Summary for 3P59

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb3p59/pdb
• Descriptor: RNA (5'-R(*CP*CP*GP*GP*AP*GP*GP*AP*AP*CP*UP*AP*CP*(5BU)P*G)-3'), RNA (5'-R(*CP*CP*GP*GP*CP*AP*GP*CP*CP*U)-3'), COBALT HEXAMMINE(III), ... (5 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: rna square, rna
• Total number of polymer chains: 8
• Total formula weight: 33906.93

Authors

Dibrov, S.,Hermann, T.,McLean, J.,Parsons, J. (deposition date: 2010-10-08, release date: 2011-04-06, Last modification date: 2024-02-21)

Primary citation

Dibrov, S.M.,McLean, J.,Parsons, J.,Hermann, T.
Self-assembling RNA square.
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 108:6405-6408, 2011

PubMed Abstract: The three-dimensional structures of noncoding RNA molecules reveal recurring architectural motifs that have been exploited for the design of artificial RNA nanomaterials. Programmed assembly of RNA nanoobjects from autonomously folding tetraloop-receptor complexes as well as junction motifs has been achieved previously through sequence-directed hybridization of complex sets of long oligonucleotides. Due to size and complexity, structural characterization of artificial RNA nanoobjects has been limited to low-resolution microscopy studies. Here we present the design, construction, and crystal structure determination at 2.2 Å of the smallest yet square-shaped nanoobject made entirely of double-stranded RNA. The RNA square is comprised of 100 residues and self-assembles from four copies each of two oligonucleotides of 10 and 15 bases length. Despite the high symmetry on the level of secondary structure, the three-dimensional architecture of the square is asymmetric, with all four corners adopting distinct folding patterns. We demonstrate the programmed self-assembly of RNA squares from complex mixtures of corner units and establish a concept to exploit the RNA square as a combinatorial nanoscale platform.

PubMed: 21464284
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1017999108

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (2.1793 Å)