A small angle x-ray scattering study of a fragment derived from E. coli 5S RNA.

The structure of a 62 base nuclease resistant fragment of E. coli 5S RNA (bases 1-11, 69-87, 89-120) has been examined by small angle x-ray scattering. The results obtained are indistinguishable from those expected if this oligonucleotide complex were a perfect RNA double helix of about 30 base pairs. These results indicate that this portion of 5S RNA is in a configuration which is approximately double helical, even though proper base pairing is possible over only half its length.