Some things improve with age. Here is one of my favorite stories:
http://tinyurl.com/oldtrna
The crystal structure of yeast phenylalanine tRNA at 2.0 Å resolution:
cleavage by Mg2+ in 15-year old crystals
Luca Jovine, Snezana Djordjevica and Daniela Rhodes
We have re-determined the crystal structure of yeast tRNAPhe to 2.0 Å
resolution using 15 year old crystals. The accuracy of the new
structure, due both to higher resolution data and formerly unavailable
refinement methods, consolidates the previous structural information,
but also reveals novel details. In particular, the water structure
around the tightly bound Mg2+ is now clearly resolved, and hence
provides more accurate information on the geometry of the magnesium-
binding sites and the role of water molecules in coordinating the
metal ions to the tRNA. We have assigned a total of ten magnesium ions
and identified a partly conserved geometry for high-affinity Mg2+
binding. In the electron density map there is also clear density for a
spermine molecule binding in the major groove of the TΨC arm and also
contacting a symmetry-related tRNA molecule. Interestingly, we have
also found that two specific regions of the tRNA in the crystals are
partially cleaved. The sites of hydrolysis are within the D and
anticodon loops in the vicinity of Mg2+.
On Feb 5, 2009, at 11:11 AM, Edward Snell wrote:
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Dear All,
I was recently trying to find references on how age may degrade a
crystal, i.e. grow them and use them or preserve them as fresh as
possible. I seem to remember seeing a couple of papers on this but my
memory is fading and I have been unable to locate them. Can anyone jog
my memory or tell me if I'm imagining things? I've found plenty on
the
protein prep etc. but nothing on the crystal.
Thanks,
Eddie.
Edward Snell Ph.D.
Assistant Prof. Department of Structural Biology, SUNY Buffalo,
Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute
700 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203-1102
Phone: (716) 898 8631 Fax: (716) 898 8660
Email: esn...@hwi.buffalo.edu Telepathy: 42.2 GHz
Heisenberg was probably here! Crystallization, how quaint!
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