Erdmann, Volker A.

Hartmann, R.K.

Toschka, H.Y.

Ulbrich, N.

A 23S ribosomal (rRNA) gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been cloned in pBR 322, and its nucleotide sequence determined. The corresponding mature 23S rRNA is predicted to contain 2893 nucleotides. Proceeding from the nucleotide sequence of the 23S rRNA gene, we compare the primary structure with the 23S rRNA from Escherichia coli. Bacillus stearothermophilus, Anacystis nidulans and Nicotiana tabacum chloroplasts and the secondary structure with 23S rRNA from E. coli. The most remarkable differences in the secondary structure can be observed in three regions. Firstly, the helix 5 in domain A is very unlikely to form, secondly the section covering the stem structures 48 and 49 in domain C show very little resemblance with E. coli and thirdly, the helix 73 in domain D does not exist. Differences, like base substitutions and compensating base exchanges occur in all domains, without having an substantial impact on the secondary structural model. Additionally, we present a structural comparison of a proposed interaction between the initiator-tRNA and a region of 23S rRNA, comprising the section flanked by the helices 51-54.

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