High-resolution crystals and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of a catalytic RNA

High-resolution single crystals of a catalytic RNA molecule derived from the sequence of the satellite RNA of tobacco ringspot virus have been obtained. The unit-cell volumes of the RNA crystals vary depending on the crystallization conditions and temperature. The best crystal form, when flash frozen, has space group P1 with unit-cell dimensions a = 53.08, b = 71.81, c = 28.03 Å, α = 98.43, β = 104.32 and γ = 74.54°. This form diffracts to a resolution of 2.4 Å. A heavy-atom derivative search is in progress.