Crystallization and X-ray diffraction data of a tRNA^Sec acceptor-stem helix

tRNA^Sec is a UGA suppressor tRNA which co-translationally inserts selenocysteine into proteins. Its eight-base-pair tRNA^Sec acceptor stem, which contains key recognition elements, was synthesized using solid-phase phosphoramidite RNA chemistry. High-resolution X-ray diffraction data were collected using synchrotron radiation under cryogenic cooling conditions. The crystals diffract to a maximal resolution of 1.8 Å. X-ray diffraction data were processed to 2.4 Å. tRNA^Sec microhelix crystallizes in space group R32, with cell constants a = 47.02, b = 47.02, c = 373.03 Å, α = β = 90, γ = 120°. The crystals contain three RNA molecules per asymmetric unit.