The primary and secondary structures of Xanthomonas palargonii 5S rRNA were determined. The higher order structure of the 5S rRNA was also analysed using several ribonucleases and chemical probes, such as ethylnitrourea, Pb2+, dimethylsulfate and diethyl pyrocarbonate. Ethylnitrourea was used for probing the phosphate groups involved in the tertiary interactions in the 5S rRNA. Nucleotides G72, A73, G75, A78, G98, G100 and A101 in unstable helical region d, nucleotides C36, C37, A39, and C41 in loop c, nucleotides A29 and G33 in stem C became resistant to ethylnitrourea modification in the presence of Mg2+. On the basis of findings from chemical and enzymatic studies, and also Pb2+-induced cleavages, it was concluded that region b-C and unstable helical region d may act as hinges in the folding of 5S rRNA.
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