Crystallization of the most active RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme.

Abstract

The structural compositions of the most active deoxyribozyme and its derivatives have been examined by electrophoresis, and their crystallization conditions were surveyed for X-ray analysis. It has been found that Mg2+ ion is essential to form the active binary complex between the catalytic DNA and the substrate, and that heat-treatment is effective to prevent formation of the inactive quaternary complex between the two enzymes and the two substrates. Crystals obtained by the hanging drop vapor diffusion method are composed of the active binary complex.