The Solution Structure of the Loop E Region of the 5 S rRNA from Spinach Chloroplasts

A structure has been obtained for the loop E region of the 5 S rRNA from Spinacia oleracia chloroplast ribosomes using residual dipolar coupling data as well as NOE, J coupling and chemical shift information. Even though the loop E sequence of this chloroplast 5 S rRNA differs from that of Escherichia coli loop E at ∼40% of its positions, its conformation is remarkably similar to that of E. coli loop E. Consistent with this conclusion, ribosomal protein L25 from E. coli, which binds to the loop E region of both intact E. coli 5 S rRNA and to oligonucleotides containing that sequence, also binds to the chloroplast-derived oligonucleotide discussed here.