Electron microscopy of Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA: Spreading without a basic protein film

Abstract

Escherichia coli MRE600 ribosomal RNA has been spread for electron microscopy by denaturing in 80% dimethyl sulphoxide. The use of dimethyl sulphoxide as a denaturing agent allowed the omission of a basic protein film for the visualization of the stretched molecules. The lengths of the RNA molecules compared favourably to those obtained with spreading methods involving a basic protein film. The absence of basic proteins in the spreading procedure may be important for electron microscopic study of the interaction of the ribosomal proteins with ribosomal RNA.