Biomaterial Database

Electron microscopy of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles: shape of the particle and position of the 5' RNA terminus. 1989

B Kastner, and R Lührmann

Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Berlin, FRG.

Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles U1 (U1 snRNPs) from HeLa cells were purified to homogeneity and examined in the electron microscope by negative staining with the double carbon film technique. A survey of several hundred views of the U1 snRNP particles revealed a main body about 8 nm in diameter with two characteristic protuberances 4-7 nm long and 3-4 nm wide. Anti-m3G antibodies were then used to define the site of the m3G base in the 5' cap of the U1 snRNA, close to the site where base-pairing occurs with the 5' splice sequence of pre-mRNA. The m3G base is located on the body of the U1 snRNP, close to one of the protuberances and approximately opposite the other.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D006367	HeLa Cells	The first continuously cultured human malignant CELL LINE, derived from the cervical carcinoma of Henrietta Lacks. These cells are used for, among other things, VIRUS CULTIVATION and PRECLINICAL DRUG EVALUATION assays.	Cell, HeLa,Cells, HeLa,HeLa Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000911	Antibodies, Monoclonal	Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells.	Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D000939	Epitopes	Sites on an antigen that interact with specific antibodies.	Antigenic Determinant,Antigenic Determinants,Antigenic Specificity,Epitope,Determinant, Antigenic,Determinants, Antigenic,Specificity, Antigenic
D012261	Ribonucleoproteins	Complexes of RNA-binding proteins with ribonucleic acids (RNA).	Ribonucleoprotein
D012342	RNA, Small Nuclear	Short chains of RNA (100-300 nucleotides long) that are abundant in the nucleus and usually complexed with proteins in snRNPs (RIBONUCLEOPROTEINS, SMALL NUCLEAR). Many function in the processing of messenger RNA precursors. Others, the snoRNAs (RNA, SMALL NUCLEOLAR), are involved with the processing of ribosomal RNA precursors.	Low Molecular Weight Nuclear RNA,Small Nuclear RNA,snRNA,Chromatin-Associated RNA,Small Molecular Weight RNA,Chromatin Associated RNA,RNA, Chromatin-Associated
D017411	Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear	Highly conserved nuclear RNA-protein complexes that function in RNA processing in the nucleus, including pre-mRNA splicing and pre-mRNA 3'-end processing in the nucleoplasm, and pre-rRNA processing in the nucleolus (see RIBONUCLEOPROTEINS, SMALL NUCLEOLAR).	Small Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins,snRNP,Small Nuclear RNP,Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein,Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Particle,Nuclear RNP, Small,Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein, Small,Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins, Small,RNP, Small Nuclear,Ribonucleoprotein, Small Nuclear