Interface view of the 30S and 50S subunits from the 70S crystallographic structure (12). Yellow, orange and red spheres correspond to residues which, upon 30S and 50S association, bury <37.5 Å2, between 37.5 and 75 Å2, and >75 Å2 of SASA, respectively. Green spheres correspond to residues that interact with the A-, E- and P-tRNAs.