Table 1.

Contour length analysis of free dsRNA, DbpA–RNA, and DbpA–RNA–ATP complexes

Nucleic acid	Mean of contour length, nm	Calculated mean of counter length, nm	Rise per base pair, nm/bp
B DNA			0.34
A RNA			0.27
dsRNA	134  ± 4	130	0.28
dsRNA–DbpA	135  ± 4	130
dsRNA–DbpA–ATP
Y-shaped	167  ± 4	230 (Lss = 0.6)
Y-shaped		143 (Lss = 0.3)

The measured mean end-to-end length distribution of the various complexes is compared to a calculated value. The discrepancy in measured vs. calculated values is discussed in the text. L_ss is the rise per base per nm/bp taken into calculation on the basis of previous reported values.