Figure 4.

The A. aeolicus AtmRNA encapsulated in MS2 coat protein pseudo-particles is protected against nucleases. (A) Secondary scheme of A. aeolicus AtmRNA showing the MS2 translational operator, the tRNA-like domain and the MLR in grey. (B) Overexpression of the AtmRNA alone in E. coli JM101 (left part of the upper gel) and co-expressed with the MS2 coat protein (right part of the upper gel): crude RNA minipreps were analysed by electrophoresis on a 10% polyacrylamide-urea gel and RNA visualized with SYBR Safe (upper part). Proteins in the supernatant after bacteria lysis were visualized by SDS–PAGE and Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining (lower gel) before and after IPTG induction (−/+). The black triangle indicates the AtmRNA band and the grey triangle the MS2 coat protein band. The AtmRNA/MS2 coat protein pair was cloned into pBSTNAV and pACYT2 plasmids, respectively.