Characterization of crystals of small ribosomal subunits

Crystals of intact small ribosomal subunits from Thermus thermophilus have been obtained from functionally active particles. The crystals (P42$_1$2, 407 Å × 407 Å × 171 Å) are suitable for X-ray crystallography analysis to 9·9 Å using synchrotron radiation at cryotemperature. Crystallographic data from native and a potential heavy-atom derivative have been collected