2’-Se-Me-RNA Monomer

Determination of the three-dimensional structures of RNA molecules, RNA-protein and DNA-protein complexes with high resolution is invaluable for gaining understanding of biological systems at the molecular level. X-ray crystallography is the most direct and powerful tool for structure determination of these macromolecules. Recently, a novel derivatization strategy via selenium replacement of nucleotide oxygen has been successfully demonstrated.^1-3 As the Multiwavelength Anomalous Dispersion (MAD) signal of selenium is as strong as that of bromine, selenium MAD phasing can be an alternative to the current bromine MAD phasing in nucleotide X-ray crystallography. 2'-Se-Me-U is a product that can serve as both selenium-labelled dU and U building blocks for RNA and DNA Derivatization in X-ray Crystallography.