The structure of the small ribosomal subunit of the mildly thermophili
c fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus was reconstructed using spectroscopic
electron microscopy and quaternion-assisted angular reconstitution to
a resolution of roughly 3.3 nm. The distribution of phosphorus within
this complex was also reconstructed and represents the arrangement of
the phosphate backbone of the constituent ribosomal RNA. The results
indicate regions when the extra rRNA of eukaryotes (compared with prok
aryotes) is likely to be, specifically in the eukaryotic beak and basa
l lobes. The overall reconstruction in conjunction with the phosphorus
(rRNA) distribution is the first to be achieved synchronously for thi
s eukaryotic nucleoprotein complex. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.