The signal recognition particle (SRP) is a universally conserved ribonucleo
protein complex that mediates the cotranslational targeting of secretory an
d membrane proteins to cellular membranes. A crucial early step in SRP asse
mbly in archaea and eukarya is the binding of protein SRP19 to specific sit
es on SRP RNA. Here we report the 1.8 angstrom resolution crystal structure
of human SRP19 in complex with its primary binding site on helix 6 of SRP
RNA, which consists of a stem-loop structure closed by an unusual GGAG tetr
aloop. Protein-RNA interactions are mediated by the specific recognition of
a widened major groove and the tetraloop without any direct protein-base c
ontacts and include a complex network of highly ordered water molecules. A
model of the assembly of the SRP core comprising SRP19, SRP54, and SRP RNA
based on crystallographic and biochemical data is proposed.