Helix 69

Helix 69 is a hairpin RNA structure containing 19 nucleotides in large subunit of the ribosome. Ribosome consists of large and small subunits joined together with inter subunit bridges. Helix 69 interacts with the helix 44 (h44) of the small subunit to form the largest interface of two subunits called inter-subunit bridge B2a. Helix 69 is proposed to be a good drug target for antibacterial drugs. Many of the recent crystal structures have shown the involvement of this hairpin in different stages of the protein translation process. By targeting bacterial helix 69 specifically, protein synthesis in bacteria could be halted thus killing the bacteria.