The native Thermus thermophilus small (30S) subunit and Deinoccous radiodurans large (50S) subunit crystals produce the highest resolution diffraction patterns.
The T. thermophilus 30S crystals are of spacegroup P4₁2₁2, have cell dimensions of a=b=406.3, c=173.1 (a=b=g=90) and diffract to ~3.0 Å resolution.
The 50S crystals have spacegroup I222, have cell dimensions a=170, b=410, c=697 (a=b=g=90) and produce diffraction beyond 3.0 Å.
These subunit crystals can be used to determine the structures of ligand in complex with the ribosome, such as antibiotics or translation factors.