Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of bovine recombinant immune interferon

Reproducible conditions have been established for the crystallization of recombinant bovine immune interferon. Two cystalline forms of this protein were obtained. A tetragonal form, space group P422, with unit cell dimensions a = b = 59.0 A and c = 125.7 A and an orthorhombic form, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit cell dimensions a = 42.80 A, b = 79.90 A and c = 85.64 A were obtained under similar crystallization conditions. The orthorhombic form diffracts to 2.6 A resolution, contains a single interferon dimer in the asymmetric unit of structure and is suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of pig lens aldose reductase

Crystals of pig lens aldose reductase have been grown from polyethylene glycol solutions at pH 6.2 and analysed by X-ray diffraction. Two crystal forms were obtained. The first belongs to space group P1 with unit cell dimensions a = 81.3 A, b = 85.9 A, c = 56.6 A, alpha = 102.3 degrees, beta = 103.3 degrees, gamma = 79.0 degrees, with four molecules in the unit cell related by a 222 non-crystallographic symmetry. The second crystal form is hexagonal. The space group is P6(2)22 with a = b = 101 A, c = 257 A and two molecules in the asymmetric unit. Both forms are suitable for X-ray structure analysis to better than 3 A resolution.     

Two crystal structures of the leupeptin-trypsin complex.

Three-dimensional structures of trypsin with the reversible inhibitor leupeptin have been determined in two different crystal forms. The first structure was determined at 1.7 A resolution with R-factor = 17.7% in the trigonal crystal space group P3(1)21, with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 55.62 A, c = 110.51 A. The second structure was determined at a resolution of 1.8 A with R-factor = 17.5% in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit cell dimensions of a = 63.69 A, b = 69.37 A, c = 63.01 A. The overall protein structure is very similar in both crystal forms, with RMS difference for main-chain atoms of 0.27 A. The leupeptin backbone forms four hydrogen bonds with trypsin and a fifth hydrogen bond interaction is mediated by a water molecule. The aldehyde carbonyl of leupeptin forms a covalent bond of 1.42 A length with side-chain oxygen of Ser-195 in the active site. The reaction of trypsin with leupeptin proceeds through the formation of stable tetrahedral complex in which the hemiacetal oxygen atom is pointing out of the oxyanion hole and forming a hydrogen bond with His-57.     

Preliminary crystallographic studies on human apo-lactoferrin in its native and deglycosylated forms

Human apo-lactoferrin in both native and deglycosylated forms has been purified, and crystals obtained by dialysis against low ionic strength buffer solutions. The crystals of native apo-lactoferrin are orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell dimensions a = 222.0 A, b = 115.6 A, c = 77.8 A and have two protein molecules per asymmetric unit. Two crystal forms of deglycosylated apo-lactoferrin have been obtained. One is orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with cell dimensions a = 152.1 A, b = 94.6 A, c = 55.8 A. The second is tetragonal, space group I4, with cell dimensions a = b = 189.4 A, c = 55.1 A. Both of the latter have only one molecule per asymmetric unit, and are suitable for high-resolution X-ray structure analysis.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a fungal endoglucanase I.

An endoglucanase I (EG1) from a fungal source (Humicola insolens) has been crystallized in a number of forms suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis. Four crystal forms have been grown from various precipitants using vapour phase diffusion methods in hanging drops. Three of these crystal forms diffract to beyond 2.5 A resolution. Two forms, obtained from ammonium sulphate at pH 5.4, or 8.0, grow as tetragonal bipyramids in space group P4(1)22 or P4(3)22, with approximate cell dimensions a = b = 102 A, c = 282 A. The other crystal forms were grown from polyethylene glycol 8000 at pH 8.0. One grows as monoclinic plates, space group P2(1), with cell dimensions a = 66.9 A, b = 75.2 A, c = 86.9 A and beta = 102.9 degrees and the other as long hexagonal rods in space group P6(1)22 or P6(5)22, with cell dimensions a = b = 119 A, c = 83 A.     

Crystallographic characterization of recombinant human CuZn superoxide dismutase

Recombinant human CuZn superoxide dismutase as expressed in yeast has been crystallized in three different crystal forms. Hexagonal plates grow from 2.4 M ammonium sulfate, pH 7.5, and belong to the space group P6(3)22, with cell dimensions a = b = 113.5(3), c = 151.5(5) A, and Vm = 2.21 A3/dalton for two dimers per asymmetric unit. At 2.0 M ammonium sulfate, pH 7.5, chunky wedges grow in space group C222(1), a = 205.2(6), b = 166.5(4), c = 145.4(4) A with a Vm of 2.43 A3/dalton for eight dimers per asymmetric unit. With polyethylene glycol 8000, pH 7.5-8.0, hexagonal prisms are obtained with cell dimensions a = b = 197.4(6), c = 43.1(2) A, space group P6, and Vm = 2.53 A3/dalton for three dimers per asymmetric unit. All of these forms diffract to high resolution, are stable to x-rays, and appear suitable for determination of the atomic structure. Crystals of the doubly mutated enzyme (Cys6----Ala, Cys111----Ser) grown from both micro- and macroseeds of the wild type protein demonstrate the feasibility of isomorphous crystallization of site-directed mutants of the cloned parent enzyme for comparative structure-function studies.     

X-ray diffraction analysis of matrix porin, an integral membrane protein from Escherichia coli outer membranes

An integral membrane protein forming channels across Escherichia coli outer membranes, porin, has been crystallized using a polyethylene glycol or salt-generated two-phase system. Monodispersity and homogeneity of protein-detergent complexes were found to be prerequisites for reproducible formation of crystals amenable to X-ray structural analysis. By varying pH, detergent and buffer type, large crystals of three different habits can be obtained, two of which are discussed in this paper. The tetragonal form (space group P4(2); unit cell dimensions, a = b = 155 A, c = 172 A) is suitable for X-ray analysis. Low temperature induces a change of the space group to P4(2)22, with a single trimer in the asymmetric unit. This crystal form diffracts to a resolution beyond 2.9 A. The hexagonal crystal form (space group P6(3)22; unit cell dimensions, a = b = 93 A, c = 220 A) is limited in resolution to 4.5 A, but reveals a packing arrangement very similar to that in two-dimensional membrane-like crystalline arrays.     

Isolation, characterization, and preliminary X-ray diffraction data for a serine protease from Penicillium cyclopium

The major extracellular protein of Penicillium cyclopium has been isolated from its culture media and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel, and ion-exchange chromatography. We show this secreted protein to be endopeptidase. The molecular weight is approximately 32,000, the pI is 5.0, and the pH optimum using a variety of protein and synthetic substrates is around 7.0. Inhibition studies show that the protease is not inhibited by pepstatin nor by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, indicating, respectively, that it is not an aspartyl protease nor a thiol protease. Complete inhibition is observed, however, with phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride. Three crystal forms suitable for high resolution x-ray diffraction studies have been obtained from this purified protease with reflections being observed to well beyond 3.0 A resolution. One form having a needle morphology is of the orthorhombic crystal class and has space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). The unit cell dimensions are a = 41.9 A, b = 43.2 A, and c = 111.5 A with 1 molecule of the protease occurring in the asymmetric unit. The second form grown at pH values less than 6.0 has a plate morphology, is of orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), and has unit cell dimensions a = 59.12 A, b = 62.33 A, and c = 70.62 A. The third form is polyhedral in habit, is also of space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), and appears when the pH of the mother liquor is greater than 7.0. The cell dimensions of this crystal form are a = 57.07 A, b = 58.82 A, c = 70.79 A, and again there is 1 molecule/asymmetric unit. Three-dimensional structural analysis by x-ray diffraction is now underway. All crystal forms are somewhat denser than the norm having mass to volume ratios of 1.58, 2.00, and 1.85 A3/dalton, respectively.     

Crystallization, X-ray diffraction analysis and phasing of carboxylesterase PA3859 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

We have recently purified an intracellular carboxylesterase encoded by the open reading frame PA3859 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Among proteins showing a significant sequence homology with PA3859 the in vivo function is only known for the human acyl-protein thioesterase I that is involved in the deacylation of Galpha proteins. The crystal structure determination of P. aeruginosa carboxylesterase is expected to provide insights into its physiological role. Therefore, the PA3859 gene was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli as N-terminally 6xHis tagged recombinant protein. Here, we present the crystallization, X-ray diffraction analysis and phasing of this enzyme. Two crystal forms were obtained by the hanging drop vapor diffusion method. Crystals of form I belong to the space group P2(1) with cell dimensions of a=65.65, b=50.55, c=142.55 A, beta=92.9 degrees and diffracted, upon flash annealing, up to a resolution of 2.9 A. Two dimers are present in the asymmetric unit. Crystals of form II belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2, with unit cell dimensions of a=96.42, b=96.36, c=68.04 A and diffracted up to 2.1 A resolution. One dimer is present in the asymmetric unit.     

Preliminary X-ray crystallographic study of lysozyme produced by Streptomyces globisporus

Lysozyme from Streptomyces globisporus has been crystallized in a form suitable for X-ray structure analysis using ammonium sulfate as a precipitant. The crystals are hexagonal, space group P6(1)22 (P6(5)22) with unit cell dimensions: a = b = 129 A, c = 143 A. There are three or four molecules per asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract X-rays to at least 3.0 A resolution.     

Crystallization of a photosensitive nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus sp. N-771.

A photosensitive nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus sp. N-771 has been crystallized in two different crystal forms in its inactive form. One crystal form belongs to an orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2 with unit cell dimensions of a = 117.4 A, b = 145.7 A and c = 52.1 A, and the other form belongs to a hexagonal space group P6(3)22 with unit cell dimensions of a = 110.2 A and c = 412.1 A.     

Use of a fusion protein to obtain crystals suitable for X-ray analysis: crystallization of a GST-fused protein containing the DNA-binding domain of DNA replication-related element-binding factor, DREF.

Crystals of glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fused protein containing the DNA-binding domain of DNA replication-related element-binding factor, DREF, were obtained under crystallization conditions similar to those for GST. Preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that crystals of the GST-fused protein belong to space group P6(1)22 or P6(5)22 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 140.4 A, c = 93.5 A and gamma = 120 degrees, having one molecule in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract to 2.5 A resolution. The cell dimensions are related to those of GST crystals thus far reported. Crystallization of the DNA-binding domain that was cleaved from the fused protein by thrombin was also carried out using several methods under numerous conditions, but efforts to produce well-ordered large crystals were unsuccessful. A possible application of GST-fusion proteins for small target proteins or domains to obtain crystals suitable for X-ray structure determination is proposed.     

Crystallization and preliminary x-ray diffraction studies of recombinant rabbit interferon-gamma

Two different crystal forms of recombinant rabbit IFN-gamma were obtained under different crystallization conditions. The first, a tetragonal form with space group P43212 or P41212, was obtained through vapor phase equilibration using the sitting drop rods technique with ammonium citrate as the major precipitating agent. The unit cell dimensions of this crystal form are a = b = 82.1 A and C = 116.3 A. These crystals diffract to 2.8 A resolution and contain a dimer in the asymmetric unit. A second crystal form was obtained by the batch method at pH 8.0 using sodium chloride as the precipitating agent. The crystals are hexagonal, space group P6122 or P6522, and with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 58.0 A and c = 169 A. This form contains monomer in the asymmetric unit and diffracts to greater than 2.7 A resolution. Both forms appear to be eminently suitable for further analyses and crystal structure solution.     

Cloning, expression, and crystallization of a hyperthermophilic protein that is homologous to the eukaryotic translation initiation factor, eIF5A.

A gene coding for a protein homologous to a translation initiation factor of eukaryotes, eIF5A, was cloned from Methanococcus jannaschii, a hyperthermophile with an optimum growth temperature of 85 degrees C. The protein was overexpressed, purified and crystallized. The crystals were obtained by vapor diffusion method with 8% PEG 4000 as precipitant and belong to space group P4(1)22 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 45.52 A and c = 155.59 A. These crystals diffract to at least 2.2 A resolution.     

Preliminary crystallographic studies of the amino terminal half of human lactoferrin in its iron-saturated and iron-free forms.

The amino terminal half of human lactoferrin (LfN) produced from transfected baby hamster kidney cells has been crystallized in its iron-saturated and iron-free forms. The crystals of glycosylated LfN and deglycosylated LfN are monoclinic, space group C2, with cell dimensions a = 133.0 A, b = 58.3 A, c = 58.3 A, alpha = 90.0 degrees, beta = 114.7 degrees, gamma = 90.0 degrees, and one molecule per asymmetric unit. Crystals of apo LfN have also been prepared using deglycosylated protein. These crystals are tetragonal, space group P4(1)2(1)2 (or P4(3)2(1)2), with cell dimensions of a = b = 58.4 A and c = 217.2 A and one molecule per asymmetric unit. Both the iron-saturated and the iron-free crystals are suitable for high resolution X-ray analysis.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction data of two crystal forms of bovine heart creatine kinase

Two crystal forms of bovine heart creatine kinase, which are suitable for X-ray diffraction studies, have been grown at room temperature using 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol as the precipitant at pH 7.2. The space group of the orthorhombic form is P2(1)2(1)2, with unit cell dimensions a = 133 A, b = 128 A and c = 65 A, and there is one dimeric molecule in the asymmetric unit. The space group of the tetragonal form is P4(2)2(1)2, with unit cell dimensions a = b = 132 A and c = 75 A, with one subunit in the asymmetric unit. The tetragonal crystals diffract to at least 2.0 A resolution.     

Crystallization of the A alpha subunit of protein phosphatase 2A.

The A alpha subunit of human protein phosphatase 2A forms crystals in space group P2(1) with cell dimensions a = 104.0, b = 174.9, c = 168.2 A, and beta angle = 90.2 degrees. At cryogenic temperatures, the crystals diffracted to a resolution limit of approximately 3.0 A. Based on the unit cell dimensions and a calculated molecular mass of 65,277 Da, the Matthews coefficient suggests eight molecules per asymmetric unit. Two native data sets were collected to a nominal resolution of 3.0 A and merged to provide a set that is 93% complete, with Rsym of 9.9%.     

Overproduction, crystallization, and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the major cold shock protein from Bacillus subtilis, CspB.

The major cold shock protein from Bacillus subtilis (CspB) was overexpressed using the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase/promoter system and purified to apparent homogeneity from recombinant Escherichia coli cells. CspB was crystallized in two different forms using vapor diffusion methods. The first crystal form obtained with ammonium sulfate as precipitant belongs to the trigonal crystal system, space group P3(1)21 (P3(2)21) with unit cell dimensions a = b = 59.1 A and c = 46.4 A. The second crystal form is tetragonal, space group P4(1)2(1)2 (P4(3)2(1)2) with unit cell dimensions a = b = 56.9 A and c = 53.0 A. These crystals grow with polyethylene glycol 4000 as precipitant.     

Crystallization and preliminary analysis of crystals of cytochrome c2 from Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

Two crystal forms of the cytochrome c2 isolated from Rhodopseudomonas capsulata have been obtained. One crystal form (type I), grown from ammonium sulfate solutions at pH 7.5, belongs to the space group R32 with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 100.0 A, and c = 162.2 A in the hexagonal setting. These crystals most likely contain two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The other crystal form (type II) was obtained from polyethylene glycol 6000 solutions at pH 6.5. Type II crystals belong to the space group P3(1)21 or P3(2)21 with one molecule per asymmetric unit and unit cell dimensions of a = b = 52.4 A, and c = 87.9 A. Both crystal forms diffract to at least 1.8 A resolution and appear to be resistant to radiation damage.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the lactose-specific phosphocarrier protein IIAlac of the phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system from Staphylococcus aureus.

The IIA constituent of the lactose permease from Staphylococcus aureus has been crystallized in two different forms. Crystals of form I have been grown from polyethylene glycol 4000 with beta-octyl glucoside. They diffract to 3.0 A resolution and belong to space group C2 with unit cell dimensions a = 141.7 A, b = 130.7 A, c = 96.5 A and beta = 96.2 degrees. Form II crystals have been obtained from a solution containing polyethylene glycol 400, ammonium sulfate and manganese chloride. They diffract to at least 2.8 A resolution and belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions a = 89.9 A, b = 101.5 A and c = 90.9 A.