Production and crystallization of a selenomethionyl variant of UmuD′, an Echerichia coli SOS response protein

Crystals of both native and mutant Escherichia coli UmuD′ protein were obtained using the hanging drop method. Soaking the native crystals in solutions of heavy metal ions failed to produce good isomorphous derivatives, and selenomethionine substituted wild-type protein did not crystallize under conditions that gave native crystals. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change the penultimate residue, a methionine amino acid, to either a valine or a threonine amino acid. Crystals were subsequently obtained from these mutant proteins with and without selenomethionine Incorporation. Crystals of the native, the mutant, and the selenomethionine Incorporated protein were all similar, crystallizing in the P4₁2₁2 space group. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Expression and crystallization of the yeast Hsp82 chaperone,and preliminary x-ray diffraction studies of the amino-terminal domain

Expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hsp82 chaperone in a pep4-3- and hsc82-deficient strain of S. cerevisiae yielded over 25% of the total cell protein as intact Hsp82. Similarly, the amino-terminal domain (residues 1–220) of Hsp82 was expressed to 18% of the total cell protein. Crystals of the intact Hsp82 were readily obtained. The crystals were very fragile, suggesting a high solvent content, and diffracted to approximately 8 Å. Tetragonal bipyrimidal crystals of the amino-terminal domain of Hsp82 were readily obtained under a variety of different conditions. The crystals have primitive tetragonal space group (P422, P4₁22, or its enantiomorph P4₃22) with unit cell dimensions of a = 75.1 Å and c = 111.3 Å, contain 60% by volume solvent, and diffract to 2.5 Å resolution. Addition of 25% glycerol to the mother liquor gave rise to large rod-shaped crystals. The crystals diffract to 2.8 Å resolution, have an orthorhombic space group (P222₁, P2₁2₁2, or P2₁2₁2₁) with cell dimensions of a = 45.2 Å, b = 115.4 Å, and c = 116.9 Å, and a solvent content of 58% by volume. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Crystallization of the reaction center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides in a new tetragonal form

The reaction center from the nonsulfur purple bacteriumRhodobacter sphaeroideshas been crystallized in a new form. The crystals grew in the presence of polyethylene glycol 4000, the detergent β-octyl glucoside, and the amphiphiles heptane triol and benzamidine hydrochloride, using the sitting drop method. The space group of these crystals is tetragonal, P4₁(4₃)2₁2, and the cell constants are a = b = 141.5 Å and c = 276.7 Å with probably 2 proteins per asymmetric unit. A native data set has been set collected to a resolution of 2.8 Å consisting of 56,332 unique reflections (50,731 with F > 2σ) with anR_sym of 9.5%. Analysis of the diffraction data is underway using molecular and isomorphous replacement. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of ketosteroid isomerase from Pseudomonas putida biotype B

The Δ⁵-3-ketosteroid isomerase from Pseudomonas putida biotype B has been crystallized. The crystals belong to the space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell dimensions of a = 36.48 Å, b = 74.30 Å, c = 96.02 Å, and contain one homodimer per asymmetric unit. Native diffraction data to 2.19 Å resolution have been obtained from one crystal at room temperature indicating that the crystals are quite suitable for structure determination by multiple isomorphous replacement.     

Correlation of Local Changes in the Temperature-Dependent Conformational Flexibility of Thioredoxins with Their Thermostability

For the development of a method capable of predicting single point mutations substantially affecting protein thermostability, we studied the effect of the E85R and R82E mutations on the thermostability of thioredoxins from Escherichia coli (Trx) andBacillus acidocaldarius (BacTrx), respectively. The basic method of investigation was the molecular dynamics simulation of 3D protein models in an explicit solvent at different temperatures (300 and 373 K). Some thermolabile regions in Trx, BacTrx, and their mutants were revealed by analyzing the temperature effect on the molecular dynamics of the protein molecule. The effect of single point mutations on the temperature changes of the protein conformation flexibility in several thermolabile regions was found. The results of the simulations are in accord with experimental data indicating that the mutation E85R increases Trx thermostability, whereas the mutation R82E decreases BacTrx thermostability. The thermostability of these proteins was revealed to depend on ionic interactions between the thermolabile regions. The single point mutations change the parameters of these interactions and make them more favorable in the E85R-Trx mutant and less favorable in the R82E-BacTrx mutant.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray investigation of the recombinant Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense calmodulin

Bipyramidal crystals of the recombinant calmodulin from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense were obtained by vapor diffusion against 55% (v/v) 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol in 0.05 M cacodylate buffer, pH 5.6. When few nucleation events occurred, crystals grew to 0.25 × 0.25 × 1.20 mm. The space group of the crystal is I4₁22, with unit cell dimensions a = b = 56.88 Å, c = 230.11 Å, α = β = γ = 90°, z = 16. The molecular mass and volume of the unit cell suggest that there is one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The I/σ(I) ratio for data at 3.0 Å resolution was 3.67, indicating that the final structure can be refined at higher resolution. Molecular replacement methods and the PC-refinement technique have not yet yielded the structure under a variety of search conditions. We are currently investigating the multiple isomorphous replacement approach to determine this crystal structure. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Crystallization and preliminary x-ray analysis of Escherichia coli peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase

Peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase from Escherichia coli, a monomer of 21 kDa, was overexpressed from its cloned gene pth and crystallized by using polyethylene glycol as precipitant. The crystals are orthorhombic and have unit cell parameters a = 47.24 Å, b = 63.59 Å, and c = 62.57 Å. They belong to space group P2₁2₁2₁ and diffract to better than 1.2 Å resolution. The structure is being solved by multiple isomorphous replacement. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction data of two heparin-binding fragments of human fibronectin

Two different heparin-binding fragments of human fibronectin have been crystallized in forms which are suitable for crystal structure analyses. The 30 kDa hep-2A fragment, consisting of type III domains 12–14, was crystallized from solutions containing ammonium sulfate or polyethylene glycol 6000. The crystals grown in ammonium sulfate solutions were orthorhombic with space group I222 or I2₁2₁2₁ with a = 68.1 Å, b = 88.6 Å, and c = 144.9 Å. The crystals grown in polyethylene glycol solutions are hexagonal with space group P6₁22 or P6₅22 witha a = b = 66.7 Å and c = 245.7 Å. The 40 kDa hep-2B fragment, consisting of type III domains 12–15, was also crystallized from solutions containing ammonium sulfate with the addition of glycerol. Glycerol proved an effective agent for reducing the number of crystals in the crystallization experiments, and thus, increasing the size of the crystals in these experiments. This crystal form is nearly isomorphous to the orthorhombic form of the hep-2A fragment with space group I222 or I2₁2₁2₁ and a = 67.5 Å, b = 87.0 Å, and c = 144.3 Å. All crystal forms diffract to at least 3.5 Å resolution and contain a single molecule in the asymmetric unit. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of peroxidase from a fungus Arthromyces ramosus

Peroxidase (donor: H₂O₂ oxi-doreductase [EC 1.11.1.7]) was purified from the culture broth of the hyphomycete Arthromyces ramosus in the early log phase to show a single band on SDS-PAGE. The crystals of A. ramosus peroxidase (ARP) were formed by salting out with ammonium sulfate at room temperature and pH 7.5. The repeated seeding technique was employed to grow the crystals to the size large enough for X-ray diffraction study. The crystals were characterized as tetragonal, space group P4₂2₁2, with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 74.5 Å, c = 117.6 Å. The asymmetric unit contains one molecule of peroxidase. They diffract X-rays to at least 2.0 Å resolution and are stable to X-rays. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Escherichia coli methionyl–tRNA formyltransferase

Methionyl–tRNA formyltransferase from Escherichia coli, a monomer of 34kDa, was overexpressed from its cloned gene fmt (Guillon, J.M., Mechulam, Y., Schmitter, J.M., Blanquet, S., and Fayat, G., J. Bacteriol. 174:4294–4301, 1992) and crystallized using ammonium sulphate as precipitant. The crystals are trigonal and have unit cell parameters a = b = 151.0Å, c = 81.8Å. They belong to space group P3₂21 and diffract to 2.0Å resolution. The structure is being solved by multiple isomorphous replacement. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Characterization of an L-phosphinothricin resistant glutamine synthetase from Exiguobacterium sp. and its improvement

A glutamine synthetase (GS; 1341 bp) gene with potent L-phosphinothricin (PPT) resistance was isolated and characterized from a marine bacterium Exiguobacterium sp. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the substitution of residues Glu60 and Arg64 may lead to significant changes in binding pocket. To enhance the enzymatic property of GS, variants E60A and R64G were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. The results revealed a noteworthy change in the thermostability and activity in comparison to the wild type (WT). WT exhibited optimum activity at 35 °C, while E60A and R64G exhibited optimum activity at 45 and 40 °C, respectively. The mutant R64G was 4.3 times more stable at 70 °C in comparison to WT, while E60A was 5.7 times more stable. Kinetic analysis revealed that the k _cat value of R64G mutant was 8.10-, 7.25- and 7.63-fold that of WT for ADP, glutamine and hydroxylamine, respectively. The kinetic inhibition (K _i, 4.91 ± 0.42 mM) of R64G was 2.02-fold that of WT (2.43 ± 0.14 mM) for L-phosphinothricin. The analysis of structure and function relationship showed that the binding pocket underwent dramatic changes when Arg site of 64 was substituted by Gly, thus promoting the rapid capture of substrates and leading to increase in activity and PPT-resistance of mutant R64G. The rearrangements of the residues at the molecular level formed new hydrogen bonds around the active site, which contributed to the increase of thermostability of enzymes. This study provides new insights into substrate binding mechanism of glutamine synthetase and the improved GS gene also has a potential for application in transgenic crops with L-phosphinothricin tolerance.

     

Cyrstal structure of a complex of α-cyclodextrin with 2-fluoro-4-nitrophenol · 3H2O

The crystal structure of a complex of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) with 2-fluoro-4-nitrophenol · 3H₂O has been determined by the X-ray diffraction technique. The complex crystallizes in space group P2₁2₁2₁ with cell dimensions: a = 13.431(3), b = 15.299(4), c = 24.780(5) Å. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R = 6.7% for 4483 reflections. The crystal structure is isomorphous to the α-CD-4-nitrophneol · 3H₂O complex. The phenyl group is inside the cavity, so that the O-4 hexagon of the α-CD is distorted in a systematic manner: the longest diagonal [O-4(G2) O-4(G5)] is in the direction of the benzene ring. The phenolic OH group protrudes from the secondary OH side of the cavity and the NO₂ group is situated on the primary OH side. The hydrophobic F atom is statitically disordered over two sites and is located in the hydrophilic space, just beyond the rim of the secondary OH side of the cavity.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of ImmE7 protein of colicin E7

The ImmE7 protein, which can bind specifically to the DNase colicin E7 and neutralize its bactericidal activity, has been purified and crystallized in two different crystal forms by vapor diffusion method. The orthorhombic crystals belong to space group I222 or I2₁2₁2₁ and have unit cell dimensions a = 75.1 Å, b = 50.5 Å, and c = 45.4 Å. The second form is monoclinic space group P2₁ with ceil dimensions a = 29.3 Å, b = 102.7 Å, c = 53.0 Å and β = 91.5°. The orthorhombic crystals diffract to 1.8 Å resolution, and are suitable for high-resolution X-ray analysis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

In Silico Rational Design and Systems Engineering of Disulfide Bridges in the Catalytic Domain of an Alkaline α-Amylase from Alkalimonas amylolytica To Improve Thermostability

High thermostability is required for alkaline α-amylases to maintain high catalytic activity under the harsh conditions used in textile production. In this study, we attempted to improve the thermostability of an alkaline α-amylase from Alkalimonas amylolytica through in silico rational design and systems engineering of disulfide bridges in the catalytic domain. Specifically, 7 residue pairs (P35-G426, Q107-G167, G116-Q120, A147-W160, G233-V265, A332-G370, and R436-M480) were chosen as engineering targets for disulfide bridge formation, and the respective residues were replaced with cysteines. Three single disulfide bridge mutants—P35C-G426C, G116C-Q120C, and R436C-M480C—of the 7 showed significantly enhanced thermostability. Combinational mutations were subsequently assessed, and the triple mutant P35C-G426C/G116C-Q120C/R436C-M480C showed a 6-fold increase in half-life at 60°C and a 5.2°C increase in melting temperature compared with the wild-type enzyme. Interestingly, other biochemical properties of this mutant also improved: the optimum temperature increased from 50°C to 55°C, the optimum pH shifted from 9.5 to 10.0, the stable pH range extended from 7.0 to 11.0 to 6.0 to 12.0, and the catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m) increased from 1.8 × 10⁴ to 2.4 × 10⁴ liters/g · min. The possible mechanism responsible for these improvements was explored through comparative analysis of the model structures of wild-type and mutant enzymes. The disulfide bridge engineering strategy used in this work may be applied to improve the thermostability of other industrial enzymes.     

Structural basis of the suppressed catalytic activity of wild-type human glutathione transferase T1-1 compared to its W234R mutant

The crystal structures of wild-type human theta class glutathione-S-transferase (GST) T1-1 and its W234R mutant, where Trp234 was replaced by Arg, were solved both in the presence and absence of S-hexyl-glutathione. The W234R mutant was of interest due to its previously observed enhanced catalytic activity compared to the wild-type enzyme. GST T1-1 from rat and mouse naturally contain Arg in position 234, with correspondingly high catalytic efficiency. The overall structure of GST T1-1 is similar to that of GST T2-2, as expected from their 53% sequence identity at the protein level. Wild-type GST T1-1 has the side-chain of Trp234 occupying a significant portion of the active site. This bulky residue prevents efficient binding of both glutathione and hydrophobic substrates through steric hindrance. The wild-type GST T1-1 crystal structure, obtained from co-crystallization experiments with glutathione and its derivatives, showed no electron density for the glutathione ligand. However, the structure of GST T1-1 mutant W234R showed clear electron density for S-hexyl-glutathione after co-crystallization. In contrast to Trp234 in the wild-type structure, the side-chain of Arg234 in the mutant does not occupy any part of the substrate-binding site. Instead, Arg234 is pointing in a different direction and, in addition, interacts with the carboxylate group of glutathione. These findings explain our earlier observation that the W234R mutant has a markedly improved catalytic activity with most substrates tested to date compared to the wild-type enzyme. GST T1-1 catalyzes detoxication reactions as well as reactions that result in toxic products, and our findings therefore suggest that humans have gained an evolutionary advantage by a partially disabled active site.     

Effect of process parameters on 3-hydroxypropionic acid production from glycerol using a recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

The stability and specific activity of endo-β-1,4-glucanase III from Trichoderma reesei QM9414 was enhanced, and the expression efficiency of its encoding gene, egl3, was optimized by directed evolution using error-prone PCR and activity screening in Escherichia coli RosettaBlue (DE3) pLacI as a host. Relationship between increase in yield of active enzyme in the clones and improvement in its stability was observed among the mutants obtained in the present study. The clone harboring the best mutant 2R4 (G41E/T110P/K173M/Y195F/P201S/N218I) selected in via second-round mutagenesis after optimal recombinating of first-round mutations produced 130-fold higher amount of mutant enzyme than the transformant with wild-type EG III. Mutant 2R4 produced by the clone showed broad pH stability (4.4–8.8) and thermotolerance (entirely active at 55°C for 30 min) compared with those of the wild-type EG III (pH stability, 4.4–5.2; thermostability, inactive at 55°C for 30 min). k _cat of 2R4 against carboxymethyl-cellulose was about 1.4-fold higher than that of the wild type, though the K _m became twice of that of the wild type.     

Crystallization of the Bacillus subtilis histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein HPr and of some of its site-directed mutants

The histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein (HPr) from Bacillus subtilis has been crystallized. Two of the site-directed mutants aimed at probing function produce crystals suitable for X-ray studies. The mutant in which His15 is substituted by an alanyl residue crystallizes from ammonium sulfate solution in space group P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with unit cell dimensions: a = b = 47.3 A; c = 61.5 A. These crystals diffract to at least 1.8 A resolution. The mutant in which Ser46 is substituted by an aspartyl residue crystallizes from polyethylene glycol 4000 solution in space group P2(1), with unit cell dimensions: a = 49.4 A; b = 25.6 A; c = 60.3 A; beta = 109 degrees. These crystals diffract to at least 2.0 A resolution.     

Crystallization of a scRIP—gelonin isolated from plant seeds Gelonium multiforum

Single crystals of the protein gelonin isolated from the seeds of Gelonium multiforum have been grown at room temperature by vapor diffusion method. The crystals are monclinic with a = 49.4 Å, b = 44.9 Å, c = 137.4 Å, and β = 98.3°. The space group is P2₁, with two molecules in the asymmetric unit which are related by a noncrystallographic 2-fold axis along ψ =13° and ? =88°. The crystals diffract X-rays to high resolution, making it possible to obtain an accurate structure of this single chain ribosome inactivating protein. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Variant Associated with Fat Distribution and Insulin Metabolism

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTPN1) affects the regulation of insulin signaling and energy metabolism. We studied whether polymorphisms in the PTPN1 gene impact body fat distribution in the HERITAGE Family Study cohort in 502 white and 276 black subjects. Insulin sensitivity index, glucose disappearance index, acute insulin response to glucose (AIR_glucose), and the disposition index (DI) were obtained from the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. White subjects with the G82G at the PTPN1 IVS6+G82A polymorphism had higher body fat levels (p = 0.031) and sum of eight skinfolds (p = 0.003) and highest subcutaneous fat on the limbs (p = 0.002). G82A subjects had the lowest AIR_glucose (p = 0.005) and disposition index (p = 0.040). Interaction effects between PTPN1 and leptin receptor gene variants influenced insulin sensitivity index and AIR_glucose (p from 0.006 to 0.010). The variant PTPN1 Pro387Leu was associated with lower fasting insulin level (p = 0.035) and glucose disappearance index (p = 0.038). In summary, PTPN1 IVS6+G82G homozygotes showed higher levels of all measures of adiposity. G82 allele heterozygotes are potentially at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Gene‐gene interactions between the PTPN1 and leptin receptor genes contributed to the phenotypic variability of insulin sensitivity. The PTPN1 Pro387Leu variant was associated with lower glucose tolerance.     

Purification,crystallization, and preliminary X-ray diffraction analyses of the bacterial chemotaxis receptor modifying enzymes

Bacterial chemotaxis receptor modifying enzymes from Salmonella typhimurium have been crystallized using microseeding techniques. The crystals of the S-adenosyl-L -methionine-dependent methyl transferase, CheR, belong to the monoclinic space group P2₁ with cell constants a = 55.1 Å, b = 48.1 Å, c = 63.1 Å, β = 112.3°. The crystals of the catalytic domain of the methylesterase, CheB, belong to the trigonal space group P3₂21 or P3₁21 with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 63.4 Å, c = 86.8 Å. Both crystals contain one molecule per asymmetric unit and have calculated Matthews' volumes of 2.4 ų/Da. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.