Crystallization and preliminary studies of lima bean trypsin inhibitor.

Crystals of lima been trypsin inhibitor (LBTI) were obtained by using the vapor phase equilibration technique with sodium/potassium tartrate as the precipitating agent. The space group was determined to be cubic, I2(1)3 with a = 110.2. A These crystals diffract to about 1.9 A resolution. Preliminary analysis of self-rotation maps (calculated from native x-ray intensity data) suggests the presence of two monomers in the asymmetric unit. LBTI is very thermostable and retains activity even after boiling for 10 minutes. This property is exploited as part of its purification procedure.

Structural studies of EcoRII methylase: exploring similarities among methylases.

EcoRII methyltransferase (M.EcoRII) is a cytosine-C5 DNA methylating enzyme. A model of its three-dimensional structure is proposed on the basis of homology modeling. Crystal structures of two members of the same family of enzymes, HaeIII and HhaI methyltransferases (M.HaeIII and M.HhaI respectively), were used as template molecules. Molecular dynamics was used to ensure sampling of conformationally stable structures. The final model has good geometry. The DNA and cofactor binding residues are in expected positions and form proper interactions. M.EcoRII is 147 amino acids longer than the template molecules, and hence the model contains several loops that are significantly longer than those in M.HaeIII and M.HhaI. The model provides a framework for interpretation and designing site-directed mutants that have a potential to improve crystallization experiments of this enzyme, and possibly other similar enzymes.

Structure of recombinant bovine interferon-gamma at 3.0 A resolution.

The three-dimensional crystal structure of recombinant bovine interferon-gamma was determined using the multiple isomorphous replacement method at 3.0 A and refined to an R factor of 19.2%. This protein crystallizes in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit-cell parameters of a = 42.8, b = 79.9 and c = 85.4 A. There is one functional dimer in the asymmetric unit. The two polypeptide chains are related by a non-crystallographic twofold symmetry axis. The secondary structure is predominantly alpha-helical with extensive interdigitation of the alpha-helical segments of the polypeptide chains that make up the dimer. The secondary structure, tertiary structure and topology of this molecule are identical to the previously reported structures of recombinant rabbit interferon-gamma and recombinant human interferon-gamma. The molecular topology is also similar to that of murine interferon-beta. These structural similarities strongly indicate the presence of a unique topological feature (fold) among gamma-interferons from different species, and also among the different classes of interferons.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of dogfish C-reactive protein.

Crystals of dogfish (Mustelus canis) C-reactive protein were obtained through vapor phase equilibration using the sitting drop rod technique with ammonium sulfate as the precipitating agent. The space group was determined to be P1 (triclinic lattice) with unit cell dimensions of a = 82.91, b = 92.25 and c = 103.40 A; alpha = 83.36 degrees, beta = 89.76 degrees, and gamma = 81.30 degrees. These crystals diffract to about 2.6 A resolution and contain two hexamers in the asymmetric unit.

Crystal structure of recombinant rabbit interferon-gamma at 2.7-A resolution.

The crystal structure of recombinant rabbit interferon-gamma was solved by the multiple isomorphous replacement technique at 2.7-A resolution and refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 26.2%. The interferon crystallizes with one-half of the functional dimer in the asymmetric unit, with the two polypeptide chains of the dimer related by a crystallographic 2-fold symmetry axis. The structure is predominantly alpha-helical with extensive interdigitation of the alpha-helical segments of the two polypeptide chains.

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.

Crystal structure of beta-D-galactopyranosylamine.

The crystal structure of beta-D-galactopyranosylamine (C6H13O5N) is orthorhombic, with space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), and cell dimensions a = 7.703(2), b = 7.788(2), c = 12.645(3) A, V = 757.612 A3, Z = 4; Dc and Dm are 1.573 and 1.587 cm-3, respectively. Using MoK alpha radiation (lambda = 0.7107 A), 2841 reflections were measured on a CAD-4 diffractometer. The structure was solved by using MULTAN-78, and refined anisotropically for the non-hydrogen positional and thermal parameters. Final agreement indices are R(F) = 0.074, wR(F) = 0.086, and S = 2.1523. The conformation is 4C1(D). The orientation of the primary alcohol group is gauche/trans. An unexpected feature of the hydrogen bonding is that the amino group accepts a strong O-H---N bond, but has no donor functionality in the crystal structure.

Kinked DNA in crystalline complex with EcoRI endonuclease.

The 3 A electron density map of a co-crystalline recognition complex between EcoRI endonuclease and the oligonucleotide TCGCGAATTCGCG reveals that a tight, complementary interface between the enzyme and the major groove of the DNA is the major determinant of sequence specificity. The DNA contains a torsional kink and other departures from the B conformation which unwind the DNA and thereby widen the major groove in the recognition site.

Two-fold symmetry of crystalline DNA-EcoRI endonuclease recognition complexes.

Recognition complexes between EcoRI endonuclease and either of two synthetic oligonucleotides (sequences CGCGAATTCGCG and TCGCGAATTCGCG) crystallize in Space Group P321 with unit cell parameters a = 128 and c = 47 A and a = 118.4 and c = 49.7 A, respectively. Native diffraction data to 3 A resolution have been collected from the form containing the tridecameric sequence. Electrophoretic analyses of dissolved crystals demonstrate that this form contains DNA and protein in a ratio of one double helix per enzyme dimer. The most likely asymmetric unit contents are one 31,000 dalton enzyme subunit and one strand of DNA, yielding VM values of 3.1 A3/dal and 2.8 A3/dal for the forms containing dodecameric and tridecameric DNA, respectively. This implies that the DNA-protein complex possesses two-fold rotational symmetry, which has been incorporated in the crystalline lattice.