Structures of the wild-type and activated catalytic domains of Brachydanio rerio Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1): changes in the active-site conformation and interactions with ligands

Crystal structures of ligand-free wild-type and activated zebrafish Plk1 kinase domains reveal the organization of the secondary structural elements around the active site. The cocrystal structure of wild-type Plk1 with ADP documents the hydrolysis of ATP and reveals the autophosphorylation site, while the cocrystal structure of the activated kinase domain with wortmannin, a covalent inhibitor of the PI3 kinase, shows the binding mode of the small molecule to the enzyme and could facilitate the design of more potent Plk1 inhibitors.

Crystal packing of the c₆-type cytochrome OmcF from Geobacter sulfurreducens is mediated by an N-terminal Strep-tag II

The structure of the Strep-tag II-tagged monohaem c-type cytochrome OmcF from G. sulfurreducens was determined by Fe SAD on a rotating-anode X-ray source. Packing analysis reveals that the N-terminal Strep-tag II is the exclusive mediator of crystal contacts along the c axis, providing crystal contacts to three monomers simultaneously.

Structure of the thioredoxin-like domain of yeast glutaredoxin 3

Yeast Grx3 is involved in iron-responsive transcription regulation. The single active site thiol of the thioredoxin-like domain is in a flexible surface loop as suggested by its partial disorder.

X-ray structure of a soluble Rieske-type ferredoxin from Mus musculus

The X-ray crystal structure of a soluble Rieske ferredoxin from M. musculus was solved at 2.07 Å resolution, revealing an iron–sulfur cluster-binding domain with similar architecture to the Rieske-type domains of bacterial aromatic dioxygenases. The ferredoxin was also shown to be capable of accepting electrons from both eukaryotic and prokaryotic oxidoreductases.

Structures of monomeric, dimeric and trimeric PCNA: PCNA-ring assembly and opening

Crystal structures of three PCNA homologues from Sulfolobus solfataricus have been determined in different oligomeric states. The structural features in different assemblies present a molecular model for clamp-ring forming and opening.

Structure of the C-terminal domain of the arginine repressor protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The structure of the core domain of the arginine repressor protein from M. tuberculosis has been determined with (1.85 Å resolution) and without (2.15 Å resolution) the arginine corepressor bound. Three additional arginine molecules have been found to bind to the core domain hexamer at high (0.2 M) arginine concentration.

High-molecular-weight polymers for protein crystallization: poly-γ-glutamic acid-based precipitants

High-molecular-weight poly-γ-glutamic acid-based polymers have been synthesized, tested and adopted for protein crystallization.

The 1.5 Å structure of endo-1,3-β-glucanase from Streptomyces sioyaensis: evolution of the active-site structure for 1,3-β-glucan-binding specificity and hydrolysis

The 1.5 Å resolution crystal structure of the catalytic domain of S. sioyaensis endo-1,3-β-glucanase, a member of glycosyl hydrolase family 16, revealed an active-site cleft that was closed at one end for specific 1,3-β-glucan substrate binding.

Evaluation of the (haem)Fe—N^∊2(HisF8) bond distances from haemoglobin structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank

The bond distances that bind the haem group to the globin molecule in the crystallographic structures of haemoglobins deposited in the Protein Data Bank were evaluated by comparison with the same bond distance determined using EXAFS and X-ray absorption techniques.

Structural analysis of a holoenzyme complex of mouse di­hydrofolate reductase with NADPH and a ternary complex with the potent and selective inhibitor 2,4-di­amino-6-(2′-hydroxydibenz[b,f]azepin-5-yl)methylpteridine

The structures of mouse DHFR holo enzyme and a ternary complex with NADPH and a potent inhibitor are described.

Structures of viscotoxins A1 and B2 from European mistletoe solved using native data alone

The new crystal structures of viscotoxins A1 and B2 have been solved by sulfur-SAD phasing and ab initio direct methods, respectively.

Pseudo-merohedral twinning in crystals of the dihaem c-type cytochrome DHC2 from Geobacter sulfurreducens

Pseudo-merohedral twinning was detected in crystals of the dihaem c-type cytochrome DHC2 from G. sulfurreducens.

Not so clear on oxygen. Comment on Structural basis for cofactor-independent dioxygenation in vancomycin biosynthesis by Widboom et al. (2007), Nature (London), 447, 342–345

Comment on Structural basis for cofactor-independent dioxygenation in vancomycin biosynthesis by Widboom et al. (2007), Nature (London), 447, 342–345.