Improving diffraction by humidity control: a novel device compatible with X-ray beamlines

The HC1b is a new user-friendly humidity-control device that is compatible with standard X-ray beamlines. It is used to improve the diffraction properties of macromolecular crystals by optimizing their hydration state.

The effect of a proline residue on the rate of growth and the space group of α-spectrin SH3-domain crystals

The key role of Pro20 in the crystal nucleation and growth rate of the α-spectrin SH3 domain has been investigated.

Structure of Helicobacter pylori L-asparaginase at 1.4 Å resolution

The crystal structure of H. pylori L-asparaginase in the presence of L-Asp was determined at 1.4 Å resolution and revealed changes in loops involved in the formation of the active site.

Structure of laminin-binding adhesin (Lmb) from Streptococcus agalactiae

The crystal structure of a laminin-binding adhesin (Lmb) from S. agalactiae was determined at 2.5 Å resolution. The structure of Lmb will allow further investigations into the possible dual role of Lmb as an adhesin and in metal homeostasis.

A systematic study of 50S ribosomal subunit purification enabling robust crystallization

A description is given of a robust procedure for the purification of 50S ribosomal subunits from D. radiodurans that consistently crystallize to form crystals that give diffraction patterns extending to 2.9 Å resolution. Factors that may influence the ability to form crystals are systematically evaluated and future areas of study aresuggested.

On the use of logarithmic scales for analysis of diffraction data

Conventional and free R factors and their difference, as well as the ratio of the number of measured reflections to the number of atoms in the crystal, were studied as functions of the resolution at which the structures were reported. When the resolution was taken uniformly on a logarithmic scale, the most frequent values of these functions were quasi-linear over a large resolution range.

Structure of the X (ADRP) domain of nsp3 from feline coronavirus

The structure of the X (ADRP) domain of nonstructural protein 3 from feline coronavirus has been determined in two crystal forms. The binding of glycerol-3-phosphate and ADP-ribose is described.

Structure of the Taz2 domain of p300: insights into ligand binding

The crystal structure of the Taz2 zinc-finger domain of the human p300 transcriptional coactivator was determined using the anomalous diffraction signal of the bound Zn ions. Crystal contacts suggested a possible novel mode of Taz2–peptide ligand interactions.

The apo structure of sucrose hydrolase from Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris shows an open active-site groove

The crystal structure of apo sucrose hydrolase from X. campestris pv. campestris is reported.

Structures of the apo and holo forms of formate de­hydrogenase from the bacterium Moraxella sp. C-1: towards understanding the mechanism of the closure of the interdomain cleft

The crystal structures of the apo and holo forms of NAD⁺-dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH) from the methylotrophic bacterium Moraxella sp. C-1 are reported. The structure of the apo form in the closed conformation provides insights into the mechanism of closure of the interdomain cleft in FDH.

Structures of restriction endonuclease HindIII in complex with its cognate DNA and divalent cations

The crystal structure of the HindIII–cognate DNA complex was solved with and without metal cations.

A case of structure determination using pseudosymmetry

When properly applied, pseudosymmetry can be used to improve crystallographic phases through averaging and to facilitate crystal structure determination.

Notes of a protein crystallographer: the molecular structure of evolutionary theory

The new developments in evolutionary biology are reviewed to encourage a fruitful dialog between structural and evolutionary biologists.