The structures of T₆, T₃R₃ and R₆ bovine insulin: combining X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used in combination with protein crystallography to study the zinc sites in T₆, T₃R₃ and R₆ bovine insulin. The information obtained by XAS is highly accurate and complementary to that obtained from the crystal structures.

Contamination from an affinity column: an encounter with a new villain in the world of membrane-protein crystallization

Small crystals of contaminant protein led to the structure at 1.9 Å resolution of Strep-Tactin in complex with desthiobiotin. Trace amounts of Strep-Tactin were observed to be eluted from a Strep-Tactin column using several detergents, illustrating their possible role in the contamination when crystallizing membrane proteins.

Structures of bovine, equine and leporine serum albumin

Four crystal structures of bovine, equine (two crystal forms) and leporine serum albumin have been determined at resolutions of 2.04–2.47 Å. The proteins were isolated from animal blood and additionally defatted and purified.

The 1.2 Å resolution crystal structure of TcpG, the Vibrio cholerae DsbA di­sulfide-forming protein required for pilus and cholera-toxin production

The high-resolution crystal structure of TcpG identifies a short contact in the oxidized form.

Various cross-reactivity of the grass pollen group 4 allergens: crystallographic study of the Bermuda grass isoallergen Cyn d 4

The crystal structure of the naturally isolated pollen allergen Cyn d 4 from Bermuda grass provides a structural basis for the enhancement of protein stability by the conserved N-terminal segment, the function of the protein and the various cross-allergenicities of the grass pollen group 4 allergens.

The structure of the ternary Eg5–ADP–ispinesib complex

The complex between the motor protein Eg5 and the phase II clinical candidate ispinesib provides insights into the mechanism of action of this important class of inhibitors.

Structure of FabH and factors affecting the distribution of branched fatty acids in Micrococcus luteus

In an effort to better understand the control of the formation of branched fatty acids in Micrococcus luteus, the structure of β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase III, which catalyzes the initial step of fatty-acid biosynthesis, has been determined.

Structural insight into the ISC domain of VibB from Vibrio cholerae at atomic resolution: a snapshot just before the enzymatic reaction

The structure of the VibB ISC domain in complex with isochorismate was determined at atomic resolution. The positions of both of the catalytic waters are significantly affected by the mutation of Asp35 and Lys118.

The accessory domain changes the accessibility and molecular topography of the catalytic interface in monomeric GH39 β-xylosidases

Structural insights into a new class of monomeric GH39 β-xylosidases.

Pattern prediction and coordination geometry analysis from cadmium-binding proteins: a computational approach

Short-length motifs that were identified from partially conserved cadmium-binding sequences resemble the structural patterns identified from cadmium architecture and are postulated to have a higher probability of coordinating to cadmium.

Structural characterization and comparison of three acyl-carrier-protein synthases from pathogenic bacteria

The structural characterization of acyl-carrier-protein synthase (AcpS) from three different pathogenic microorganisms is reported. One interesting finding of the present work is a crystal artifact related to the activity of the enzyme, which fortuitously represents an opportunity for a strategy to design a potential inhibitor of a pathogenic AcpS.

Crystallization, dehydration and experimental phasing of WbdD, a bifunctional kinase and methyltransferase from Escherichia coli O9a

The optimization of WbdD crystals using a novel dehydration protocol and experimental phasing at 3.5 Å resolution by cross-crystal averaging followed by molecular replacement of electron density into a non-isomorphous 3.0 Å resolution native data set are reported.

Structural polymorphism of c-di-GMP bound to an EAL domain and in complex with a type II PilZ-domain protein

The crystal structures of XccFimX^EAL–c-di-GMP and XccFimX^EAL–c-di-GMP–XccPilZ complexes have been determined to a resolution of 2.50 and 2.70 Å, respectively. The two c-d-GMP in the two complexes are found to adopt a novel conformation.

CrystalDirect: a new method for automated crystal harvesting based on laser-induced photoablation of thin films

A new crystallization support and associated method designed to fully automate the process of crystal harvesting is presented. In this system, crystals are grown on an ultrathin film that can be excised by laser photoablation and directly attached to a pin for X-ray diffraction experiments.

Structure of a thermophilic cyanobacterial b₆f-type Rieske protein

The crystal structure of the extrinsic soluble domain of PetC, the Rieske subunit of the cytochrome b₆f complex, from the thermophilic cyanobacterium T. elongatus has been determined at 2.0 Å resolution. Its surface revealed a deep pocket possibly oriented towards the membrane surface within the full complex, with properties suggesting a binding site for a hydrophobic compound.

Structure of the autophagic E2 enzyme Atg10

The structure of the autophagic E2 conjugating enzyme Atg10 has been determined at 2.7 Å resolution. Unique features of Atg10 compared with other E2 enzymes, including Atg3, another autophagic E2 enzyme, are described.

Structure of the CFA/III major pilin subunit CofA from human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli determined at 0.90 Å resolution by sulfur-SAD phasing

The structure of CofA, a major pilin subunit of colonization factor antigen III, is reported.

How good can our beamlines be?

A repetitive measurement of the same diffraction image allows to judge the performance of a data collection facility.

Structure of Escherichia coli BamB and its interaction with POTRA domains of BamA. Addendum

An addendum to the article by Dong et al. [(2012), Acta Cryst. D68, 1134–1139].

Structural and functional studies of ReP1-NCXSQ, a protein regulating the squid nerve Na⁺/Ca²⁺. Erratum

An erratum to the article by Cousido-Siah et al. [(2012), Acta Cryst. D68, 1098–1107].