Structure-factor extrapolation using the scalar approximation: theory, applications and limitations

The scalar approximation to structure-factor extrapolation (SASFE) procedure is used to extrapolate structure-factor amplitudes for a fully `activated' crystal from amplitudes of a native and a partially activated crystal. Here, it is investigated whether and under what conditions the approximations inherent in SASFE introduce significant errors. The results indicate that the errors introduced by SASFE's assumptions are negligible and that SASFE's usefulness in macromolecular crystallography is limited primarily by the propagation of experimental uncertainties.

Structure of the nondiscriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase from the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7 reveals the recognition mechanism for two different tRNA anticodons

The crystal structure of St-AspRS (nondiscriminating type) has been determined at 2.3 Å resolution as the first example of the nondiscriminating type of AspRS from crenarchaea.

Structure of an aliphatic amidase from Geobacillus pallidus RAPc8

The homohexameric structure of a member of the nitrilase superfamily with D3 symmetry. The active site configuration suggests a catalytic role for Glu142.

Structure of an archaeal TYW1, the enzyme catalyzing the second step of wye-base biosynthesis

The crystal structure of P. horikoshii TYW1 is described.

Structure determination of the O-methyltransferase NovP using the `free lunch algorithm' as implemented in SHELXE

The crystal structure of NovP, an O-methyltransferase comprising 262 amino acids, was solved by SIRAS using 1.35 Å native data and 2.45 Å data from a single mercury derivative using a combination of partial chain tracing by hand of the initial very noisy map followed by data extrapolation to 1.0 Å resolution.

Conformational switches in winged-helix domains 1 and 2 of bacterial translation elongation factor SelB

The first two winged-helix motifs of domain IV of translation elongation factor SelB from M. thermoacetica can undergo conformational switches, which could support a functional interaction between the N- and C-terminal portions of SelB.

Refined crystal structures of red and green fluorescent proteins from the button polyp Zoanthus

The crystal structure of the red fluorescent protein zRFP574 from Zoanthus sp. 2 at 1.51 Å resolution allowed a detailed description of the chromophore derived from decarboxylation of the aspartate side chain within the chromophore-forming tripeptide Asp-Tyr-Gly. Comparison with the newly determined X-ray structure of the green fluorescent protein zGFP506 from a related Zoanthus species and its mutant zGFP506_N66D in the transitional `green' and mature `red' forms provides new insight into the structural chemistry responsible for the acquisition of red fluorescence.

X-ray crystal structural analysis of the binding site in the ferric and oxyferrous forms of the recombinant heme dehaloperoxidase cloned from Amphitrite ornata

In order to investigate the dual function of the dehaloperoxidase from the terebellid polychaete Amphitrite ornata, the enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli as a recombinant protein in its wild-type form and as a mutant protein. Both the wild-type and mutant proteins were crystallized and their structures were determined at 100 K to a resolution of 1.62 Å.

Structure of sylvaticin, a new α-elicitin-like protein from Pythium sylvaticum

Sylvaticin, a 10 kDa protein excreted by the Oomycete Pythium sylvaticum reveals an α-elicitin-like structure with a reduced internal cavity.

Structure of the RuBisCO chaperone RbcX from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

The crystal structure of RbcX from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 is reported, revealing an unusually long protruding C-terminal helix, as well as a bound polyethylene glycol molecule in the protein substrate-binding site.

Comment on Stereochemical restraints revisited: how accurate are refinement targets and how much should protein structures be allowed to deviate from them? by Jaskolski, Gilski, Dauter & Wlodawer (2007)

Comment on Jaskolski et al. [(2007), Acta Cryst. D63, 611–620].