A novel mechanism of sulfur transfer catalyzed by O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase in the me­thionine-biosynthetic pathway of Wolinella succinogenes

MetY is the first reported structure of an O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase that utilizes a protein thiocarboxylate intermediate as the sulfur source in a novel methionine-biosynthetic pathway instead of catalyzing a direct sulfhydrylation reaction.

Two-photon excited UV fluorescence for protein crystal detection

Complementary measurements using SONICC and TPE-UVF allow the sensitive and selective detection of protein crystals.

Structural studies of human glioma pathogenesis-related protein 1

Structural analysis of a truncated soluble domain of human glioma pathogenesis-related protein 1, a membrane protein implicated in the proliferation of aggressive brain cancer, is presented.

Structure of a highly NADP⁺-specific isocitrate de­hydrogenase

The crystal structure of the highly NADP⁺- and isocitrate-specific monomeric isocitrate dehydrogenase from C. glutamicum in complex with NADP⁺ and the cofactor Mg²⁺ shows the holoenzyme in a conformation that is accessible to the substrate. A disrupted substrate-binding site is in close proximity to one of two pairs of hinge residues, suggesting a model of how substrate binding close to the hinge may lead to large-scale conformational changes that appear to be functionally important.

Structure of N⁵-carboxyamino­imidazole ribonucleotide synthase (PurK) from Bacillus anthracis

The crystal structure of N⁵-carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide synthase from Bacillus anthracis with only an Mg cation provides some insight into the catalytic mechanism of this enzyme and the role of a crucial loop during catalysis.

Structural analysis of human di­hydrofolate reductase as a binary complex with the potent and selective inhibitor 2,4-di­amino-6-{2′-O-(3-carboxypropyl)oxydibenz[b,f]-azepin-5-yl}methylpteridine reveals an unusual binding mode

These data for the binary complex of PT684 with hDHFR reveal that the 3-carboxypropyl side chain occupies two alternate positions, neither of which interacts with the conserved Arg in the active site. These data also do not confirm the computational model for PT684 binding to hDHFR which was based on the structure of PT653 in Pneumocystis carinii DHFR.

Can radiation damage to protein crystals be reduced using small-molecule compounds?

Free-radical scavengers that are known to be effective protectors of proteins in solution are found to increase global radiation damage to protein crystals. Protective mechanisms may become deleterious in the protein-dense environment of a crystal.

The unique structure of carbonic anhydrase αCA1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

X-ray structure of wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardtii αCA1, matured by post-translational modifications of peptide cleavage and N-glycosylations, has been determined at 1.88 Å resolution.

Direct cryocooling of naked crystals: are cryoprotection agents always necessary?

A simple method for the mounting of crystals in the absence of mother liquor is presented. The technique has been tested on a number of systems and may be generally applicable, thereby obviating the need for extensive testing of cryoprotectant solutions.