Editorial

Solution structure of Arabidopsis thaliana protein At5g39720.1, a member of the AIG2-like protein family

The solution structure of A. thaliana protein At5g39720.1 reported here is the first for a member of the AIG2-like family (PF06094). The three-dimensional structure shows similarity to those determined for members of the uncharacterized Pfam family UPF0131.

Structure of the P_II signal transduction protein of Neisseria meningitidis at 1.85 Å resolution

The structure of the P_II signal transduction protein of N. meningitidis at 1.85 Å resolution is described.

Structure of XC6422 from Xanthomonas campestris at 1.6 Å resolution: a small serine α/β-hydrolase

The crystal structure of a conserved hypothetical protein from X. campestris has been determined to a resolution of 1.6 Å. The determined X. campestris structure shows that it belongs to the superfamily of serine α/β hydrolase, with an extra strand preceding the first β-strand to lead to extensive subunit interactions in the crystal.

High-resolution complex of papain with remnants of a cysteine protease inhibitor derived from Trypanosoma brucei

Attempts to crystallize a complex of papain (C. papaya) with a cysteine protease inhibitor from the parasitic pathogen T. brucei failed. However, over an extended period the mixture produced an ordered crystal of the protease carrying two peptide fragments in the active site. These correspond to dipeptides and tripeptides that are assigned as fragments of the inhibitor, which has presumably suffered proteolytic cleavage.

An improved resolution structure of the human β common receptor involved in IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF signalling which gives better definition of the high-affinity binding epitope

Data to a maximum of 2.7 Å resolution have allowed a more accurate model of the extracellular domains of the β common cytokine receptor to be determined. Structural details of the membrane-distal BC and FG loops of domain 4 and loops AB and EF of domain 1, which have been implicated in high-affinity binding, are much better defined, revealing a more compact functional epitope.

Purification, crystallization and X-ray diffraction analysis of the C-terminal protease domain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus nsP2

The C-terminal protease domain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) nsP2 has been overexpressed in E. coli, purified and successfully crystallized. Native crystals diffract to beyond 2.5 Å resolution and isomorphous heavy-atom derivatives suitable for phase analysis have been identified.

Crystallization of quinoprotein glucose de­hydrogenase variants and homologues by microseeding

Three mutants of the soluble quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase and two homologues from E. coli and S. coelicolor have been crystallized using an efficient microseeding method.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of rice Bowman–Birk inhibitor from Oryza sativa

Rice Bowman–Birk inhibitor was expressed and crystallized.

Crystallization of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β in complex with DNA

Sample preparation, characterization, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis are reported for a HNF1β–DNA binary complex.

The expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a subcomplex of the peripheral stalk of ATP synthase from bovine mitochondria

A recombinant subcomplex of the peripheral stalk or stator domain of the ATP synthase from bovine mitochondria has been crystallized and a native data set has been collected to 2.8 Å resolution.

Preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the cytoplasmic N-terminal domain of the Na/HCO₃ cotransporter NBCe1-A

The N-terminal, cytoplasmic domain of the Na⁺-coupled HCO₃ cotransporter NBCe1-A crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3₁21 or P3₁ with pseudo P3₁21 symmetry and diffracts X-rays to 3.0 Å resolution. The crystal packing demonstrates a domain-swap mechanism for dimerization.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of Ca²⁺-independent and Ca²⁺-dependent species of the type II antifreeze protein

Crystallization and X-ray data analyses were successful for both Ca²⁺-independent and Ca²⁺-dependent species of the type II antifreeze protein. The resolution of the crystal was 1.35 Å for the Ca²⁺-independent species, and was 1.25 and 1.06 Å for the Ca²⁺-dependent species in the Ca²⁺-free and -bound states, respectively.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of orotidine 5′-monophosphate de­carboxylase from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase of human malaria parasite P. falciparum was crystallized by the seeding method in a hanging drop using PEG 3000 as a precipitant. A complete set of diffraction data from a native crystal was collected to 2.7 Å resolution at 100 K using synchrotron radiation.

The purification, crystallization and preliminary structural characterization of human MAWDBP, a member of the phenazine biosynthesis-like protein family

The purification, crystallization and preliminary structural characterization of human MAWD-binding protein (MAWDBP) are described.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of L-rhamnose isomerase from Pseudomonas stutzeri

Recombinant L-rhamnose isomerase from P. stutzeri has been crystallized. Diffraction data have been collected to 2.0 Å resolution.

Preliminary crystallographic analysis of salicylate 1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans

Salicylate 1,2-dioxygenase, a new ring-fission dioxygenase from the naphthalenesulfonate-degrading strain P. salicylatoxidans, which oxidizes salicylate to 2-oxohepta-3,5-dienedioic acid by a novel ring-fission mechanism, has been crystallized. The crystals obtained give diffraction data to 2.9 Å resolution which could assist in the elucidation of the catalytic mechanism of this peculiar dioxygenase.

Expression, crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies of the immunoglobulin-like domain 3 of human palladin

The immunoglobulin-like domain 3 of human palladin has been crystallized and crystals diffract to 1.8 Å resolution.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a tRNA^Ser acceptor-stem microhelix

In order to investigate tRNA identity elements, an elongator tRNA^Ser acceptor-stem helix was crystallized and a data set was collected to 1.8 Å resolution aiming at a comparison with the corresponding region in suppressor tRNA^Sec.

Crystallization and molecular-replacement studies of the monoclonal antibody mAbR310 specific for the (R)-HNE-modified protein

Antigen-free Fab fragment of mAbR310, which recognizes (R)-HNE modified protein, has been crystallized. Initial phases have been obtained by molecular replacement.

Crystallization and preliminary structure determination of the membrane-bound complex cytochrome c nitrite reductase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

The cytochrome c nitrite reductase complex from D. vulgaris Hildenborough has been crystallized. The preliminary crystallographic structure reveals a 2:1 NrfA:NrfH complex stoichiometry.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the complex of NADH and 3α-hydroxysteroid de­hydrogenase from Pseudomonas sp. B-0831

The complex of NADH and 3α-HSD from Pseudomonas sp. B-0831 has been crystallized and X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 1.8 Å resolution.

Overexpression, purification and crystallization of lysine ∊-aminotransferase (Rv3290c) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

Lysine ∊-aminotransferase from M. tuberculosis has been crystallized. Preliminary crystallographic analysis shows that there is one monomer in the asymmetric unit of the crystal.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (FabK) from Streptococcus pneumoniae

Enoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductases are responsible for bacterial type II fatty-acid biosynthesis and are attractive targets for developing novel antibiotics. The S. pneumoniae enoyl-ACP reductase (FabK) was crystallized and selenomethionine MAD data were collected to 2 Å resolution.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis folylpolyglutamate synthase (MtbFPGS)

The gene encoding M. tuberculosis FPGS (MtbFPGS; Rv2447c) has been cloned and the protein has been expressed in E. coli. The purified protein was crystallized and X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.0 Å resolution.

Cloning, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of SecA from Enterococcus faecalis

SecA ATPase from E. faecalis has been cloned, overexpressed, purified and crystallized. Crystals belong to space group C2 and diffract to 2.4 Å resolution.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of NAD⁺-preferring aldohexose de­hydrogenase from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum

NAD⁺-preferring aldohexose dehydrogenase from the thermoacidophilic archaeon T. acidophilum was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion technique and X-ray diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 2.8 Å.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the Rieske-type [2Fe–2S] ferredoxin component of bi­phenyl dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. strain KKS102

BphA3, a Rieske-type [2Fe–2S] ferredoxin, was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. A molecular-replacement calculation yielded a satisfactory solution.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of gluta­thione peroxidase Gpx3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The glutathione peroxidase Gpx3 from the yeast S. cerevisiae has been overexpressed, purified, crystallized and diffracted to 2.6 Å resolution. Gpx3 is a monomer in solution which is different from its counterparts in mammals.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of Drep-3, a DFF-related protein from Drosophila melanogaster

The D. melanogaster Drep-3 protein has been crystallized. Crystals were obtained at 293 K that diffracted to 2.8 Å resolution and belonged to space group P2₁2₁2₁.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a myotoxic Lys49-PLA₂ from Bothrops jararacussu venom complexed with p-bromophenacyl bromide

A non-catalytic and myotoxic Lys49-PLA₂ from B. jararacussu venom was crystallized with BPB inhibitor and X-ray diffraction data were collected. Preliminary analysis indicates that the ligand is bound to the His48 residue. Structure determination may provide insights into the myotoxic and cytotoxic mechanisms of Lys49-PLA₂s.

Expression, purification and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the Toxoplasma gondii enoyl reductase

Crystals of T. gondii ENR in complex with NAD⁺ and triclosan were grown using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method with PEG 8000 as precipitant.

Purification and crystallization of the catalytic PRONE domain of RopGEF8 and its complex with Rop4 from Arabidopsis thaliana

Crystals of the catalytic PRONE domain of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor RopGEF8 and its complex with the Rho-family protein Rop4 from A. thaliana were obtained that diffract to 2.2 and 3.1 Å resolution, respectively.

Chemical genomics