Approaches to automated protein crystal harvesting

Approaches to automated and robot-assisted harvesting of protein crystals are critically reviewed. While no true turn-key solutions for automation of protein crystal harvesting are currently available, systems incorporating advanced robotics and micro-electromechanical systems represent exciting developments with the potential to revolutionize the way in which protein crystals are harvested.

Structure determination of BA0150, a putative polysaccharide de­acetylase from Bacillus anthracis

Polysaccharide deacetylases are bacterial enzymes that catalyze the deacetylation of acetylated membrane sugars on Gram-positive bacteria, allowing them to evade host immune systems. Here, the first X-ray crystal structure of BA0150, a putative polysaccharide deacetylase from B. anthracis, is reported to 2.0 Å resolution.

Structure of the carb­oxy-terminal domain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis CarD protein: an essential rRNA transcriptional regulator

The structure of the C-terminal domain of the CarD protein from M. tuberculosis is reported.

Structure of glycerol de­hydrogenase from Serratia

Mass spectrometry was used to aid in the identification and structure determination of serendipitously purified glycerol dehydrogenase from the bacterial genus Serratia.

The structure of human tau-tubulin kinase 1 both in the apo form and in complex with an inhibitor

Structures of the kinase domain of human tau-tubulin kinase 1 both without and with a bound inhibitor are reported.

Preparation of crystals for characterizing the Grb7 SH2 domain before and after complex formation with a bicyclic peptide antagonist

The SH2 domain of Grb7 has been crystallized in the apo form and in complex with a bicyclic peptide ligand. These structures will assist the development of potent Grb7 inhibitors as breast cancer therapeutics.

Preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of gluta­thione transferase zeta 1 (GSTZ1a-1a)

Crystals of glutathione transferase zeta 1 were grown and shown to diffract X-rays to 3.1 Å resolution. They belonged to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters a = 42.0, b = 49.6, c = 54.6 Å, α = 82.9, β = 69.9, γ = 73.4°.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of MutT2, MSMEG_5148 from Mycobacterium smegmatis

MutT2, MSMEG_5148 from M. smegmatis, has been crystallized and the crystals have been characterized using X-ray diffraction.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a highly stable novel SGNH hydrolase (Est24) from Sinorhizobium meliloti

Est24 from S. meliloti was crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2 and diffraction data were collected to 1.45 Å resolution.

Preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of CfaA, a molecular chaperone essential for the assembly of CFA/I fimbriae of human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

The molecular chaperone CfaA plays a critical role in the bioassembly of the surface-adhesive CFA/I fimbriae of enterotoxigenic E. coli. Purified CfaA was crystallized and the phase solution was determined by the multiple isomorphous replacement coupled with anomalous scattering method.

Purification, crystallization and X-ray crystallographic studies of flagellin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Flagellin from P. aeruginosa was expressed, purified and crystallized. X-ray diffraction data were collected from a flagellin crystal to a resolution of 2.15 Å.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of UDP-glucose:tetra­hydrobiopterin α-glu­cosyltransferase (BGluT) from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942

UDP-glucose:tetrahydrobiopterin α-glucosyltransferase from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 was purified and crystallized, and MAD diffraction data were collected to a maximum resolution of 1.99 Å.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of human DNA primase

The cloning, expression, purification and crystallization of human DNA primase are reported. Two crystal forms were obtained.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the N-acetyltransferase SAV0826 from Staphylococcus aureus

The crystallization of the N-acetyltransferase SAV0826 from S. aureus is reported.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of FMN-bound and FMN-free forms of aromatic acid de­carboxylase (CpsUbiX) from the psychrophilic bacterium Colwellia psychrerythraea 34H

An aromatic acid decarboxylase from C. psychrerythraea strain 34H was expressed, purified and crystallized. Furthermore, preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the FMN-bound and FMN-free forms was performed at resolutions of 2.0 and 1.76 Å, respectively.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase BII from Pseudoxanthomonas mexicana WO24

Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase BII from P. mexicana WO24 was crystallized. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.3 Å resolution.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of Gan1D, a GH1 6-phospho-β-galactosidase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus T1

A GH1 6-phospho-β-galactosidase from G. stearothermophilus T1 (Gan1D) has been purified and crystallized in the triclinic space group P1. A full diffraction data set has been measured for the wild-type enzyme to a maximal resolution of 1.33 Å to be further used for a detailed three-dimensional structural analysis of the protein.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the catalytic domain of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase

The crystallization of the recombinant catalytic domain of the human membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase is described. The crystals diffracted to 2.24 Å resolution.

Cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the LRR domain of the LePRK1 receptor-like kinase from tomato

LePRK1 is a receptor-like kinase (RLK) involved in successful fertilization in L. esculentum (tomato). The extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain of LePRK1 was crystallized and X-ray diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 2.75 Å.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the extracellular domain of LePRK2 from Lycopersicon esculentum

LePRK2 is a member of the large receptor-like kinase (RLK) family and is expressed specifically in mature pollen and pollen tubes in L. esculentum. The extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain of LePRK2 was crystallized and X-ray diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 2.50 Å.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the PaaI-like thioesterase SAV0944 from Staphylococcus aureus

The crystallization of a PaaI-like thioesterase from S. aureus is reported.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of full-length human RIG-I

Full-length human RIG-I has been expressed in E. coli, purified and crystallized. An X-ray diffraction data set was collected to a resolution of 2.85 Å.

Expression, purification and crystallization of a dye-decolourizing peroxidase from Dictyostelium discoideum

D. discoideum DdDyP was purified and crystallized. The crystals belonged to space group P4₁2₁2 and diffracted to 1.65 Å resolution.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the homing endonuclease I-CvuI from Chlorella vulgaris in complex with its target DNA

The homing endonuclease I-CvuI from C. vulgaris has been expressed, purified and crystallized in complex with its target DNA. Preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis is reported.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the C-type lectin domain of the spicule matrix protein SM50 from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

The C-type lectin domain of the spicule matrix protein SM50 from S. purpuratus was purified and crystallized as a fusion protein with SUMO.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of latent isoform PPO4 mushroom (Agaricus bis­porus) tyrosinase

Polyphenol oxidase 4 (PPO4) from the natural source A. bisporus was crystallized in its latent precursor form (pro-tyrosinase; Ser2–Thr565) using the 6-tungstotellurate(VI) salt Na₆[TeW₆O₂₄]·22H₂O as a crystallization additive.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of Aspergillus terreus endo-β-1,4-glucanase from glycoside hydrolase family 12

The A. terreus endo-β-1,4-glucanase was expressed in E. coli, purified and crystallized. A native X-ray diffraction data set was collected to 1.85 Å resolution.