The times they are a-changin' – news from Acta Crystallographica Section F

The Editors describe some new developments for Acta Cryst. F.

Membrane proteins, detergents and crystals: what is the state of the art?

In the last three decades, membrane-protein crystallization has changed from overwhelmingly difficult to nearly routine. This review offers a snapshot of the current state of the art, focusing particularly on the role of detergents in this process.

Structure of a bacterial microcompartment shell protein bound to a cobalamin cofactor

The Eut microcompartment is a protein-based organelle that carries out B₁₂-dependent degradation of ethanolamine in diverse bacteria. This work characterizes a binding interaction between cobalamin (B₁₂) and the inward-facing surface of EutL, a shell protein proposed to be involved in cofactor transport in the Eut microcompartment.

Structures of heterodimeric POZ domains of Miz1/BCL6 and Miz1/NAC1

A strategy for the purification of forced POZ-domain heterodimers is described, and crystal structures of the heterodimeric POZ domains of Miz1/BCL6 and Miz1/NAC1 are reported.

The structure of the cyanobactin domain of unknown function from PatG in the patellamide gene cluster

The highly conserved domain of unknown function in the cyanobactin superfamily has a novel fold. The protein does not appear to bind the most plausible substrates, leaving questions as to its role.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the phosphate-binding protein PhoX from Xanthomonas citri

Here, the expression, purification and crystallization of the phosphate-binding protein PhoX from Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri and X-ray data collection at 3.0 Å resolution are described.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic study of Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus main protease in complex with an inhibitor

This article describes the preliminary crystallographic data for a complex consisting of Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus main protease and its inhibitor N3.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic study of Feline infectious peritonitis virus main protease in complex with an inhibitor

This article describes the preliminary crystallographic data of a complex of Feline infectious peritonitis virus main protease with its inhibitor N3.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of biosynthetic alanine racemase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Biosynthetic alanine racemase from P. aeruginosa PAO1 was expressed in E. coli and purified. The purified enzyme was crystallized and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis was performed.

Expression, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic study of the functional mutant (N60K) of nonstructural protein 9 from Human coronavirus HKU1

This article describes the preliminary crystallographic data of a functional mutant (N60K) of nonstructural protein 9 from Human coronavirus HKU1.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the Sel1-like repeats of SEL1L

The central SLR (Sel1-like repeat) domain of mouse SEL1L was cloned, expressed, purified and crystallized. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 3.3 Å resolution.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a trimodular endo-β-1,4-glucanase (Cel5B) from Bacillus halodurans

The full-length B. halodurans trimodular endo-β-1,4-glucanase has been crystallized and data were processed to 1.64 Å resolution in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2. A molecular-replacement solution has been found.

Expression, purification and X-ray crystallographic analysis of the Helicobacter pylori blood group antigen-binding adhesin BabA

Recombinant expression and nanobody-aided crystallization of a soluble BabA truncation (BabA^25–460) corresponding to the predicted adhesin domain are reported.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of the full-length bacteriophytochrome from the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

The tetradomain bacteriophytochrome protein XccBphP from Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris was overexpressed, purified and crystallized in complex with its cofactor biliverdin. A complete data set was collected to 3.25 Å resolution from a crystal belonging to space group P4₃2₁2 at the SOLEIL synchrotron.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of UspE from Escherichia coli

To contribute to the molecular understanding of the function of a tandem-type universal stress protein, UspE from E. coli was overexpressed and crystals of the recombinant protein were obtained using sitting-drop vapour diffusion. A diffraction data set was collected to a resolution of 3.2 Å.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of KstR2 (ketosteroid regulatory protein) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of KstR2, a TetR-family transcriptional regulator of cholesterol metabolism from M. tuberculosis, is described.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic study of human Hikeshi, a new nuclear transport receptor for Hsp70

The overproduction, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of wild-type Hikeshi and its Phe97Ala mutant are described.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of ribosome assembly factors: the Rpf2–Rrs1 complex

The core domain of the eukaryotic ribosome assembly factor complex Rpf2–Rrs1 from A. nidulans was crystallized.

Expression, purification and crystallization of a novel carbohydrate-binding module from the Ruminococcus flavefaciens cellulosome

A novel carbohydrate-binding module from an R. flavefaciens glycoside hydrolase family 5 modular enzyme was purified and crystallized and data were collected from crystals of the native protein and a selenomethionine derivative to 2.0 and 2.28 Å resolution, respectively.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of human aquaporin 1 at a resolution of 3.28 Å

The cystallization of human aquaporin 1 is described.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of a putative feruloyl esterase from Talaromyces cellulolyticus

A feruloyl esterase from T. cellulolyticus containing a carbohydrate-binding module was prepared, purified and crystallized. The crystal diffracted to 2.60 Å resolution using synchrotron radiation.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of a putative acetylxylan esterase from Talaromyces cellulolyticus

Acetylxylan esterase from T. cellulolyticus expressed as a truncated form without the cellulose-binding module 1 domain was purified and crystallized. The crystal diffracted to 1.50 Å resolution using synchrotron radiation.

Preparation, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of dual-domain β-propeller phytase from Bacillus sp. HJB17

The dual-domain β-propeller phytases (PhyHT) from Bacillus sp. HJB17, which had the secreted signal peptide of the first 40 amino acids deleted and had a typical BPP domain (PhyH-DII; residues 319–644) at the C-terminus and an incomplete N-terminal BPP domain (PhyH-DI; residues 41–318) that was found to act synergistically (with a 1.2–2.5-fold increase in phosphate release) with PhyH-DII, other BPPs (PhyP and 168PhyA) and a histidine acid phosphatase, was prepared, purified, crystallized and preliminary crystallographic analysis was undertaken. The structure of PhyHT will be therefore studied with the aim of explaining these functions.

Preliminary crystallographic analysis of Xyn52B2, a GH52 β-D-xylosidase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus T6

A GH52 β-D-xylosidase from G. stearothermophilus T6 (Xyn52B2) has been crystallized in a new orthorhombic P2₁2₁2₁ crystal form. Full X-ray diffraction data sets were measured for the wild-type enzyme (3.70 Å resolution), the E335G catalytic mutant (2.95 Å resolution), a potential Hg derivative (2.15 Å resolution) and a selenomethionine derivative (3.90 Å resolution) for use in a detailed three-dimensional structural analysis of the Xyn52B2 protein.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of Trap1 complexed with Hsp90 inhibitors

Crystals of the N-M domain of human Trap1 in complex with ATPase inhibitors (PU-H71 and BIIB-021) were obtained and diffraction data were collected to 2.7 Å (Trap1–PU-H71) and 3.1 Å (Trap1–BIIB-021) resolution.

Expression, purification and crystallization of two endonuclease III enzymes from Deinococcus radiodurans

Two endonuclease III enzymes from the extreme radiation-resistant and desiccation-resistant bacterium D. radiodurans have been expressed, purified and crystallized. Diffraction data have been collected to resolutions of 2.15 Å (EndoIII-1) and 1.31 Å (EndoIII-3).

Cloning, purification, crystallization and 1.57 Å resolution X-ray data analysis of AmsI, the tyrosine phosphatase controlling amylovoran biosynthesis in the plant pathogen Erwinia amylovora

The tyrosine phosphatase AmsI from E. amylovora was cloned, overexpressed in E. coli, purified and crystallized. X-ray diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 1.57 Å.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of the hypothetical protein BPSL1038 from Burkholderia pseudomallei

Recombinant BPSL1038 from B. pseudomallei was overexpressed, purified to homogeneity and crystallized in a form suitable for X-ray analysis.

Optimization of the crystallizability of a single-chain antibody fragment

A combination of size-exclusion chromatography, Thermofluor assay and dynamic light scattering was used to find conditions optimal for the stability and oligomeric homogeneity of a single-chain variable antibody fragment, which resulted in significantly improved protein crystallizability.

A simple technique to reduce evaporation of crystallization droplets by using plate lids with apertures for adding liquids

This article describes the use of evaporation control lids that are fitted to crystallization plates to improve the reproducibility of trials using as little as 5 nl. The plate lids contain apertures which are large enough for the transfer of protein containing droplets, but small enough to greatly reduce the rate of evaporation during the time needed to prepare the plate.