Crystallization and X-ray analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi β-barrel assembly machinery A

Borrelia burgdorferi β-barrel assembly machinery A (BbBamA) is an essential translocator located in the outer membrane. The N-terminal periplasmic polypeptide-transport-associated (POTRA) domains of BbBamA are vital for assembly of the BAM complex. Here, the production, crystallization and initial X-ray crystallographic analysis of the three N-terminal POTRA domains of BbBamA (BbBamA-POTRA P1–P3) are reported.

Crystal structures of the GH18 domain of the bifunctional peroxiredoxin–chitinase CotE from Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming bacterium and a leading cause of hospital-acquired antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Symptoms of disease result from secreted toxins, while disease transmission is mediated via resistant endospores. CotE is a bifunctional spore-coat protein with peroxiredoxin and chitinase domains that are implicated in colonization. Here, the structure of the chitinase domain of CotE has been determined, revealing a GH18 family fold and, unexpectedly, a peptide bound in the active site.

Structure of heme d₁-free cd₁ nitrite reductase NirS

The crystal structure of a heme d₁-free form of the cd₁ nitrite reductase NirS from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been determined and provides insight into a premature form of the enzyme.

Expression, purification, crystallization and X-ray diffraction studies of a novel root-induced secreted protein from Trichoderma virens

The Tsp1 protein from Trichoderma virens is a novel protein with no homologous structures available in the Protein Data Bank. Recombinant Tsp1 protein was expressed and purified for the first time, its size and secondary structure were characterized and X-ray diffraction data were collected from crystals of the protein.

Crystal structure of the SH3 domain of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2

The crystal structure of the N-terminal SH3 domain of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 was solved at 2.5 Å resolution.

Novel carbohydrate-recognition mode of the invertebrate C-type lectin SPL-1 from Saxidomus purpuratus revealed by the GlcNAc-complex crystal in the presence of Ca²⁺

The crystal structure of the C-type lectin SPL-1 complexed with N-acetylglucosamine and Ca²⁺ reveals Ca²⁺-mediated enhancement of the carbohydrate-binding affinity of SPL-1, which can recognize specific carbohydrates without Ca²⁺ in a manner distinct from that of ordinary C-type lectins.

Enhanced X-ray diffraction of in vivo-grown μNS crystals by viscous jets at XFELs

The first SFX diffraction from EGFP-μNS_(448–605) crystals led to initial electron-density maps that allowed the clear identification of two EGFP molecules as well as of electron density for μNS_(448–605). Determining the crystal structure of μNS using large XFELs in combination with compact light sources will be the first step towards determining the molecular basis of the role of μNS in the early stages of virus morphogenesis.