Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

Alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) is a key component of a large family of thiol-specific antioxidant (TSA) proteins distributed among prokaryotes and eukaryotes. AhpC is involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive sulfur species (RSS). Sequence analysis of AhpC from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 shows that this protein belongs to the 1-­Cys class of peroxiredoxins (Prxs). It has recently been reported that enhanced expression of this protein in Escherichia coli offers tolerance to multiple stresses such as heat, salt, copper, cadmium, pesticides and UV-B. However, the structural features and the mechanism behind this process remain unclear. To provide insights into its biochemical function, AhpC was expressed, purified and crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Diffraction data were collected to a maximum d-spacing of 2.5 Å using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belonged to space group P2₁2₁2₁, with unit-cell parameters a = 80, b = 102, c = 109.6 Å. The structure of AhpC from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 was determined by molecular-replacement methods using the human Prx enzyme hORF6 (PDB entry 1prx ) as the template.