Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase

Orotidine-5′-monophosphate decarboxylase (ODCase) from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum has been crystallized with and without the inhibitor 6-azaUMP by the vapour-diffusion method. In the absence of the inhibitor, the protein crystallizes in space group P4₁2₁2 (unit-cell parameters a = b = 56.9, c = 124.5 Å) with one molecule per asymmetric unit; the crystals diffract to 1.8 Å resolution. In the presence of the inhibitor, the protein crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁ (unit-cell parameters a = 73.0, b = 98.6, c = 73.3 Å, γ = 104.0°), with four molecules in the asymmetric unit; the crystals diffract to 1.5 Å resolution.