[en] The crystal structure of the SH3 domain of human osteoclast-stimulating factor has been determined and refined to the ultrahigh resolution of 1.07 Å. The structure at atomic resolution provides an accurate framework for structure-based design of its inhibitors. Osteoclast-stimulating factor (OSF) is an intracellular signaling protein, produced by osteoclasts themselves, that enhances osteoclast formation and bone resorption. It is thought to act via an Src-related signaling pathway and contains SH3 and ankyrin-repeat domains which are involved in protein–protein interactions. As part of a structure-based anti-bone-loss drug-design program, the atomic resolution X-ray structure of the recombinant human OSF SH3 domain (hOSF-SH3) has been determined. The domain, residues 12–72, yielded crystals that diffracted to the ultrahigh resolution of 1.07 Å. The overall structure shows a characteristic SH3 fold consisting of two perpendicular β-sheets that form a β-barrel. Structure-based sequence alignment reveals that the putative proline-rich peptide-binding site of hOSF-SH3 consists of (i) residues that are highly conserved in the SH3-domain family, including residues Tyr21, Phe23, Trp49, Pro62, Asn64 and Tyr65, and (ii) residues that are less conserved and/or even specific to hOSF, including Thr22, Arg26, Thr27, Glu30, Asp46, Thr47, Asn48 and Leu60, which might be key to designing specific inhibitors for hOSF to fight osteoporosis and related bone-loss diseases. There are a total of 13 well defined water molecules forming hydrogen bonds with the above residues in and around the peptide-binding pocket. Some of those water molecules might be important for drug-design approaches. The hOSF-SH3 structure at atomic resolution provides an accurate framework for structure-based design of its inhibitors

[en] The crystallization and preliminary characterization of the family PL-7 alginate lyases A1-II and A1-II′ from Sphingomonas sp. A1 are presented. Alginate lyases depolymerize alginate, a heteropolysaccharide consisting of α-l-guluronate and β-d-mannuronate, through a β-elimination reaction. The alginate lyases A1-II (25 kDa) and A1-II′ (25 kDa) from Sphingomonas sp. A1, which belong to polysaccharide lyase family PL-7, exhibit 68% homology in primary structure but have different substrate specificities. To determine clearly the structural basis for substrate recognition in the depolymerization mechanism by alginate lyases, both proteins were crystallized at 293 K using the vapour-diffusion method. A crystal of A1-II belonged to space group P2₁ and diffracted to 2.2 Å resolution, with unit-cell parameters a = 51.3, b = 30.1, c = 101.6 Å, β = 100.2°, while a crystal of A1-II′ belonged to space group P2₁2₁2₁ and diffracted to 1.0 Å resolution, with unit-cell parameters a = 34.6, b = 68.5, c = 80.3 Å

[en] The crystal structure of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (DeoD) from B. anthracis was solved by X-ray crystallography using molecular replacement and refined at a resolution of 2.24 Å. Protein structures from the causative agent of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) are being determined as part of a structural genomics programme. Amongst initial candidates for crystallographic analysis are enzymes involved in nucleotide biosynthesis, since these are recognized as potential targets in antibacterial therapy. Purine nucleoside phosphorylase is a key enzyme in the purine-salvage pathway. The crystal structure of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (DeoD) from B. anthracis has been solved by molecular replacement at 2.24 Å resolution and refined to an R factor of 18.4%. This is the first report of a DeoD structure from a Gram-positive bacterium

[en] Nucleoside kinase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon M. jannaschii is a member of the PFK-B family which belongs to the ribokinase superfamily. Here, its expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis are described. Methanocaldococcus jannaschii nucleoside kinase (MjNK) is an ATP-dependent non-allosteric phosphotransferase that shows high catalytic activity for guanosine, inosine and cytidine. MjNK is a member of the phosphofructokinase B family, but participates in the biosynthesis of nucleoside monophosphates rather than in glycolysis. MjNK was crystallized as the apoenzyme as well as in complex with an ATP analogue and Mg²⁺. The latter crystal form was also soaked with fructose-6-phosphate. Synchrotron-radiation data were collected to 1.70 Å for the apoenzyme crystals and 1.93 Å for the complex crystals. All crystals exhibit orthorhombic symmetry; however, the apoenzyme crystals contain one monomer per asymmetric unit whereas the complex crystals contain a dimer

[en] A thaumatin-like antifungal protein, NP24-I, has been isolated from ripe tomato fruits. It was crystallized by the vapour-diffusion method and data were collected to 2.45 Å. The structure was solved by molecular replacement. NP24 is a 24 kDa (207-amino-acid) antifungal thaumatin-like protein (TLP) found in tomato fruits. An isoform of the protein, NP24-I, is reported to play a possible role in ripening of the fruit in addition to its antifungal properties. The protein has been isolated and purified and crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to the tetragonal space group P4₃, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 61.01, c = 62.90 Å and one molecule per asymmetric unit. X-ray diffraction data were processed to a resolution of 2.45 Å and the structure was solved by molecular replacement

[en] Expression, purification and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the two domains of the sigma factor SigC from M. tuberculosis are reported. Sigma factors are transcription-regulatory proteins that bind to RNA polymerase and facilitate promoter recognition. The so-called extracytoplasmic function sigma factors help a bacterium to respond to environmental conditions. Mycobacterium tuberculosis SigC (σ^C) is an extracytoplasmic sigma factor that is essential for lethality in a mouse model of infection and is conserved in all pathogenic mycobacterial species. This protein consists of two domains that are connected by an ∼25-amino-acid linker. The N-terminal domain contains the σ₂ DNA-binding motif, whereas the σ₄ motif is located in the C-terminal domain. Native σ^C did not yield diffraction-quality crystals. However, two of its domains have been cloned, expressed and crystallized: σ₂^C (12.3 kDa) and σ_c^C (7.5 kDa). The σ_c^C crystals belong to the hexagonal space group P6₁, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 85.28, c = 79.63 Å, and native X-ray diffraction data were collected from this domain to 2.7 Å on an in-house X-ray home source. The σ₄^C crystals belong to the cubic space group F23, with unit-cell parameters a = b = c = 161.21 Å. X-ray diffraction data were collected from this domain to 3.1 Å, also on an in-house X-ray source

[en] Crystals of the complex formed between the bacterial membrane protein OmpC and the antibacterial protein lactoferrin suitable for high-resolution structure determination have been obtained. The crystals belong to the hexagonal space group P6, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 116.3, c = 152.4 Å. Crystals of the complex formed between the outer membrane protein OmpC from Escherichia coli and the eukaryotic antibacterial protein lactoferrin from Camelus dromedarius (camel) have been obtained using a detergent environment. Initial data processing suggests that the crystals belong to the hexagonal space group P6, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 116.3, c = 152.4 Å, α = β = 90, γ = 120°. This indicated a Matthews coefficient (V_M) of 3.3 ų Da⁻¹, corresponding to a possible molecular complex involving four molecules of lactoferrin and two porin trimers in the unit cell (4832 amino acids; 533.8 kDa) with 63% solvent content. A complete set of diffraction data was collected to 3 Å resolution at 100 K. Structure determination by molecular replacement is in progress. Structural study of this first surface-exposed membrane-protein complex with an antibacterial protein will provide insights into the mechanism of action of OmpC as well as lactoferrin

[en] The E subunit of vacuole-type ATPase from P. horikoshii OT3 was overexpressed, purified and crystallized. The native crystals diffracted X-rays to 1.85 Å resolution. The vacuole-type ATPases in eukaryotic cells translocate protons across various biological membranes including the vacuolar membrane by consuming ATP molecules. The E subunit of the multisubunit complex V-ATPase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3, which has a molecular weight of 22.88 kDa, has been cloned, overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified and crystallized by the microbatch method using PEG 4000 as a precipitant at 296 K. A data set to 1.85 Å resolution with 98.8% completeness and an R_merge of 6.5% was collected from a single flash-cooled crystal using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belonged to the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁, with unit-cell parameters a = 52.196, b = 55.317, c = 77.481 Å, and is most likely to contain one molecule per asymmetric unit

[en] The binding of Cu²⁺ ions to the copper-binding domain of the amyloid precursor protein of Alzheimer’s disease reduces the production of the amyloid β peptide, which is centrally involved in Alzheimer’s disease. Structural studies of the copper-binding domain will provide a basis for structure-based drug design that might prove useful in treating this devastating disease. Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be triggered by production of the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide through proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). The binding of Cu²⁺ to the copper-binding domain (CuBD) of APP reduces the production of Aβ in cell-culture and animal studies. It is expected that structural studies of the CuBD will lead to a better understanding of how copper binding causes Aβ depletion and will define a potential drug target. The crystallization of CuBD in two different forms suitable for structure determination is reported here

[en] The periplasmic chaperone FaeE of E. coli F4 fimbriae crystallizes in three crystal forms. F4 (formerly K88) fimbriae from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are assembled via the FaeE/FaeD chaperone/usher pathway. The chaperone FaeE crystallizes in three crystal forms, all belonging to space group C2. Crystals of form 1 diffract to 2.3 Å and have unit-cell parameters a = 195.7, b = 78.5, c = 184.6 Å, β = 102.2°. X-ray data for crystal form 2 were collected to 2.7 Å using an SeMet variant of FaeE. The crystals have unit-cell parameters a = 136.4, b = 75.7, c = 69.4 Å, β = 92.8°. Crystals of form 3 were formed in a solution containing the FaeE–FaeG complex and diffract to 2.8 Å. Unit-cell parameters are a = 109.7, b = 78.6, c = 87.8 Å, β = 96.4°