(NZ)CH...O contacts assist crystallization of a ParB-like nuclease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The major bottleneck for determination of 3 D structures of proteins using X-rays is the production of diffraction quality crystals. Often proteins are subjected to chemical modification to improve the chances of crystallization

Results

Here, we report the successful crystallization of a nuclease employing a reductive methylation protocol. The key to crystallization was the successful introduction of 44 new cohesive (NZ) CH...O contacts (3.2-3.7 A) by the addition of 2 methyl groups to the side chain amine nitrogen (NZ) of 9 lysine residues of the nuclease. The new contacts dramatically altered the crystallization properties of the protein, resulting in crystals that diffracted to 1.2 A resolution. Analytical ultracentrifugation analysis and thermodynamics results

SUBMITTER: Shaw N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1940005 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature