A synergistic approach to protein crystallization: combination of a fixed-arm carrier with surface entropy reduction.

ABSTRACT: Protein crystallographers are often confronted with recalcitrant proteins not readily crystallizable, or which crystallize in problematic forms. A variety of techniques have been used to surmount such obstacles: crystallization using carrier proteins or antibody complexes, chemical modification, surface entropy reduction, proteolytic digestion, and additive screening. Here we present a synergistic approach for successful crystallization of proteins that do not form diffraction quality crystals using conventional methods. This approach combines favorable aspects of carrier-driven crystallization with surface entropy reduction. We have generated a series of maltose binding protein (MBP) fusion constructs containing different surface mutations designed to reduce surface entropy and encourage

SUBMITTER: Moon AF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2868234 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature