Tackling the crystallographic structure determination of the COP9 signalosome.

ABSTRACT: The COP9 signalosome (CSN) is an essential multi-protein complex in eukaryotes. CSN is a master regulator of intracellular protein degradation, controlling the vast family of cullin-RING ubiquitin (E3) ligases (CRLs). Important in many cellular processes, CSN has prominent roles in DNA repair, cell-cycle control and differentiation. The recent crystal structure of human CSN provides insight into its exquisite regulation and functionality [Lingaraju et al. (2014), Nature (London), 512, 161-165]. Structure determination was complicated by low-resolution diffraction from crystals affected by twinning and rotational pseudo-symmetry. Crystal instability and non-isomorphism strongly influenced by flash-cooling, radiation damage and difficulty in obtaining heavy-atom derivatives, were overcome. M

SUBMITTER: Bunker RD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4784664 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature