Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction study of the histidine-containing phosphotransfer protein ZmHP1 from maize

Fusion-protein-assisted protein crystallization

Fusion proteins can be used directly in protein crystallization to assist crystallization in at least two different ways. In one approach, the `heterologous fusion-protein approach', the fusion partner can provide additional surface area to promote crystal contact formation. In another approach, the `fusion of interacting proteins approach', protein assemblies can be stabilized by covalently linking the interacting partners. The linker connecting the proteins plays different roles in the two applications: in the first approach a rigid linker is required to reduce conformational heterogeneity; in the second, conversely, a flexible linker is required that allows the native interaction between the fused proteins. The two approaches can also be combined. The recent applications of fusion-protein technology in protein crystallization from the work of our own and other laboratories are briefly reviewed.

The more, the merrier: cytokinin signaling beyond Arabidopsis

The phytohormone cytokinin is a key player in many developmental processes and in the response of plants to biotic and abiotic stress. The cytokinin signal is perceived and transduced via a multistep variant of the bacterial two-component signaling system. Most of the research on cytokinin signaling has been done in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Research on cytokinin signaling has expanded to a much broader range of plants species in recent years. This is due to the natural limitation of Arabidopsis as a model species for the investigation of processes like nodulation or wood formation. The rapidly increasing number of sequenced plant genomes also facilitates the use of other species in this line of research. This review summarizes what is known about the cytokinin signaling in the different organisms and highlights differences to Arabidopsis.

Exploring the activity of tobacco etch virus protease in detergent solutions

Tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease is generally used to remove affinity tags from target proteins. It has been reported that some detergents inhibit the activity of this protease, and therefore should be avoided when removing affinity tags from membrane proteins. The aim of this study was to explore and evaluate this further. Hence, affinity tag removal with TEV protease was tested from three membrane proteins (a Pgp synthase and two CorA homologs) in the presence of 16 different detergents commonly used in membrane protein purification and crystallization. We observed that in the presence of the same detergent (Triton X-100), TEV protease could remove the affinity tag completely from one protein (CorA) but not from another protein (Pgp synthase). There was also a large variation in yield of cleaved membrane protein in different detergents, which probably depends on features of the protein-detergent complex. These observations show that, contrary to an earlier report, detergents do not inhibit the enzymatic activity of the TEV protease.

Crystallization and diffraction data of 1H-3-hydroxy-4-oxoquinoline 2,4-dioxygenase: a cofactor-free oxygenase of the alpha/beta-hydrolase family

1H-3-Hydroxy-4-oxoquinoline 2,4-dioxygenase (QDO) from Pseudomonas putida 33/1 catalyses the oxygenolysis of 1H-3-hydroxy-4-oxoquinoline to form N-formylanthranilic acid and carbon monoxide without the aid of cofactors. Both N-terminally His6-tagged and native QDO were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified by conventional chromatographic procedures. Untagged QDO, but not His6-tagged QDO, was crystallized by the vapour-diffusion method, giving hexagonal bipyramid crystals belonging to space group P6(1)22. Selenomethionine-containing native QDO was prepared and crystallized under identical conditions. The unit-cell parameters were a = b = 90.1, c = 168.6 A, alpha = beta = 90, gamma = 120 degrees. Using synchrotron radiation, these crystals diffract to 2.5 A. The expression, purification and crystallization of QDO are reported here.