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Eukaryotic protein kinases contain an Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG) motif, the conformation of which is involved in controlling the catalytic activity, at the N-terminus of the activation segment. The motif can be switched between active-state (DFG-in) and inactive-state (DFG-out) conformations: however, the mechanism of conformational change is poorly understood, partly because there are few reports of the DFG-out conformation. Here, a novel crystal structure of nonphosphorylated human mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1; amino acids 38-381) complexed with ATP-γS is reported in which MEK1 adopts the DFG-out conformation. The crystal structure revealed that the structural elements (the αC helix and HRD motif) surrounding the active site are involved in the formation/stabilization of the DFG-out conformation. The ATP-γS molecule was bound to the canonical ATP-binding site in a different binding mode that has never been found in previously determined crystal structures of MEK1. This novel ATP-γS binding mode provides a starting point for the design of high-affinity inhibitors of nonphosphorylated inactive MEK1 that adopts the DFG-out conformation.

The thermostable endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanase from Bacillus thermodenitrificans TS-3 (ABN-TS) hydrolyzes the α-1,5-L-arabinofuranoside linkages of arabinan. In this study, the crystal structures of inactive ABN-TS mutants, D27A and D147N, were determined in complex with arabino-oligosaccharides. The crystal structures revealed that ABN-TS has at least six subsites in the deep V-shaped cleft formed across one face of the propeller structure. The structural features indicate that substrate recognition is profoundly influenced by the remote subsites as well as by the subsites surrounding the active center. The `open' structure of the substrate-binding cleft of the endo-acting ABN-TS is suitable for the random binding of several sugar units in polymeric substrates.

Plant β-galactosidases hydrolyze cell wall β-(1,4)-galactans to play important roles in cell wall expansion and degradation, and turnover of signaling molecules, during ripening. Tomato β-galactosidase 4 (TBG4) is an enzyme responsible for fruit softening through the degradation of β-(1,4)-galactan in the pericarp cell wall. TBG4 is the only enzyme among TBGs 1-7 that belongs to the β-galactosidase/exo-β-(1,4)-galactanase subfamily. The enzyme can hydrolyze a wide range of plant-derived (1,4)- or 4-linked polysaccharides, and shows a strong ability to attack β-(1,4)-galactan. To gain structural insight into its substrate specificity, we determined crystal structures of TBG4 and its complex with β-d-galactose. TBG4 comprises a catalytic TIM barrel domain followed by three β-sandwich domains. Three aromatic residues in the catalytic site that are thought to be important for substrate specificity are conserved in GH35 β-galactosidases derived from bacteria, fungi and animals; however, the crystal structures of TBG4 revealed that the enzyme has a valine residue (V548) replacing one of the conserved aromatic residues. The V548W mutant of TBG4 showed a roughly sixfold increase in activity towards β-(1,6)-galactobiose, and ~0.6-fold activity towards β-(1,4)-galactobiose, compared with wild-type TBG4. Amino acid residues corresponding to V548 of TBG4 thus appear to determine the substrate specificities of plant β-galactosidases towards β-1,4 and β-1,6 linkages., (© 2016 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Plant β-galactosidases play important roles in carbohydrate-reserve mobilization, cell-wall expansion and degradation, and turnover of signalling molecules during ripening. Tomato β-galactosidase 4 (TBG4) not only has β-galactosidase activity but also has exo-β-(1,4)-galactanase activity, and prefers β-(1,4)-galactans longer than pentamers as its substrates; most other β-galactosidases only have the former activity. Recombinant TBG4 protein expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method using PEG 10,000 as a precipitant. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit-parameters a = 92.82, b = 96.30, c = 159.26 Å, and diffracted to 1.65 Å resolution. Calculation of the Matthews coefficient suggested the presence of two monomers per asymmetric unit (VM = 2.2 Å(3) Da(-1)), with a solvent content of 45%.

Isoniazid (INH) is a pro-drug that has been extensively used to treat tuberculosis. INH is activated by the heme enzyme catalase-peroxidase (KatG), but the mechanism of the activation is poorly understood, in part because the INH binding site has not been clearly established. Here, we observed that a single-residue mutation of KatG from Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 (SeKatG), W78F, enhances INH activation. The crystal structure of INH-bound KatG-W78F revealed that INH binds to the heme pocket. The results of a thermal-shift assay implied that the flexibility of the SeKatG molecule is increased by the W78F mutation, allowing the INH molecule to easily invade the heme pocket through the access channel on the γ-edge side of the heme., (Copyright © 2014 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Isoniazid (INH) is one of the most effective antibiotics against tuberculosis. INH is a prodrug that is activated by KatG. Although extensive studies have been performed in order to understand the mechanism of KatG, even the binding site of INH in KatG remains controversial. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of KatG from Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 (SeKatG) in a complex with INH at 2.12-Å resolution. Three INH molecules were bound to the molecular surface. One INH molecule was bound at the entrance to the ε-edge side of heme (designated site 1), another was bound at the entrance to the γ-edge side of heme (site 2), and another was bound to the loop structures in front of the heme propionate side chain (site 3). All of the interactions between KatG and the bound INH seemed to be weak, being mediated mainly by van der Waals contacts. Structural comparisons revealed that the identity and configuration of the residues in site 1 were very similar among SeKatG, Burkholderia pseudomallei KatG, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG. In contrast, sites 2 and 3 were structurally diverse among the three proteins. Thus, site 1 is probably the common KatG INH-binding site. A static enzymatic analysis and thermal shift assay suggested that the INH-activating reaction does not proceed in site 1, but rather that this site may function as an initial trapping site for the INH molecule. Database: The atomic coordinates and structure factors have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under the accession number 3WXO., (© 2014 FEBS.)

The open reading frame of tomato β-galactosidase 1 was expressed in yeast, and the enzymatic properties and substrate specificity were investigated. The enzyme had peak activity at pH 5.0 and 40-50°C. TBG1 was active on β-(1,3)- and β-(1,6)-galactobiose and lactose. TBG1 released galactose from lupin galactan, tomato fruit alkali soluble pectin, arabinogalactan, gum arabic and methyl β-(1,6)-galactohexaoside, but not from labeled β-(1,4)-galactoheptaose. TBG1 was assessed for its ability to degrade three galactosyl-containing cell wall fractions purified from different development and ripening stages of tomato fruit. TBG1 released galactose from all of the fractions from all of the stages tested. TBG1 activity was highest on the hemicellulose fraction at the 10 and 20d after pollination stage. This result is not correlated the with TBG1 expression pattern. TBG1 might act on a small but specific set of polysaccharide containing galactose., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

A novel scorpion venom peptide, La1 from Liocheles australasiae, with a molecular weight of 7.8 kDa, is presumed to possess a single von Willebrand factor type C (VWC) domain, a common protein module, based on the position of eight Cys residues in its sequence. The biological function of La1 is still unknown. Deciphering its three-dimensional structure will be helpful in understanding its biological function. La1 was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method using magnesium sulfate as a precipitant. The crystals belonged to the monoclinic space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a=63.0, b=30.2, c=32.3 Å, β=108.5°, and diffracted to 1.9 Å resolution. The calculated VM based on one molecule per asymmetric unit was 1.87 Å3 Da(-1). The solvent content was 34.1%.

The crystal structure of catalase-peroxidase from Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 (SeKatG) was solved by molecular replacement and refined to an Rwork of 16.8% and an Rfree of 20.6% at 2.2 Å resolution. The asymmetric unit consisted of only one subunit of the catalase-peroxidase molecule, including a protoporphyrin IX haem moiety and two sodium ions. A typical KatG covalent adduct was formed, Met248-Tyr222-Trp94, which is a key structural element for catalase activity. The crystallographic equivalent subunit was created by a twofold symmetry operation to form the functional dimer. The overall structure of the dimer was quite similar to other KatGs. One sodium ion was located close to the proximal Trp314. The location and configuration of the proximal cation site were very similar to those of typical peroxidases such as ascorbate peroxidase. These features may provide a structural basis for the behaviour of the radical localization/delocalization during the course of the enzymatic reaction.

Cholix toxin (ChxA) is a recently discovered exotoxin in Vibrio cholerae which has been characterized as a third member of the eukaryotic elongation factor 2-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase toxins, in addition to exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and diphtheria toxin of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. These toxins consist of three characteristic domains for receptor binding, translocation, and catalysis. However, there is little information about the prevalence of chxA and its genetic variations and pathogenic mechanisms. In this study, we screened the chxA gene in a large number (n = 765) of V. cholerae strains and observed its presence exclusively in non-O1/non-O139 strains (27.0%; 53 of 196) and not in O1 (n = 485) or O139 (n = 84). Sequencing of these 53 chxA genes generated 29 subtypes which were grouped into three clusters designated chxA I, chxA II, and chxA III. chxA I belongs to the prototype, while chxA II and chxA III are newly discovered variants. ChxA II and ChxA III had unique receptor binding and catalytic domains, respectively, in comparison to ChxA I. Recombinant ChxA I (rChxA I) and rChxA II but not rChxA III showed variable cytotoxic effects on different eukaryotic cells. Although rChxA II was more lethal to mice than rChxA I when injected intravenously, no enterotoxicity of any rChxA was observed in a rabbit ileal loop test. Hepatocytes showed coagulation necrosis in rChxA I- or rChxA II-treated mice, seemingly the major target for ChxA. The present study illustrates the potential of ChxA as an important virulence factor in non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae, which may be associated with extraintestinal infections rather than enterotoxicity.

Intracellular proteins can have free cysteines that may contribute to their structure, function, and stability; however, free cysteines can lead to chemical instabilities in solution because of oxidation-driven aggregation. The MAP kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), possesses seven free cysteines and is an important drug target for autoimmune diseases, cancers, and apoptosis-related diseases. To characterize the role of cysteine residues in the structure, function, and stability of JNK1, we prepared and evaluated wild-type JNK1 and seven cysteine-deficient JNK1 proteins. The nonreduced sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis experiments showed that the chemical stability of JNK1 increased as the number of cysteines decreased. The contribution of each cysteine residue to biological function and thermal stability was highly susceptible to the environment surrounding the particular cysteine mutation. The mutations of solvent-exposed cysteine to serine did not influence biological function and increased the thermal stability. The mutation of the accessible cysteine involved in the hydrophobic pocket did not affect biological function, although a moderate thermal destabilization was observed. Cysteines in the loosely assembled hydrophobic environment moderately contributed to thermal stability, and the mutations of these cysteines had a negligible effect on enzyme activity. The other cysteines are involved in the tightly filled hydrophobic core, and mutation of these residues was found to correlate with thermal stability and enzyme activity. These findings about the role of cysteine residues should allow us to obtain a stable JNK1 and thus promote the discovery of potent JNK1 inhibitors.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MAP2K4) plays a crucial role in the stress-activated signal cascade and is enzymatically regulated by ligand or substrate binding, and/or post-translational modification. Crystal structures combined with small-angle X-ray scattering experiments revealed that the apo form of non-phosphorylated MAP2K4 (npMAP2K4) exists in a transient state which has a longer conformation compared with the typical kinase folding. Upon ATP-binding, the transient conformation adopted the configuration of typical kinase folding. In the absence of ATP-binding, the transient state of apo npMAP2K4 may shift to a state of aggregation via non-particular hydrophobic interactions as a result of the exposed hydrophobic residues., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MAP2K6) plays a crucial role in the p38 MAP kinase signal cascade that regulates various stress-induced responses and is associated with pathological conditions. The crystal structure of human non-phosphorylated MAP2K6 (npMAP2K6) complexed with an ATP analogue was determined at 2.6 Å resolution and represents an auto-inhibition state of MAP2K6. Three characteristics of short α-helices configured in the activation loop region, termed activation helices (AH1, AH2 and AH3), are important in controlling the auto-inhibition mechanism. AH1 displaces the αC-helix, a component essential for forming the active configuration, away from the active site. AH1 and AH2 were found to enclose the γ-phosphate, the leaving group of ATP. A comparison with the related enzymes, MAP2K1 and MAP2K4 reveals that MAP2K6 has the unique auto-inhibition mechanism mediated by the three activation helices.

We previously described five arabinanolytic enzymes secreted by Penicillium chrysogenum 31B into the culture medium. Here, we describe a sixth such enzyme, termed AbnS1. Analysis of the reaction products of debranched arabinan revealed that AbnS1 cleaved the substrate in an endo manner. The optimum temperature of AbnS1 was 60°C, which was much higher than that of a cold-adapted endo-arabinanase (Abnc) produced by this strain. The abns1 cDNA gene encoding AbnS1 was isolated by in vitro cloning. The deduced amino acid sequence of AbnS1 had 70% identity with that of Abnc. Pfam analysis revealed a Glyco_hydro_43 domain at positions 28 to 318 of AbnS1. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that the abns1 gene was constitutively expressed in P. chrysogenum 31B at a low level, although the expression was only slightly induced with arabinose and arabinan. In contrast, expression of the abnc gene encoding Abnc was strongly induced by arabinose, arabinitol, and arabinan. Using debranched arabinan as substrate, recombinant AbnS1 (rAbnS1) accumulated arabinobiose and arabinotriose as the major products. Recombinant Abnc (rAbnc) released mainly arabinotriose and lesser amounts of arabinose and arabinobiose than did rAbnS1. Branched arabinan was completely degraded to arabinose by the action of rAbnS1 or rAbnc in combination with α-L: -arabinofuranosidase.

The detailed understanding of the molecular features of a ligand binding to a target protein, facilitates the successful design of potent and selective inhibitors. We present a case study of ATP-competitive kinase inhibitors that include a pyradine moiety. These compounds have similar chemical structure, except for distinct terminal hydrophobic cyclopentyl or isopropyl groups, and block kinase activity of casein kinase 2 subunit α (CK2α), which is a target for several diseases, such as cancer and glomerulonephritis. Although these compounds display similar inhibitory potency against CK2α, the crystal structures reveal that the cyclopentyl derivative gains more favorable interactions compared with the isopropyl derivative, because of the additional ethylene moiety. The structural observations and biological data are consistent with the thermodynamic profiles of these inhibitors in binding to CK2α, revealing that the enthalpic advantage of the cyclopentyl derivative is accompanied with a lower entropic loss. Computational analyses indicated that the relative enthalpic gain of the cyclopentyl derivative arises from an enhancement of a wide range of van der Waals interactions from the whole complex. Conversely, the relative entropy loss of the cyclopentyl derivative arises from a decrease in the molecular fluctuation and higher conformational restriction in the active site of CK2α. These structural insights, in combination with thermodynamic and computational observations, should be helpful in developing potent and selective CK2α inhibitors.

Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay has been used widely to visualize protein-protein interactions in cells. However, there is a problem that fluorescent protein fragments have an ability to associate with each other independent of an interaction between proteins fused to the fragments. To facilitate the BiFC assay, we have attempted to determine the structure and characteristics of reassembled fluorescent protein, Venus. The anion-exchange chromatography showed an oligomer and a monomer of reassembled Venus. Our results suggested that the oligomer was formed by β-strands swapping without any serious steric clashes and was converted to the monomer. Crystal structure of reassembled Venus had an 11-stranded β-barrel fold, typical of GFP-derived fluorescent proteins. Based on the structural features, we have mutated to β-strand 7 and measured T(m) values. The results have revealed that the mutation influences the thermal stability of reassembled fluorescent complex., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Arabinanase Abnx from Penicillium chrysogenum 31B, which belongs to the GH93 family, releases arabinobiose from the nonreducing terminus of α-1,5-L-arabinan, which is distributed in the primary cell walls of higher plants. Crystal structures of Abnx and of its complex with arabinobiose were determined at the high resolutions of 1.14 Å to an R(work) of 10.7% (R(free) = 12.8%) and 1.04 Å to an R(work) of 10.4% (R(free) = 12.5%). Abnx has a six-bladed β-propeller fold with a typical ring-closure mode called `Velcro', in which the last four-stranded β-sheet is completed by the incorporation of a strand from the N-terminus. Catalytic residues which act as a nucleophile and an acid/base were proposed from the structures and confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. The substrate-binding groove is enclosed at one end by two residues, Glu64 and Tyr66, which contribute to the recognition of the nonreducing chain end of the polysaccharide. A comparison with the related enzyme Arb93A which has a quite similar overall structure suggested that Abnx has different mechanisms to funnel substrates to the active site and/or to stabilize the transition state.

MKK4 activates both JNKs and p38s. We determined the crystal structures of human non-phosphorylated MKK4 kinase domain (npMKK4) complexed with AMP-PNP (npMKK4/AMP) and a ternary complex of npMKK4, AMP-PNP and p38α peptide (npMKK4/AMP/p38). These crystal structures revealed that the p38α peptide-bound npMKK4 at the allosteric site rather than at the putative substrate binding site and induced an auto-inhibition state. While the activation loop of the npMKK4/AMP complex was disordered, in the npMKK4/AMP/p38 complex it configured a long α-helix, which prevented substrate access to the active site and αC-helix movement to the active configuration of MKK4., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Fyn-related kinase (Frk) was first identified using human breast cancer cells. It shares 51% identity with c-Src. Like all members of the Src family, Frk is thought to cause several cancers via dysregulations in signal transduction from cell-surface receptors. The excess activity of Frk on beta-cells has a crucial role in type-I diabetes. A silent mutation at Ile229 conferred a bacterial expression system on the kinase domains of Frk, which allowed for the quick expression and purification of one unphosphorylated and two mono-phosphorylated kinase domains. The C-terminal catalytic segment of the human Frk kinase conjugating hexahistidine purification tag (His-tag) was expressed in Escherichia coli. After first-step purification utilizing the His-tag, an anion-exchange chromatogram yielded three major peaks that had distinguishable phosphorylation characteristics as judged by Western blot analysis and measurement of kinase activity. This result of active protein production should promote drug discovery studies, including highthrough-put screening and structure-based drug design.

Human Lyn tyrosine kinase is expressed in hematopoietic tissues and plays crucial roles in the signal transduction of hematopoietic immune system. Its excess activity is involved in several tumors. The crystal structure has revealed that the potent inhibitor staurosporine binds to human Lyn kinase domain at the ATP-binding site. The remarkable structural features of the staurosporine-binding region will offer valuable structural insights for the structure-based design of novel Lyn-selective inhibitors.

To help resolve long-standing questions regarding the catalytic activity of the serine proteases, the structure of porcine pancreatic elastase has been analyzed by high-resolution neutron and X-ray crystallography. To mimic the tetrahedral transition intermediate, a peptidic inhibitor was used. A single large crystal was used to collect room-temperature neutron data to 1.65 A resolution and X-ray data to 1.20 A resolution. Another crystal provided a low-temperature X-ray data set to 0.94 A resolution. The neutron data are to higher resolution than previously reported for a serine protease and the X-ray data are comparable with other studies. The neutron and X-ray data show that the hydrogen bond between His57 and Asp102 (chymotrypsin numbering) is 2.60 A in length and that the hydrogen-bonding hydrogen is 0.80-0.96 A from the histidine nitrogen. This is not consistent with a low-barrier hydrogen which is predicted to have the hydrogen midway between the donor and acceptor atom. The observed interaction between His57 and Asp102 is essentially a short but conventional hydrogen bond, sometimes described as a short ionic hydrogen bond. The neutron analysis also shows that the oxygen of the oxopropyl group of the inhibitor is present as an oxygen anion rather than a hydroxyl group, supporting the role of the "oxyanion hole" in stabilizing the tetrahedral intermediate in catalysis.

We determined the 2.35-A crystal structure of a human CK2 catalytic subunit (referred to as CK2alpha complexed with the ATP-competitive, potent CK2 inhibitor ellagic acid. The inhibitor binds to CK2alpha with a novel binding mode, including water-mediated hydrogen bonds. This structural information may support discovery of potent CK2 inhibitors.

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a serine/threonine kinase that functions as a heterotetramer composed of two catalytic subunits (CK2alpha1 or CK2alpha2) and two regulatory subunits (CK2beta). The two isozymes CK2alpha1 and CK2alpha2 play distinguishable roles in healthy subjects and in patients with diseases such as cancer, respectively. In order to develop novel CK2alpha1-selective inhibitors, the crystal structure of human CK2alpha2 (hCK2alpha2) complexed with a potent CK2alpha inhibitor which binds to the active site of hCK2alpha2 was determined and compared with that of human CK2alpha1. While the two isozymes exhibited a high similarity with regard to the active site, the largest structural difference between the isoforms occurred in the beta4-beta5 loop responsible for the CK2alpha-CK2beta interface. The top of the N-terminal segment interacted with the beta4-beta5 loop via a hydrogen bond in hCK2alpha2 but not in hCK2alpha1. Thus, the CK2alpha-CK2beta interface is a likely target candidate for the production of selective CK2alpha1 inhibitors.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a member of the MAP kinase family, and can regulate several cellular responses. The isoforms ERK1 and ERK2 have markedly similar amino acid sequences, but exhibit distinctive physiological functions. As well as ERK2, ERK1 was auto- and mono-phosphorylated at Tyr204 in the activation loop during Escherichia coli production, resulting in basal level activity, approximately 500-fold less compared with fully-active ERK1 dual-phosphorylated at Thr202 and Tyr204. Crystal structure demonstrated that the mono-phosphorylated ERK1 kinase possessed a novel conformation distinguishable from the un-phosphorylated (inactive) and the dual-phosphorylated (full-active) forms. The characteristic structural features in both the C-helix and the activation loop likely contribute to the basal activity of the mono-phosphorylated ERK1. The structural dissection of ERK1 compared to ERK2 suggests that the structural differences in the D-motif binding site and in the backside binding site are putative targets for development of selective ERK1/ERK2 inhibitors.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) perpetuates chronic inflammation by degrading extracellular adenosine which is toxic for lymphocytes. ADA has two distinct conformations: open form and closed form. From the crystal structures with various ligands, the non-nucleoside type inhibitors bind to the active site occupying the critical water-binding-position and sustain the open form of apo-ADA. In contrast, substrate mimics do not occupy the critical position, and induce the large conformational change to the closed form. However, it is difficult to predict the binding of (+)-erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA), as it possesses characteristic parts of both the substrate and the non-nucleoside inhibitors. The crystal structure shows that EHNA binds to the open form through a novel recognition of the adenine base accompanying conformational change from the closed form of the PR-ADA complex in crystalline state.

Lyn is a member of the Src family of non-receptor protein kinase. As well as all members of the Src family, Lyn is thought to participate in signal transduction from cell surface receptors. The crystal structure of Lyn would have a better understanding of Lyn function in various cells. For the purpose of crystallization, C-terminal catalytic segment of human Lyn kinase conjugating hexahistidine purification tag (His-tag) was expressed in Sf21 insect cells. After first step purification utilizing His-tag, an anion-exchange chromatogram yielded four major peaks which had distinguishable phosphorylation manner as judged by Western blot analysis, Native-PAGE analysis and kinase activity measurements. The fractioned samples were separately examined for crystallization screening using a commercial available screening kit. The mono-phosphorylated protein was crystallized with a small rod-shaped and needle clusters. The higher phosphorylated samples corresponding to the other three fractions on the anion-exchange chromatogram were aggregated or precipitated under the above conditions. A crystal of the mono-phosphorylated sample was diffracted to 3.2A with synchrotron source at Photon Factory and a complete X-ray diffraction data set was collected. The coarse structure was solved by a molecular replacement method and further structural refinement is currently underway.

Porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) resembles the attractive drug target leukocyte elastase, which has been implicated in a number of inflammatory disorders. In order to investigate the structural characteristics of a covalent inhibitor bound to PPE, including H atoms and the hydration by water, a single crystal of PPE for neutron diffraction study was grown in D(2)O containing 0.2 M sodium sulfate (pD 5.0) using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystal was grown to a size of 1.6 mm(3) by repeated macroseeding. Neutron diffraction data were collected at room temperature using a BIX-3 diffractometer at the JRR-3 research reactor of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The data set was integrated and scaled to 2.3 A resolution in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 51.2, b = 57.8, c = 75.6 A.

Background: The major dog allergens, Can f 1 and Can f 2, are members of the lipocalin protein family. The characterization of both dog allergens is still not complete. Their deduced amino acid sequences indicate the presence of three cysteine residues, probably connected with a disulfide bridge. We compared the biochemical and immunological properties of Can f 1 with those of Can f 2 using gel filtration, electrophoresis, and immunological assays., Methods: The rCan f 1, rCan f 2 and dog salivary proteins containing natural Can f 1 and Can f 2 were analyzed by HPLC gel filtration. The recombinant Can f 1 (rCan f 1) and rCan f 2 were analyzed by native and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with or without reduction. The binding ability of rabbit IgG purified by protein G affinity chromatography from the antiserum against rCan f 1 and rCan f 2 was examined after a reduction in the recombinant allergens. The immunological cross-reaction between rCan f 1 and rCan f 2 was examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the rabbit IgG against rCan f 1 and rCan f 2. The cross-reaction of human IgE in the serum of a patient with dog allergy between rCan f 1 and rCan f 2 was also analyzed by competitive ELISA., Results: The molecular weights of rCan f 1 and of rCan f 2 were 18 and 21 kDa, respectively, using SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, but the natural Can f 1 and Can f 2 were separated by HPLC gel filtration into fractions containing proteins of 31 and 34 kDa, respectively. rCan f 1 and rCan f 2 migrated as multiple bands (30-100 kDa) in native PAGE in the presence or absence of a reductant. The molecular weights of natural Can f 1 and of Can f 2 were 20 and 23 kDa, respectively, in SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. The ability of rabbit IgG to bind to rCan f 1 and rCan f 2 increased after the reduction of the recombinant allergens. The rabbit IgG against rCan f 1 bound to rCan f 2. Cross-reaction of human IgE was observed between rCan f 1 and rCan f 2., Conclusions: In the native and recombinant forms, Can f 1 and Can f 2 possessed a dimer structure under natural (non-reduced) condition. The dimers of Can f 1 and of Can f 2 were not built with a disulfide bridge but by non-covalent association. Cleavage of a disulfide bond of rCan f 1 and rCan f 2 increased the ability of binding of rabbit IgG to the allergens. The cross-reactivity of rabbit IgG and human IgE between rCan f 1 and rCan f 2 indicates that the same epitope(s) was present in Can f 1 and Can f 2.

The tyrosine kinase Fyn is a member of the Src kinase family. Besides the role of Fyn in T cell signal transduction in concert with Lck, its excess activity in the brain is involved with conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Therefore, inhibition of Fyn kinase may help counteract these nervous system disorders. Here, we solved the crystal structure of the human Fyn kinase domain complexed with staurosporine, a potent kinase inhibitor, at 2.8 A resolution. Staurosporine binds to the ATP-binding site of Fyn in a similar manner as in the Lck- and Csk-complexes. The small structural differences in the staurosporine-binding and/or -unbinding region among the three kinase domains may help obtaining the selective inhibitors against the respective kinases.

The crystal structure of NADP-dependent apo-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (apo-GAPDH) from Synechococcus PCC 7942 is reported. The crystal structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined to an R of 21.7% and R(free) of 27.5% at 2.9 angstroms resolution. The structural features of apo-GAPDH are as follows. The S-loop has an extremely flexible conformation and the sulfate ion is only taken into the classical P(i) site. A structural comparison with holo-GAPDHs indicated that the S-loop fixation is essential in the discrimination of NADP and NAD molecules.

Porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) was crystallized under new sulfate-free conditions containing 0.3 M NaCl and 50 mM tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-HCl at pH 7.0. The crystal structure determined at 1.5 angstroms resolution had a unique conformation in four regions which contained loop portions. A chloride ion was bound near the catalytic triad instead of the sulfate ion in PDB entry 1qnj, a typical PPE crystal structure. However, the chloride ion did not affect the configuration of the catalytic triad. A tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) molecule was bound to the S4 and S5 subsites in place of the adjacent molecule in the 1qnj crystal and played a significant role in the structural change of the region. The distortion in this region may subsequently have induced conformational changes in the other three regions. The fact that Tris and these four regions make a diagonal line in the ac plane may have affected the crystal-packing contraction along the a and c axes in the crystal compared with the typical crystal.

The crystal structure of NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NADP-GAPDH) from Synechococcus PCC 7942 (S. 7942) in complex with NADP was solved by molecular replacement and refined to an R factor of 19.1% and a free R factor of 24.0% at 2.5 A resolution. The overall structure of NADP-GAPDH from S. 7942 was quite similar to those of other bacterial and eukaryotic GAPDHs. The nicotinamide ring of NADP, which is involved in the redox reaction, was oriented toward the catalytic site. The 2'-phosphate O atoms of NADP exhibited hydrogen bonds to the hydroxyl groups of Ser194 belonging to the S-loop and Thr37. These residues are therefore considered to be essential in the discrimination between NADP and NAD molecules. The C-terminal region was estimated to have an extremely flexible conformation and to play an important role in the formation of the supramolecular complex phosphoribulokinase (PRK)-regulatory peptide (CP12)-GAPDH, which regulates enzyme activities.

Porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) resembles the attractive drug target leukocyte elastase, which has the ability to degrade connective tissue in the body. The crystal structure of PPE complexed with a novel trimacrocyclic peptide inhibitor, FR901451, was solved at 1.9 A resolution. The inhibitor occupied the subsites S3 through S3' of PPE and induced conformational changes in the side chains of Arg64 and Arg226, which are located at the edges of the substrate-binding cleft. Structural comparison of five PPE-inhibitor complexes, including the FR901451 complex and non-ligated PPE, reveals that the residues forming the S2, S1, S1' and S2' subsites in the cleft are rigid, but the two arginine residues playing a part in the S3 and S3' subsites are flexible. Structural comparison of PPE with human leukocyte elastase (HLE) implies that the inhibitor binds to HLE in a similar manner to the FR901451-PPE complex. This structural insight may help in the design of potent elastase inhibitors.

The crystal structure of a thermostable endo-1,5-alpha-L-arabinanase, ABN-TS, from Bacillus thermodenitrificans TS-3 was determined at 1.9 A to an R-factor of 18.3% and an R-free-factor of 22.5%. The enzyme molecule has a five-bladed beta-propeller fold. The substrate-binding cleft formed across one face of the propeller is open on both sides to allow random binding of several sugar units in the polymeric substrate arabinan. The beta-propeller fold is stabilized through a ring closure. ABN-TS exhibits a new closure-mode involving residues in the N-terminal region: Phe7 to Gly21 exhibit hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with the first and last blades, and Phe4 links the second and third blades through a hydrogen bond and an aromatic stacking interaction, respectively. The role of the N-terminal region in the thermostability was confirmed with a mutant lacking 16 amino acid residues from the N-terminus of ABN-TS.

A thermostable endo-1,5-alpha-L-arabinanase ABN-TS from Bacillus thermodenitrificans TS-3 with a molecular weight of 35 kDa was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using sodium citrate as a precipitant. The crystals were loop-mounted in a cryoprotectant solution containing 28%(w/v) sucrose and 1 M sodium citrate pH 6.0 and flash-cooled. Sucrose was selected as the most suitable cryoprotectant. The crystal belonged to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 40.3, b = 77.8, c = 89.7 angstroms. The calculated VM based on one molecule per asymmetric unit was 2.0 angstroms3 Da(-1). A complete data set from a frozen crystal was collected to 1.9 angstroms resolution using synchrotron radiation at SPring-8. A molecular-replacement solution was obtained using the structure of alpha-arabinanase 43A from Cellvibrio japonicus., (Copyright 2004 International Union of Crystallography)

The reaction of a new donor molecule having a planar but largely bent skeleton, bis(methylthio)tetrathiafulvalenothioquinone-1,3-dithiocarbonatodithiolemethide (1), with CuBr(2) in CH(3)CN/CS(2) afforded a black-colored crystal with a formula of 1(4).CuBr(4).2CuBr(3). In the crystal 1 molecules are one-dimensionally stacked to form half-cut pipelike columns, which are arranged to construct two different shapes of channels included by a one-dimensional array of CuBr(4)(2)(-) ions and a bibromide-bridged linear chain of CuBr(3)(-) ions with a square-pyramidal geometry at the Cu atom, [CuBr(3)(-)](n)(), respectively. The room-temperature electrical conductivity on the single crystal of 1(4).CuBr(4).2CuBr(3) was 2.0 x 10(-)(2) S cm(-)(1), and the temperature dependence of electrical conductivity was semiconducting with a large activation energy of 160 meV. The interactions between the neighboring Cu(II) d spins in the one-dimensional S = 1/2 spin systems due to CuBr(4)(2)(-) ions and CuBr(3)(-) ions in [CuBr(3)(-)](n)() were both antiferromagnetic, and the magnitudes were moderate (Weiss temperature, THETAV; = -18 K) in the former spin system and fairly large (coupling constant, J/k(B) = -120 K) in the latter spin system, which was in marked contrast to a moderate and ferromagnetic [CuBr(3)(-)](n)() chain in the cyclohexylammonium salt already known.

Two donor molecules newly synthesized, dimethylthio- and ethylenedithio-tetrathiafulvalenothioquinone-1,3-diselenolemethides (1 and 2), were used to prepare their charge-transfer (CT) salts with a magnetic FeBr(4)(-) counteranion. For 1, a low electrical conducting 1:1 salt (1.FeBr(4)) was obtained, in which molecules of 1 are tightly dimerized in a one-dimensional (1D) stacking column. On the other hand, 2 gave a 2:1 salt (2(2).FeBr(4)) as two different kinds of plate crystals (I and II). Both I and II possess similar stacking structures of molecules of 2 in each 1D column with a half-cut pipelike structure along the c axis. However, for I, the stacking columns are aligned in the same direction along the a and b axes, while for II they are in the same direction along the a axis, but in the reverse direction along the b axis, resulting in the difference in the relative arrangement of molecules of 2 and FeBr(4)(-) ions between the two crystals. The room-temperature electrical conductivities of the single crystals of I and II were 13.6 and 12.7 S cm(-)(1), respectively. The electrical conducting behavior in I was metallic above 170 K but changed to be semiconducting with a very small activation energy of 7.0 meV in the temperature range 4-170 K. In contrast, II showed the semiconducting behavior in the whole temperature range 77-285 K. The corresponding nonmagnetic GaBr(4)(-) salts with almost the same crystal structure as I and II showed definitively different electrical conducting properties in the metal to semiconductor transition temperature in I as well as in the magnitude of activation energy in the semiconducting region of I and II. The interaction between the d spins of FeBr(4)(-) ions was weak and antiferromagnetic in both I and II, but the magnitude of the spin interaction was unexpectedly larger compared with that in the FeBr(4)(-) salt of the corresponding sulfur derivative of 2 with closer contact between the neighboring FeBr(4)(-) ions. These electrical conducting and magnetic results suggest a significant interaction between the conducting pi electrons and the d spins of FeBr(4)(-) ions located near the columns or layers.

Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is a heme-containing protein that plays a central role in scavenging H(2)O(2) in higher plants. The structure of stromal APX (sAPX) was determined at 1.6 A to an R-factor of 19.1% and an R-free-factor of 22.3%. The electrostatic potential of the gamma-channel that connects the molecular surface of sAPX to the gamma-edge of heme was more positive than that of cytosolic APX (cAPX) from pea, so sAPX might bind more easily with ascorbate than cAPX. The overall structure of sAPX was similar to those of cAPX from pea and cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) from yeast, with a substantial difference in a loop structure located in the vicinity of the heme. The side chain of Arg169 in sAPX corresponding to His169 in cAPX and His181 in CCP extended in the opposite direction from the heme, forming two hydrogen bonds with carbonyl groups in the loop structure. The rapid inactivation of sAPX might be due to the characteristic conformation of Arg169 owing to the loop structure of sAPX.

The asymmetric chloronicotinyl insecticide, 1-[1-(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-2-nitroiminoimidazolidine, was prepared, and the absolute configurations of the enantiomers were determined by an X-ray analysis. The insecticidal activity against the housefly measured with metabolic inhibitors showed the (S) enantiomer to be slightly more active than the (R) isomer. Electrophysiological measurements on the American cockroach central nerve cord showed the compounds to elicite the impulses and subsequently blocked them. The neuroblocking potency of the (S) isomer was 5.9 microM, while that of the (R) isomer was as high as 73 microM. The molar concentrations required for 50% inhibition of the specific binding of [3H]imidacloprid to the housefly head membrane preparation were respectively 0.19 microM and 0.95 microM for the (S) and (R) isomers. This enatioselectivity ratio was smaller than 35 for nicotine isomers but greater than 2 for epibatidine isomers.

The thermostable pectate lyase PL 47 from Bacillus sp. TS 47, with a molecular weight of 50 kDa, was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using 2-propanol and polyethylene glycol 4000 as precipitants. The crystals belong to the trigonal space group P3(1)21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 58.8, c = 229.7 A, gamma = 120 degrees. The calculated V(M) based on one molecule per asymmetric unit is 2.30 A(3) Da(-1). A native data set from a frozen crystal was collected to 1.8 A resolution using synchrotron radiation at SPring-8. A molecular-replacement solution was obtained using the structure of pectate lyase from B. subtilis as a model.

The crystal structure of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) complexed with a potent peptidyl inhibitor, FR136706, was solved at 2.2A resolution. FR136706 fits snugly into the extended active site pocket. The benzene moiety of FR136706 induced dramatic movement of the side chain moiety of Arg217 and both moieties formed a pi-pi interaction, which has never been found previously in structures of PPE complexed with inhibitors. This novel interaction mode may lead to design of new types of inhibitors.

The 2:1 charge-transfer (CT) salts (1(2).FeBr(4) and 1(2).GaBr(4)) of ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalenoquinone-1,3-dithiolemethide (1) with FeBr(4)(-) and GaBr(4)(-) counteranions were obtained as needle crystals, whose structures are almost the same as each other. The 1 molecules form a one dimensionally stacked column with alternation of their molecular axis direction, while the counteranions are aligned in parallel with the 1-stacked columns with the direction of their distorted-tetrahedral geometry maintained. The room-temperature electrical conductivities measured on the single crystals of 1(2).FeBr(4) and 1(2).GaBr(4) were 4.6 and 2.1 S cm(-1), respectively. From the temperature dependences of their electrical conductivities in both cases the electrical conducting properties were metallic between ca. 170 and 300 K, but below ca. 170 K converted to be semiconducting and continued till 5 K, although the activation energies are very small (4-10 meV). For 1(2).FeBr(4) very weak and antiferromagnetic interaction occurred between the d spins of FeBr(4)(-) ions in the temperature range of ca. 1-300 K. However, below ca. 15 K the ferromagnetic interaction was reversely preferential possibly by participation of the pi spin of 1.

The stromal ascorbate peroxidase of tobacco plants was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using polyethylene glycol 4000 as a precipitant. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 37.2, b = 76.8, c = 98.8 A. The calculated V(M) value based on a monomer in the asymmetric unit is 2.2 A(3)Da(-1). A data set was successfully collected to 1.6 A resolution from a frozen crystal using synchrotron radiation of wavelength 1.0 A at KEK-PF, Japan.

The recombinant catalase-peroxidase of Synechococcus PCC 7942 overexpressed in Escherichia coli was purified and crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using sodium formate as a precipitant. The crystals belonged to the tetragonal space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 109.3, c = 202.0 A. The calculated V(M) value based on a dimer in the asymmetric unit was 1.9 A(3) Da(-1). A native data set was collected to 2.3 A resolution from a frozen crystal using synchrotron radiation at SPring-8.