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The crystal structure of a self-complementary RNA duplex r(GGCG(Br)UGCGCU)(2) with terminal G.U and internal tandem G.U base pairs has been determined at 2.1 Angstroms resolution. The crystals belong to the tetragonal space group P4(3), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 37.69, c = 96.28 Angstroms and two duplexes in the asymmetric unit. The two strands of each duplex are related by a pseudodyad axis. The structure was refined to final R(work) and R(free) values of 20.9 and 25.3%, respectively. The duplexes stack in an end-to-end manner, forming infinite columns along the c axis. This is the first structural study of an RNA duplex containing G.U pairs at the termini. The stacking overlaps of the terminal G.U base pairs with their adjacent Watson-Crick base pairs are larger than those of Watson-Crick base pairs of the 5'-YR-3'/3'-RY-5' type. The terminal G.U base pairs of neighbouring duplexes are also stacked with each other. An alternating underwound-overwound pattern of the twist angles is seen at each step along the duplex. This observation is typical for internal tandem G.U pairs, while the terminal G.U base pairs exhibit high twist angles with the adjacent Watson-Crick pairs. The 3'-side of U of the internal G.U base pair, which is unstacked, appears to be stabilized by pi-cation interaction with an Mg(2+) ion.

CarBaBb, the class III extradiol dioxygenase involved in carbazole degradation by Pseudomonas resinovorans CA10, was crystallized at 278 K by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using PEG MME 550 as a precipitant. The crystals had a transparent thin square-pillar shape and belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 122.8, b = 144.6, c = 49.2 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees . The crystals diffracted to a maximum resolution of 1.9 A and gave a data set with an overall R(merge) of 5.7% and a completeness of 98.6%. The V(M) value was 2.52 A(3) Da(-1), which indicated a solvent content of 51.2%.

The NgcE protein binds N-acetylglucosamine (GIcNAc) as well asN,N'-diacetylchitobiose and is a component of the ABC transporter Ngc for GIcNAc uptake in Streptomyces olivaceoviridis. After cloning the corresponding gene in an Escherichia coli host, the NgcE protein was overproduced in a soluble form within the cytoplasm and purified to homogeneity by four consecutive chromatographic processes. Crystals of NgcE that grew in the presence of 1 mM GlcNAc,20%(w/v) PEG MME 2000 and 100 mM Tris-HCI pH 8.5 had a plate-like shape and belonged to either space group P21212 (unit-cell parameters a = 59.9, b = 153.0, c = 41.7 A) or P212121 (a = 58.1, b = 96.3, c = 151.7 A). The former crystals diffracted to 1.8 A resolution andthe latter to 2.2 A. Selenomethionine-containing crystals were generated under the same conditions and belonged to space group P212121 with unit-cell parameters a = 58.4, b = 96.6, c = 152.5 A, and diffracted to 2.0 A resolution.

The parameters used to evaluate biomacromolecular crystal quality [Rmerge, I/sigma(I), maximum resolution and mosaicity] strongly depend on the experimental diffraction conditions. In this paper, the distinctive features of the relative Wilson plot method are described and it is shown that the overall B factor obtained from this plot is more appropriate for the characterization of protein crystals. The relative Wilson plot has been applied to the characterization of crystals of the B-DNA decamer d(CCATTAATGG) and crystals of the proteins DsrD (dissimilatory sulfite reductase D) and hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL), which were studied by neutron diffraction. It was found that the crystal quality of the B-DNA decamer and DsrD depended significantly on the regions of the crystallization phase diagram from which the samples were taken. However, in the case of HEWL crystal quality appears to be independent of the region of the crystallization phase diagram., (Copyright 2004 International Union of Crystallography)

alpha-Galactosidases catalyze the hydrolysis of a galactosyl residue from galactooligosaccharides and galactopolysaccharides. alpha-Galactosidase I from Mortierella vinacea was crystallized in two crystal forms using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Type 1 crystals belonged to space group I422, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 142.4, c = 131.5 A, and diffracted to beyond 2.1 A resolution, while type 2 crystals belonged to space group P4, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 100.9, c = 102.7 A, and diffracted to beyond 1.6 A resolution. This enzyme crystallized as a glycoprotein tetramer and the tetrameric structure was located around the crystallographic fourfold axis.

A recombinant form of Arthrobacter globiformis inulin fructotransferase (DFAIII-producing) has been overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Crystals were obtained at 293 K by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion technique using 0.1 M Na HEPES pH 7.5 buffer containing 1.5 M lithium sulfate as a precipitant. Crystals of the recombinant wild-type enzyme diffracted to better than 1.5 A at 100 K using a synchrotron-radiation source at the Photon Factory. The crystal belonged to space group R32, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 92.02, c = 229.82 A in the hexagonal axes. Assuming the presence of one molecule in the asymmetric unit, the V(M) value for the crystal was 2.15 A(3) Da(-1), indicating a solvent content of 42.8%. Selenomethionine-derivative crystals belonged to a different space group, C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 159.32, b = 91.92, c = 92.58 A, beta = 125.06. Matthews coefficient calculations suggested that the C2 selenomethionine-derivative crystal contained three molecules per asymmetric unit.

alpha-Galactosidases catalyze the hydrolysis of galactooligosaccharides and galactopolysaccharides to alpha-galactose residues and are widely distributed in microorganisms, plants and animals. alpha-Galactosidase from rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 63.1, b = 71.3, c = 85.6 A, and diffract beyond 1.9 A resolution.

Piscivostatin (PVS) and acostatin are members of the disintegrin family of platelet-aggregation inhibitors found in snake venoms and are dimeric disintegrins which play different roles to the monomeric disintegrins. The crystals of PVS belonged to the P2(1)2(1)2(1) space group, with unit-cell parameters a = 34.3, b = 54.4, c = 115.9 A, and diffracted to 2.0 A resolution. The crystals of acostatin belonged to the P2(1) space group, with unit-cell parameters a = 55.4, b = 69.3, c = 63.5 A, beta = 111.7 degrees, and diffracted to 2.8 A resolution.