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[Phylogenetic analysis of aerobic methylotrophic bacteria, using dichloromethane].

The phylogenetic relationships of 12 aerobic dichloromethane-degrading bacteria that implement different C1-assimilation pathways was determined based on 16S ribosomal RNA sequences and DNA-DNA hybridization data. The restricted facultative methylotroph "Methylophilus leisingerii" DM11 with the ribulose monophosphate pathway was found to belong to the genus Methylophilus cluster of the beta subdivision of the phylogenetic kingdom Proteobacteria. The facultative methylotroph Methylorhabdus multivorans DM13 was assigned to a separate branch of the alpha-2 group of Proteobacteria. Paracoccus methylutens DM12, which utilizes C1-compounds via the Calvin cycle was found to belong to the alpha-3 group of the Proteobacteria (more precisely, to the genus Paracoccus cluster). Thus, phylogenetic analysis confirmed the taxonomic status of these recently characterized bacteria. According to the degree of DNA homology, several novel strains of methylotrophic bacteria were divided into three genotypic groups within the alpha-2 group of the Proteobacteria. Genotypic group 1, comprising strains DM1, DM3, and DM5 through DM9, and genotypic group 3, comprising strain DM10, were phylogenetically close to the methylotrophic bacteria of the genus Methylopila, whereas genotypic group 2 (strain DM4) was close to bacteria of the genus Methylobacterium. The genotypic groups obviously represent distinct taxa of methylotrophic bacteria, whose status should be confirmed by phenotypic analysis.

Base Sequence↗

[Formation of a methylotrophic denitrifying biocenosis in a system of sewage treatment for nitrates].

A methylotrophic denitrifying bioenosis composed of hyphomicrobes and paracocci was isolated from the active ooze in a system of sewage purification from nitrates. The morphological and physiological characteristics of the isolated Hyphomicrobium sp. Z-115 and Paracoccus denitrificans Z-100 and Z-121 strains differed from those of the type strains, which made it difficult to identify them and to isolate them as a pure culture. This should be taken into account while determining the agents operating in such purification systems. The rate of growth, the rate of nitrate reduction and the activity of enzymes involved in methanol assimilation are higher in the anabolic syntrophic bicenosis than in its components in pure culture. A combined culture composed of the collection Hyphomicrobium and Paracoccus strains was neither effective nor stable under the conditions of anaerobic growth with nitrate and methanol. Therefore, the natural biocenosis af the purification system cannot be substituted by an artificial one composed of the collection cultures.

Anaerobiosis↗

Phylogenetically diverse new sulfur chemolithotrophs of alpha-proteobacteria isolated from Indian soils.

Five facultative sulfur chemolithotrophs were isolated from soils to study the diversity of sulfur lithotrophy. Phenotypic characteristics, including sulfur lithotrophic properties and chemotaxonomic features of the isolates, were similar to those of the members of the colorless sulfur bacteria. 16S rDNA sequence analyses rendered placing the isolates to three distinct phylogenetic clusters of alpha-proteobacteria. Three isolates, AS001, AS002, and KCT002, were identified as members of the genus Paracoccus. The strains AS001 and AS002, having identical 16S-rDNA sequence, showed significant 16S rDNA sequence similarity (99.1%) to Paracoccus versutus. The strain KCT002 showed highest (98%) 16S rDNA sequence similarity to P. alcaliphilus and 96% similarity to the pair AS001 and AS002. Isolate KCT001 appeared to be closely related to Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans, although sulfur lithotrophy of P. salicylotoxidans is not known. The other isolate, TCK, showed almost identical 16S rDNA (99.9%) sequence with two recently described unclassified chemolithoautotrophic arsenite oxidizing strains. Physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the five new strains emphasize the need of polyphasic bacterial taxonomy of sulfur lithotrophs.

Alphaproteobacteria↗

The genes in the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus vulcanus encoding cytochrome-c oxidase.

It is still controversial whether cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) contain an aa3-type cytochrome-c oxidase. We have approached this problem using DNA analysis. Using a DNA probe coding for the most conserved part of subunit I of the Bacillus enzymes, structural genes for the oxidase of a thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus vulcanus were cloned and sequenced. We found genes for subunits II, I, III and IV of this order like those of the Bacillus enzymes, and a terminator structure after the gene for subunit IV. The deduced protein sequences for the subunits II, I and III showed consensus amino-acid residues atevery important portion, suggesting that these genes are operating. However, the S. vulcanus oxidase lacked a cytochrome-c-moiety fused to subunit II, the 13th and 14th hydrophobic segments of subunit I which are lacking in the Paracoccus enzyme, and the 1st and 2nd ones of subunit III which are lacking in the Bacillus enzyme, were not found. A gene homologous to ctaB gene, which locates at the 5'-upstream region of the gene for subunit II and co-transcribed in Bacillus subtilis, was not found. Comparison of protein sequences showed that S. vulcanus cytochrome oxidase is closer to Bacillus cytochrome oxidases than the mitochondrial and Paracoccus enzymes, or quinol oxidases from B. subtilis and Escherichia coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Microbial population in a hydrogen-dependent denitrification reactor.

The bacterial population in an H2-dependent denitrification system was studied. The laboratory set-up was designed for the treatment of potable water and consisted of an electrochemical cell, where the water to be treated was enriched with H2 prior to entering a bioreactor. Bioreactors (columns packed with granulated active carbon) were inoculated with denitrifying bacterial strains isolated from a previous reactor, then sampled immediately after inoculation, or after 1 or 3 months of continuous operation. Total number of the bacteria and numbers of each different strain were determined at various levels of the bioreactor. The strains present in the inoculum were identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Paracoccus panthotrophus and Paracoccus denitrificans. Numbers of the latter declined markedly with time with the other three strains being responsible for nitrate removal. A correlation was found between the relative abundance of each strain and its specific denitrification activity.

Bacteria↗

Characterization of the ubiquinone reduction site of mitochondrial complex I using bulky synthetic ubiquinones.

A wide variety of alkyl derivatives of Q2 (6-geranyl-2, 3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone) and DB (6-n-decyl-2, 3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone), in which methoxy groups of the 2- and/or 3-positions of the quinone ring were replaced by other bulky alkoxy groups from ethoxy to butoxy, were prepared by novel synthetic procedures. Electron-accepting activities of the bulky quinones were investigated with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I and its counterpart of Paracoccus denitrificans(NDH-1) to elucidate structural and functional features of the quinone reduction site of the enzymes. The bulky quinone analogues served as sufficient electron acceptors from the physiological quinone reduction site of bovine complex I. Considering the very poor activities of even the ethoxy derivatives as substrates for other respiratory enzymes such as mitochondrial complexes II and III [He, D. Y., Gu, L. Q., Yu, L., and Yu, C. A. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 880-884], this result indicated that the quinone reduction site of bovine complex I is spacious enough to accommodate bulky exogenous substrates. In contrast to bovine complex I, bulky quinone analogues served as poor electron acceptors with Paracoccus NDH-1. These observations indicated that bovine complex I recognizes the substrate structure with poor specificity. The substituent effects in the 2- and 3-positions of the quinone ring on the electron-transfer activity with bovine complex I differed significantly between Q2 and DB series despite having the same total number of carbon atoms in the side chain. The inhibitory effect involving Q2 due to its geranyl side chain was markedly diminished by structural modifications of the quinone ring moiety. These findings indicate that the side chain plays a specific role in the redox reaction and that the quinone ring and side-chain moieties contribute interdependently to binding interaction. Moreover, structural dependency of the proton-pumping activity of the quinone analogues was comparable to that of the electron-transfer activity with bovine complex I, indicating that the mechanism of redox-driven proton-pumping does not differ depending upon the substrate structure.

Animals↗

Characterization of cytochrome c-556 from the purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus as a cytochrome-c peroxidase.

A cytochrome c-556 was purified from Rhodobacter capsulatus and the complete amino acid sequence was determined. It contains 328 amino acid residues and two typical heme-binding sites at cysteine residues 54 and 57 and at residues 200 and 203. It is homologous to the family of bacterial cytochrome c peroxidases (BCCP) with 69% identity to Paracoccus denitrificans BCCP and 60% identity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa BCCP for which there is a three-dimensional structure. There is lesser similarity to the mauG gene products from methylotrophic bacteria which are thought to be involved in biosynthesis of the quinone cofactor of methylamine dehydrogenase. Translated genes from Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori are also related to the bacterial cytochrome c peroxidases. The divergence of this family of proteins is reflected in the fact that the reported sixth heme ligands are not conserved, except in Pseudomonas, Rhodobacter and Paracoccus. This suggests that homologs of BCCP may fold differently and/or may not have the same enzymatic activity as the prototypic protein from Ps. aeruginosa. We found that the Rb. capsulatus BCCP is active with both Rb. capsulatus cytochrome c2 and with horse cytochrome c as substrates (Km values 60 microm and 6 microm, respectively). The turnover number was 40 s(-1) and the Km for peroxide was 33 microm. We have thus confirmed that the Rb. capsulatus protein is a cytochrome c peroxidase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene diversity in eubacteria and eukaryotes: evidence for intra- and inter-kingdom gene transfer.

Cyanobacteria contain up to three highly divergent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) genes: gap1, gap2, and gap3. Genes gap1 and gap2 are closely related at the sequence level to the nuclear genes encoding cytosolic and chloroplast GAPDH of higher plants and have recently been shown to play distinct key roles in catabolic and anabolic carbon flow, respectively, of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. In the present study, sequences of 10 GAPDH genes distributed across the cyanobacteria Prochloron didemni, Gloeobacter violaceus PCC7421, and Synechococcus PCC7942 and the alpha-proteobacterium Paracoccus denitrificans and the beta-proteobacterium Ralstonia solanacearum were determined. Prochloron didemni possesses homologs to the gap2 and gap3 genes from Anabaena, Gloeobacter harbors gap1 and gap2 homologs, and Synechococcus possesses gap1, gap2, and gap3. Paracoccus harbors two highly divergent gap genes that are related to gap3, and Ralstonia possesses a homolog of the gap1 gene. Phylogenetic analyses of these sequences in the context of other eubacterial and eukaryotic GAPDH genes reveal that divergence across eubacterial gap1, and gap2, and gap3 genes is greater than that between eubacterial gap1 and eukaroytic glycolytic GapC or between eubacterial gap2 and eukaryotic Calvin cycle GapAB. These data strongly support previous analyses which suggested that eukaryotes acquired their nuclear genes for GapC and GapAB via endosymbiotic gene transfer from the antecedents of mitochondria and chloroplasts, and extend the known range of sequence diversity of the antecedent eubacterial genes. Analyses of available GAPDH sequences from other eubacterial sources indicate that the glycosomal gap gene from trypanosomes (cytosolic in Euglena) and the gap gene from the spirochete Treponema pallidum are each other's closest relatives. This specific relationship can therefore not reflect organismal evolution but must be the result of an interkingdom gene transfer, the direction of which cannot be determined with certainty at present. Contrary to this, the origin of the cytosolic Gap gene from trypanosomes can now be clearly defined as gamma-proteobacterial, since the newly established Ralstonia sequence (beta-proteobacteria) branches basally to the gamma-proteobacterial/trypanosomal assemblage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distribution of amine oxidases and amine dehydrogenases in bacteria grown on primary amines and characterization of the amine oxidase from Klebsiella oxytoca.

The bacteria Klebsiella oxytoca LMD 72.65 (ATCC 8724), Arthrobacter P1 LMD 81.60 (NCIB 11625), Paracoccus versutus LMD 80.62 (ATCC 25364), Escherichia coli W LMD 50.28 (ATCC 9637), E. coli K12 LMD 93.68, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 LMD 89.1 (ATCC 17933) and Pseudomonas putida LMD 68.20 (ATCC 12633) utilized primary amines as a carbon and energy source, although the range of amines accepted varied from organism to organism. The Gram-negative bacteria K. oxytoca and E. coli as well as the Gram-positive methylotroph Arthrobacter P1 used an oxidase whereas the pseudomonads and the Gram-negative methylotroph Paracoccus versutus used a dehydrogenase for amine oxidation. K. oxytoca utilized several primary amines but showed a preference for those containing a phenyl group moiety. Only a single oxidase was used for oxidation of the amines. After purification, the following characteristics of the enzyme indicated that it belonged to the group of copper-quinoprotein amine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6): the molecular mass (172,000 Da) of the homodimeric protein; the UV/visible and EPR spectra of isolated and p-nitrophenylhydrazine-inhibited enzyme; the presence and the content of copper and topaquinone (TPQ). The amine oxidase appeared to be soluble and localized in the periplasm, but catalase and NAD-dependent aromatic aldehyde dehydrogenase, enzymes catalysing the conversion of its reaction products, were found in the cytoplasm. From the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal part as well as that of a purified peptide, it appears that K. oxytoca produces a copper-quinoprotein oxidase which is very similar to that found in other Enterobacteriaceae.

Amines↗

Loss of N2O reductase activity as an explanation for poor growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on N2O.

N2O uptake activity of cells and N2O reductase activity of the soluble fraction from denitrifying bacteria were assayed. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PAO1 and P1 lost most of their N2O uptake activity and the ability to grow well on N2O within 2 to 5 h after exposure to N2O. Extensive loss of N2O reductase activity accompanied the nearly complete loss of N2O uptake activity under N2O. Paracoccus denitrificans retained much, but not all, of both activities and the ability to grow vigorously on N2O. The pattern with P. aeruginosa strain P2 resembled that for PAO1 and P1 except that loss of the activities proceeded at a slower rate and growth could continue for up to 12 h after exposure to N2O. The inability of a number of P. aeruginosa strains to grow well on N2O is therefore a direct consequence of the nearly complete loss of N2O reductase activity. Turnover-dependent inactivation of N2O reductase and its reactivation under reducing conditions occurred in vitro for the enzyme from P. aeruginosa and Paracoccus denitrificans. These events may be significant in determining the activity level of N2O reductase in denitrifying bacteria during N2O respiration.

Enzyme Activation↗

Identification and analysis of the dissimilatory nitrous oxide reduction genes, nosRZDFY, of Rhizobium meliloti.

The complete nos region essential for dissimilatory nitrous oxide reduction by the endosymbiotic diazotroph Rhizobium meliloti was identified in a cosmid (pYC7) carrying a 10.1-kb EcoRI fragment of the nod megaplasmid. This gene region was localized by Southern hybridization and Tn5 mutagenesis to within 8 kb downstream from the fixGHIS cluster. Nucleotide sequence determination of a 4.6-kb DNA segment including the structural gene nosZ and its flanking regions showed sequence homology and similarity in genetic organization with the nosRZDFY genes of Pseudomonas stutzeri Zobell. The genes were arranged in three complementation groups, comprising the nosZ structural gene, the nosR regulatory gene, and the nosDFY copper-processing genes. The derived amino acid sequence of the R. meliloti nosZ product (a multi-copper nitrous oxide reductase) was more similar to those of the analogous gene products of Paracoccus and Pseudomonas species than to that of Alcaligenes eutrophus. The nosZ gene was preceded by nosR, which encodes a regulatory protein containing C-terminal cysteine clusters similar to those present in the 4Fe-4S binding region of bacterial ferredoxins, The nosDFY genes, located downstream from nosZ, were identified as copper-processing genes encoding a periplasmic protein, an ATP/GTP-binding protein, and a membrane protein presumably forming a copper-processing system. A consensus sequence for an Anr- or Fnr-binding site similar to that in the upstream sequence of nosZ in Paracoccus denitrificans or P. stutzeri was absent in R. meliloti. No rpoN-binding site preceding the nos genes was detected, and none of the Tn5 insertions in the nos gene region affected symbiotic N2-fixing ability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Preliminary crystal structure studies of a ternary electron transfer complex between a quinoprotein, a blue copper protein, and a c-type cytochrome.

A ternary electron transfer protein complex has been crystallized and a preliminary structure investigation has been carried out. The complex is composed of a quinoprotein, methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH), a blue copper protein, amicyanin, and a c-type cytochrome (c551i). All three proteins were isolated from Paracoccus denitrificans. The crystals of the complex are orthorhombic, space group C222(1) with cell dimensions a = 148.81 A, b = 68.85 A, and c = 187.18 A. Two types of isomorphous crystals were prepared: one using native amicyanin and the other copper-free apo-amicyanin. The diffraction data were collected at 2.75 A resolution from the former and at 2.4 A resolution from the latter. The location of the MADH portion was determined by molecular replacement. The copper site of the amicyanin molecule was located in an isomorphous difference Fourier while the iron site of the cytochrome was found in an anomalous difference Fourier. The MADH from P. denitrificans (PD-MADH) is an H2L2 hetero-tetramer with the H subunit containing 373 residues and the L subunit 131 residues, the latter containing a novel redox cofactor, tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ). The amicyanin of P. denitrificans contains 105 residues and the cytochrome c551i contains 155 residues. The ternary complex consists of one MADH tetramer with two molecules of amicyanin and two of c551i, forming a hetero-octamer; the octamer is located on a crystallographic diad. The relative positions of the three redox centers--i.e., the TTQ of MADH, the copper of amicyanin, and the heme group of c55li--are presented.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The pseudoazurin gene from Thiosphaera pantotropha: analysis of upstream putative regulatory sequences and overexpression in Escherichia coli.

The pseudoazurin gene from Thiosphaera pantotropha has been cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence showed that the protein contains an unusually alanine-rich signal peptide, 22 amino acid residues in length, which targets the protein to the periplasm. This pseudoazurin was expressed in large amounts in the periplasm of Escherichia coli when the gene with its native ribosome-binding site was placed downstream of the lac promoter. Removal of a putative hairpin-forming structure upstream of the ribosome-binding site increased the yield of the purified protein to approximately 80 mg/l. The recombinant protein is indistinguishable from that purified from its natural host. A primer extension study indicated that the pseudoazurin structural gene (pazS) is under the control of the Fnr/Nnr regulatory system, but no promoter-binding sequence could be recognized. The amino acid sequence of pseudoazurin from Paracoccus denitrificans is also reported.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The effects of ligand exchange and mobility on the peroxidase activity of a bacterial cytochrome c upon unfolding.

The effect on the heme environment upon unfolding Paracoccus versutus ferricytochrome c-550 and two site-directed variants, K99E and H118Q, has been assessed through a combination of peroxidase activity increase and one-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. At pH 4.5, the data are consistent with a low- to high-spin heme transition, with the K99E mutation resulting in a protein with increased peroxidase activity in the absence of or at low concentrations of denaturant. Furthermore, the mobility of the polypeptide chain at pH 4.5 for the wild-type protein has been monitored in the absence and presence of denaturant through heteronuclear NMR experiments. The results are discussed in terms of local stability differences between bacterial and mitochondrial cytochromes c that are inferred from peroxidase activity assays. At pH 7.0, a mixture of misligated heme states arising from protein-based ligands assigned to lysine and histidine is detected. At low denaturant concentrations, these partially unfolded misligated heme forms inhibit the peroxidase activity. Data from the K99E mutation at pH 7.0 indicate that K99 is not involved in heme misligation, whereas histidine coordination is proven by the data from the H118Q variant.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Deletion of the gene for subunit III leads to defective assembly of bacterial cytochrome oxidase.

COIII is one of the major subunits in the mitochondrial and a bacterial cytochrome c oxidase, cytochrome aa3. It does not contain any of the enzyme's redox-active metal centres and can be removed from the enzyme without major changes in its established functions. We have deleted the COIII gene from Paracoccus denitrificans. The mutant still expresses spectroscopically detectable enzyme almost as the wild-type, but its cytochrome c oxidase activity is much lower. From 50 to 80% of cytochrome a is reduced and its absorption maximum is 2-3 nm blue-shifted. The EPR signal of ferric cytochrome a is heterogeneous indicating the presence of multiple cytochrome a species. Proteolysis of the membrane-bound oxidase shows new cleavage sites both in COI and COII. DEAE-chromatography of solubilized enzyme yields fractions that contain a COI + COII complex and in addition haem-binding, free COI as well as free COII. The mutant phenotype can be complemented by introducing the COIII gene back to cells in a plasmid vector. We conclude that cytochrome oxidase assembles inefficiently in the absence of COIII and that this subunit may facilitate a late step in the assembly. The different oxidase species in the mutant represent either accumulating intermediates of the assembly pathway or dissociation products of a labile COI + COII complex and its conformational variants.

Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose↗

Cytochrome oxidase assembly in yeast requires the product of COX11, a homolog of the P. denitrificans protein encoded by ORF3.

The synthesis of cytochrome oxidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was recently shown to require a protein encoded by the nuclear gene COX10. This protein was found to be homologous to the putative protein product of the open reading frame ORF1 reported in one of the cytochrome oxidase operons of Paracoccus denitrificans. In the present study we demonstrate the existence in yeast of a second nuclear gene, COX11, whose encoded protein is homologous to another open reading frame (ORF3) present in the same operon of P. denitrificans. Mutations in COX11 elicit a deficiency in cytochrome oxidase. In this and in other respects cox11 and cox10 mutants have very similar phenotypes. An antibody has been obtained against the yeast COX11 protein. The antibody recognizes a 28 kd protein in yeast mitochondria, consistent with the size of the protein predicted from the sequence of COX11. The COX11 protein is tightly associated with the mitochondrial membrane but is not a component of purified cytochrome oxidase. An analysis of cytochrome oxidase subunits in wild type and in a cox11 mutant suggests that the COX11 protein is not required either for synthesis or transport of the subunit polypeptides into mitochondria. It seems more probable that COX11 protein exerts its effect at some terminal stage of enzyme synthesis, perhaps in directing assembly of the subunits.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein--protein docking of electron transfer complexes: cytochrome c oxidase and cytochrome c.

Electron transferring protein complexes form only transiently and the crystal structures of electron transfer protein--protein complexes involving cytochrome c could so far be determined only for the pairs of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP) with iso-1-cytochrome c (iso-1-cyt c) and with horse heart cytochrome c (cyt c). This article presents models from computational docking for complexes of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) from Paracoccus denitrificans with horse heart cytochrome c, and with its physiological counterpart cytochrome c552 (c552). Initial docking is performed with the FTDOCK program, which permits an exhaustive search of translational and rotational space. A filtering procedure is then applied to reduce the number of complexes to a manageable number. In a final step of structural and energetic refinement, the complexes are optimized by rigid-body energy minimization with the molecular mechanics package CHARMM. This methodology was first tested on the CcP:iso-1-cyt c complex, in which the complex with the lowest CHARMM energy has an RMSD from the crystal structure of only 1.8 A (C(alpha) carbon atoms). Notably, the crystal conformation has an even lower energy. The same procedure was then applied to COX:cyt c and COX:c552. The lowest-energy COX:cyt c complex is very similar to a docking model previously described for the complex of bovine cytochrome c oxidase with horse heart cytochrome c. For the COX:c552 complex, cytochrome c552 is found in two different orientations, depending on whether it is docked against COX from a two-subunit or from a four-subunit crystal structure, respectively. Both conformations are discussed critically in the light of the available experimental data.

Algorithms↗

Crystals of an antibody Fv fragment against an integral membrane protein diffracting to 1.28 A resolution.

The Fv fragment of a monoclonal antibody, 7E2 (IgG1, kappa, murine), which is directed against the integral membrane protein cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) from Paracoccus denitrificans, was cloned and produced in Escherichia coli. Crystals suitable for high-resolution X-ray analysis were obtained by microdialysis under low salt conditions. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions of a = 51.51 A, b = 56.15 A, c = 99.86 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) and contain one Fv fragment per asymmetric unit. Using synchrotron radiation diffraction data were collected up to 1.28 A resolution. This high resolution is very unusual for a heterodimeric protein. The crystals should open the way for refining not only the atomic positions, but also for obtaining information about internal dynamics.

Amino Acid Sequence↗