title: Crystallization of human beta-hexosaminidase B.
abstract: beta-Hexosaminidase is a lysosomal hydrolase that is important in the metabolism of sphingoglycolipids. beta-Hexosaminidase B and beta-hexosaminidase A are the major isozymes in normal human tissue. beta-Hexosaminidase B is a homodimer of beta subunits, and beta-hexosaminidase A is a heterodimer composed of an alpha and a beta subunit. Crystals of beta-hexosaminidase B (M(r) 112,000) have been grown using the handling drop technique. They are elongated hexagonal prisms with maximum dimensions of 0.2 mm x 0.2 mm x 0.7 mm. The space group is P6(1)22 (or enantiomorph); the unit cell dimensions are a = b = 114.2 A, c = 402.2 A, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees. The molecular mass and cell dimensions suggest that there is one dimer per asymmetric unit. Crystals diffract to 3.2 A resolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Church
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Swenson
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mahuran
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases