title: Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of monoprenylated Rab7 GTPase in complex with Rab escort protein 1.
abstract: Posttranslational geranylgeranylation of Rab GTPases is catalyzed by Rab geranylgeranyltransferase (RabGGTase), which consists of a catalytic alpha/beta heterodimer and an accessory Rab escort protein (REP). REP functions as a molecular chaperone that presents Rab proteins to the RabGGTase and after prenylation delivers them to their target membrane. Mutations in the REP-1 gene in humans lead to an X-chromosome-linked defect known as choroideremia, a progressive disease that inevitably culminates in complete blindness. Here we report in vitro assembly, purification, and crystallization of the monoprenylated Rab7GDP:REP-1 complex. X-Ray diffraction data for the REP-1:Rab7 complex were collected to 2.2-A resolution at the ESRF. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2 with unit-cell parameters a=64.3A, b=105.3A, c=132.6A. Preliminary structural analysis revealed the presence of one complex in the asymmetric unit. To understand the conformational changes in Rab protein on complex formation we also crystallized the GDP-bound form of Rab7 that diffracted to at least 1.8A on the in-house X-ray source.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology, Department of Physical Biochemistry, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 4422 Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rak
authors.forename: Olena
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pylypenko
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niculae
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Goody
authors.forename: Kirill
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alexandrov
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000090802:rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C081787:CHM protein, human; D000090802:rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins; C000716463:rab7 GTP-binding proteins, human; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins