title: Detergent organisation in crystals of monomeric outer membrane phospholipase A.
abstract: The structure of the detergent in crystals of outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) has been determined using neutron diffraction contrast variation. Large crystals were soaked in stabilising solutions, each containing a different H(2)O/D(2)O contrast. From the neutron diffraction at five contrasts, the 12 A resolution structure of the detergent micelle around the protein molecule was determined. The hydrophobic beta-barrel surfaces of the protein molecules are covered by rings of detergent. These detergent belts are fused to neighbouring detergent rings forming a continuous three-dimensional network throughout the crystal. The thickness of the detergent layer around the protein varies from 7-20 A. The enzyme's active site is positioned just outside the hydrophobic detergent zone and is thus in a proper location to catalyse the hydrolysis of phospholipids in a natural membrane. Although the dimerisation face of OMPLA is covered with detergent, the detergent density is weak near the exposed polar patch, suggesting that burying this patch in the enzyme's dimer interface may be energetically favourable. Furthermore, these results indicate a crucial role for detergent coalescence during crystal formation and contribute to the understanding of membrane protein crystallisation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, BIOSON Research Institute and Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Snijder
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Timmins
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kalk
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
mesh_terms: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017666:Deuterium Oxide; D019281:Dimerization; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008823:Micelles; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009502:Neutrons; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000737:chemistry*; D054466:Phospholipases A1; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014867:Water; D014978:Xenon
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003902:Detergents; D008823:Micelles; D014867:Water; D014978:Xenon; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054466:Phospholipases A1; C412876:outer membrane phospholipase A; D017666:Deuterium Oxide