title: Crystallization, microPIXE and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the complex between the third KH domain of hnRNP K and single-stranded DNA.
abstract: hnRNP K is one of the major proteins found in hnRNP particles which are ribonucleoprotein complexes containing proteins and pre-mRNA. hnRNP K contains hnRNP K homology (KH) domains which bind both CT-rich single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and CU-rich ssRNA. Co-crystallization of the third KH domain of human hnRNP K with a 15-mer ssDNA gave rod-shaped crystals belonging to the trigonal space group P3(1)21 (unit-cell parameters a = 54.0, c = 149.7 A) and diffracting to 2.4 A resolution. MicroPIXE (proton-induced X-ray emission) experiments showed that the crystals contained the complex and that the phosphorus to sulfur atomic ratio was consistent with the asymmetric unit containing three KH3 domains per 15-mer ssDNA. This was confirmed by structure solution by molecular replacement.
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, BP 181, F-38042 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France.
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Backe
authors.forename: Raimond B G
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ravelli
authors.forename: Elspeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garman
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cusack
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D034641:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D034641:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K