title: Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis AHL-lactonase.
abstract: The quorum sensing (QS) systems in Gram-negative bacteria are mostly associated with diffusible N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs). AHL-degrading enzymes hydrolyze the AHLs into inactive molecules, thereby blocking the QS systems that are closely linked to virulence factor production and biofilm formation. Consequently, these enzymes have recently attracted intense interest for the development of anti-infection therapies for plants and animals. However, despite significant progress in the investigation of AHL-degrading enzymes, no structure is yet available. Accordingly, this study reports on the expression and purification of the AHL-lactonase from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD263, as well as the successful crystallization of the enzyme. High-quality native crystals were obtained and a complete data set collected at 2.0 A resolution. The native crystal was found to belong to the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit cell parameters a=52.7 A, b=55.9 A, and c=74.1 A and one molecule in the asymmetric unit. MAD data were also collected at 2.4 A resolution for a SeMet-substituted crystal.
authors.affiliation: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Daejon 305-600, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Ok
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Beom Sik
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kyung-Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won-Chan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Tae-Kwang
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Choong Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung-Kee
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000201:enzymology*; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray
chemical_list: D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C432003:N-acyl homoserine lactonase