Low-resolution ab initio phasing of Sarcocystis muris lectin SML-2.
Structural analysis of the lectin SML-2 faced difficulties when applying standard crystallographic phasing methods. The connectivity-based ab initio phasing method allowed the computation of a 16 A resolution Fourier synthesis and the derivation of primary structural information. It was found that SML-2 crystals have three dimers in the asymmetric part of the unit cell linked by a noncrystallographic symmetry close to translation by (0, 0, 1/3). A clear identification of the noncrystallographic twofold axis explains the space-group transformation from the primitive P2(1)2(1)2(1) to the C-centred C222(1) observed during annealing procedures within an N(2) cryostream for cocrystals of SML-2 and galactose. Related packing considerations predict a possible arrangement of SML-2 molecules in a tetragonal unit cell. Multiple noncrystallographic symmetries and crystal forms provide a basis for further image improvements.
Müller
Jürgen J
JJ
Macromolecular Structure and Interactions, Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, D-13092 Berlin, Germany.
Lunina
Natalia L
NL
Urzhumtsev
Alexandre
A
Weckert
Edgar
E
Heinemann
Udo
U
Lunin
Vladimir Y
VY
D000818:Animals; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D019281:Dimerization; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D005690:Galactose / Q000737:chemistry; D037161:Galectins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012522:Sarcocystis
D037161:Galectins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D010984:Platinum; D005690:Galactose