title: Crystallization of the flexible nuclear import receptor importin-beta in the unliganded state.
abstract: The transport of macromolecules across the nuclear envelope is an essential eukaryotic process that enables proteins such as transcription factors, polymerases and histones to gain access to the genetic material contained within the nucleus. Importin-beta plays a central role in the nucleocytoplasmic transport process, mediating nuclear import through a range of interactions with cytoplasmic, nuclear and nuclear pore proteins such as importin-alpha, Ran, nucleoporins and various cargo molecules. The unliganded form of the full-length yeast importin-beta has been expressed and crystallized. The crystals were obtained by vapour diffusion at pH 6.5 and 290 K. The crystals belonged to space group P2(1) (unit-cell parameters a = 58.17, b = 127.25, c = 68.52 A, beta = 102.23). One molecule is expected in the asymmetric unit. The crystals diffracted to 2.4 A resolution using a laboratory X-ray source and were suitable for crystal structure determination.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirkby
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marfori
authors.forename: Bostjan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kobe
authors.forename: Jade K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Forwood
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003460:Crystallization; D003625:Data Collection; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010316:Particle Size; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D012995:Solubility; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013696:Temperature; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D028961:beta Karyopherins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D028961:beta Karyopherins; D005982:Glutathione Transferase