title: Real-time investigation of dynamic protein crystallization in living cells.
abstract: X-ray crystallography requires sufficiently large crystals to obtain structural insights at atomic resolution, routinely obtained in vitro by time-consuming screening. Recently, successful data collection was reported from protein microcrystals grown within living cells using highly brilliant free-electron laser and third-generation synchrotron radiation. Here, we analyzed in vivo crystal growth of firefly luciferase and Green Fluorescent Protein-tagged reovirus μNS by live-cell imaging, showing that dimensions of living cells did not limit crystal size. The crystallization process is highly dynamic and occurs in different cellular compartments. In vivo protein crystallization offers exciting new possibilities for proteins that do not form crystals in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck , Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schönherr
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck , Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klinge
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck , Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fita
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck , Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rehders
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lübber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneegans
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck , Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Majoul
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen , Hoppe-Seyler-Straβe 4, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duszenko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg , c/o DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación en Química Biológica y Materiales Moleculares (CIQUS), University Santiago de Compostela , 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brandariz-Nuñez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación en Química Biológica y Materiales Moleculares (CIQUS), University Santiago de Compostela , 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martinez-Costas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck , Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duden
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck , Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Redecke