Purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of DR0248, an MNT-HEPN fused protein from Deinococcus radiodurans.

DR0248 is a protein identified in the Deinococcus radiodurans (DR) genome that is predicted to encompass two domains: an N-terminal minimal nucleotidyl transferase domain (MNT) and a C-terminal higher eukaryotes and prokaryotes nucleotide-binding domain (HEPN). These two domains, usually encoded in two ORFs, have been suggested to play the role of a toxin-antitoxin (TA) system in prokaryotes. Recombinant DR0248 was overexpressed and purified from Escherichia coli and diffraction-quality crystals were obtained in the presence of the detergent molecules dodecyldimethylamine oxide (DDAO) and octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E8), which were used as crystallization additives.

Revisiting the expression and purification of MGD1, the major galactolipid synthase in Arabidopsis to establish a novel standard for biochemical and structural studies.

Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, the major lipid of plants and algal plastids, is synthesized by MGDG synthases (MGD). MGDs belong to the large glycosyltransferase family. They catalyze the transfer of a galactose residue from the donor UDP-Gal to a 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol acceptor.