Crystallization, X-ray diffraction analysis and preliminary structure determination of the polygalacturonase PehA from Agrobacterium vitis.

Polygalacturonases are pectate-degrading enzymes that belong to glycoside hydrolase family 28 and hydrolyze the alpha-1,4 glycosidic bond between neighboring galacturonasyl residues of the homogalacturonan substrate. The acidic polygalacturonase PehA from Agrobacterium vitis was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, where it accumulated in the periplasmic fraction. It was purified to homogeneity via a two-step chromatography procedure and crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion technique.

Differences in crystal and solution structures of the cytolethal distending toxin B subunit: Relevance to nuclear translocation and functional activation.

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in eukaryotic cells, which are mediated by the DNA-damaging CdtB subunit. Here we report the first x-ray structure of an isolated CdtB subunit (Escherichia coli-II CdtB, EcCdtB). In conjunction with previous structural and biochemical observations, active site structural comparisons between free and holotoxin-assembled CdtBs suggested that CDT intoxication is contingent upon holotoxin disassembly.

Crystallization of Escherichia coli CdtB, the biologically active subunit of cytolethal distending toxin.

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a secreted protein toxin produced by several bacterial pathogens. The biologically active CDT subunit CdtB is an active homolog of mammalian type I DNase. Internalization of CdtB and subsequent translocation into the nucleus of target cells results in DNA-strand breaks, leading to cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Structure of PITPbeta in complex with phosphatidylcholine: comparison of structure and lipid transfer to other PITP isoforms.

Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP) is a ubiquitous eukaryotic protein that preferentially binds either phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylcholine and catalyzes the exchange of these lipids between membranes. Mammalian cytosolic PITPs include the ubiquitously expressed PITPalpha and PITPbeta isoforms (269-270 residues). The crystal structure of rat PITPbeta complexed to dioleoylphosphatidylcholine was determined to 2.

Effect of mutations in the T1.5 loop of pectate lyase A from Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16.

Pectate lyase A (PelA) is a pectate-degrading enzyme secreted by plant pathogens. PelA from Erwinia chrysanthemi has 61% amino-acid identity and a conserved structural similarity to pectate lyase E (PelE). Although similar in structure and sequence, the enzymatic characteristics of PelA differ from those for PelE.

Structure of pectate lyase A: comparison to other isoforms.

Pectate lyase A is a virulence factor secreted by the plant-pathogenic bacteria Erwinia chrysanthemi. The enzyme cleaves the glycosidic bond of pectate polymers by a calcium-dependent beta-elimination mechanism. The crystal structure of pectate lyase A from E.