Expression, purification and crystallization of a birnavirus-encoded protease, VP4, from blotched snakehead virus (BSNV)

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2006 Apr 1;62(Pt 4):353-6. doi: 10.1107/S1744309106006403. Epub 2006 Mar 10.

Abstract

Blotched snakehead virus (BSNV) is a member of the Birnaviridae family that requires a virally encoded protease known as VP4 in order to process its polyprotein into viral capsid protein precursors (pVP2 and VP3). VP4 belongs to a family of serine proteases that utilize a serine/lysine catalytic dyad mechanism. A mutant construct of VP4 with a short C-terminal truncation was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity for crystallization. Using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method at room temperature, protein crystals with two distinct morphologies were observed. Cubic crystals grown in PEG 2000 MME and magnesium acetate at pH 8.5 belong to space group I23, with unit-cell parameters a = b = c = 143.8 angstroms. Trigonal crystals grown in ammonium sulfate and glycerol at pH 8.5 belong to space group P321/P312, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 158.2, c = 126.4 angstroms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Birnaviridae / enzymology*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • DNA Primers
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Conformation
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Serine Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / isolation & purification

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • VP4 protease, birnavirus