Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction of SecDF, a translocon-associated membrane protein, from Thermus thermophilus

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2006 Apr 1;62(Pt 4):376-80. doi: 10.1107/S1744309106007779. Epub 2006 Mar 25.

Abstract

Thermus thermophilus has a multi-path membrane protein, TSecDF, as a single-chain homologue of Escherichia coli SecD and SecF, which form a translocon-associated complex required for efficient preprotein translocation and membrane-protein integration. Here, the cloning, expression in E. coli, purification and crystallization of TSecDF are reported. Overproduced TSecDF was solubilized with dodecylmaltoside, chromatographically purified and crystallized by vapour diffusion in the presence of polyethylene glycol. The crystals yielded a maximum resolution of 4.2 angstroms upon X-ray irradiation, revealing that they belonged to space group P4(3)2(1)2. Attempts were made to improve the diffraction quality of the crystals by combinations of micro-stirring, laser-light irradiation and dehydration, which led to the eventual collection of complete data sets at 3.74 angstroms resolution and preliminary success in the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion analysis. These results provide information that is essential for the determination of the three-dimensional structure of this important membrane component of the protein-translocation machinery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Crystallization
  • DNA Primers
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Transport
  • Thermus thermophilus / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • Membrane Proteins