Crystallization of the Atg12-Atg5 conjugate bound to Atg16 by the free-interface diffusion method

J Synchrotron Radiat. 2008 May;15(Pt 3):266-8. doi: 10.1107/S0909049507054799. Epub 2008 Apr 18.

Abstract

Autophagy mediates the bulk degradation of cytoplasmic components in lysosomes/vacuoles. Five autophagy-related (Atg) proteins are involved in a ubiquitin-like protein conjugation system. Atg12 is conjugated to its sole target, Atg5, by two enzymes, Atg7 and Atg10. The Atg12-Atg5 conjugates form a multimeric complex with Atg16. Formation of the Atg12-Atg5-Atg16 ternary complex is crucial for the functions of these proteins on autophagy. Here, the expression, purification and crystallization of the Atg12-Atg5 conjugate bound to the N-terminal region of Atg16 (Atg16N) are reported. The Atg12-Atg5 conjugates were formed by co-expressing Atg5, Atg7, Atg10 and Atg12 in Eschericia coli. The Atg12-Atg5-Atg16N ternary complex was formed by mixing purified Atg12-Atg5 conjugates and Atg16N, and was further purified by gel-filtration chromatography. Crystallization screening was performed by the free-interface diffusion method. Using obtained microcrystals as seeds, large crystals for diffraction data collection were obtained by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystal contained one ternary complex per asymmetric unit, and diffracted to 2.6 A resolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy-Related Protein 12
  • Crystallization
  • Diffusion
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • ATG12 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 12
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins