Atomic resolution structure of serine protease proteinase K at ambient temperature

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 31:7:45604. doi: 10.1038/srep45604.

Abstract

Atomic resolution structures (beyond 1.20 Å) at ambient temperature, which is usually hampered by the radiation damage in synchrotron X-ray crystallography (SRX), will add to our understanding of the structure-function relationships of enzymes. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) has attracted surging interest by providing a route to bypass such challenges. Yet the progress on atomic resolution analysis with SFX has been rather slow. In this report, we describe the 1.20 Å resolution structure of proteinase K using 13 keV photon energy. Hydrogen atoms, water molecules, and a number of alternative side-chain conformations have been resolved. The increase in the value of B-factor in SFX suggests that the residues and water molecules adjacent to active sites were flexible and exhibited dynamic motions at specific substrate-recognition sites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalytic Domain
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods
  • Endopeptidase K / chemistry*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Serine Proteases / chemistry*
  • Synchrotrons
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Serine Proteases
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Endopeptidase K