OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to analyze the three-dimensional crystal structure of SMU.2055 protein, a putative acetyltransferase from the major caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). The design and selection of the structure-based small molecule inhibitors are also studied.

METHODSThe three-dimensional crystal structure of SMU.2055 protein was obtained by structural genomics research methods of gene cloning and expression, protein purification with Ni²⁺-chelating affinity chromatography, crystal screening, and X-ray diffraction data collection. An inhibitor virtual model matching with its target protein structure was set up using computer-aided drug design methods, virtual screening and fine docking, and Libdock and Autodock procedures.

RESULTSThe crystal of SMU.2055 protein was obtained, and its three-dimensional crystal structure was analyzed. This crystal was diffracted to a resolution of 0.23 nm. It belongs to orthorhombic space group C222(1), with unit cell parameters of a = 9.20 nm, b = 9.46 nm, and c = 19.39 nm. The asymmetric unit contained four molecules, with a solvent content of 56.7%. Moreover, five small molecule compounds, whose structure matched with that of the target protein in high degree, were designed and selected.

CONCLUSIONProtein crystallography research of S. mutans SMU.2055 helps to understand the structures and functions of proteins from S. mutans at the atomic level. These five compounds may be considered as effective inhibitors to SMU.2055. The virtual model of small molecule inhibitors we built will lay a foundation to the anticaries research based on the crystal structure of proteins.

Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; Cloning, Molecular ; Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Dental Caries ; Humans ; Streptococcus mutans ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

Crystallography, X-Ray ; DNA Repair ; Exodeoxyribonucleases ; chemistry ; Humans ; Protein Conformation

Determination of protein 3-dimensional structure offers very important information in biology researches, especially for understanding protein functions and redundant drug design. The X-ray crystallography is still the main technique for protein structure determination. Obtaining protein crystals is an essential procedure after protein purification in this technique. However, there is only 42% of soluble purified proteins yield crystals by statistics. Experimental verification of protein crystallizability is relatively expensive and time-consuming. Thus it is desired to predict the protein crystallizability by a computational method before starting the experiment. In this paper, combined with our own efforts, some successful in silico methods to predict the protein crystallizability are reviewed.
Crystallization ; methods ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Proteins ; chemistry

Using chrysin as a leading compound, intermediate 5, 7-dihydroxy-6, 8-bis (hydroxymethyl) flavone (1) was synthesized by hydroxymethylation. The intermediate reacted with different alcohols to afford 5, 7-dihydroxy-6, 8-bis ( methoxymethyl) flavone (2), 6, 8-bis (ethoxymethyl) -5, 7dihydroxyflavone (3), 6, 8-bis-(butoxymethyl)-5, 7-dihydroxyflavone (4), 6, 8-bis (pentyloxymethyl) -5,7-dihydroxy flavone (5) and 6, 8-bis-(ethoxymethyl) -5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (6). These compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and element analysis. The crystal structure of 6 was determined by X-ray crystal diffraction. The interaction of the derivatives with CT-DNA was studied by fluorescent spectroscopy. According to the Stern-Volmer equation, the quenching constants of the compounds 1 - 4 were measured, separately, they were K(q1) = 9.71 x 10(3) L x mol(-1), K(q2) = 2.25 x 10(4) L x mol(-1), K(q3) = 1.03 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) and K(q4) = 7.96 x 10(3) L x mol(-1). Compounds 1-4 showed higher binding affinity with DNA than chrysin did. The results provided the experimental basis for developing a more effective flavonoid and worthing further thoroughly study.
Animals ; Crystallography ; DNA ; metabolism ; Drug Interactions ; Flavones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; X-Ray Diffraction

Cryoelectron Microscopy ; methods ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Conformation

Alleles ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; HIV Infections ; HIV-1 ; HLA-B Antigens ; chemistry ; immunology ; Humans

Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) catalyzes the transamination of tyrosine and other aromatic amino acids. The enzyme is thought to play a role in tyrosinemia type II, hepatitis and hepatic carcinoma recovery. The objective of this study is to investigate its biochemical and structural characteristics and substrate specificity in order to provide insight regarding its involvement in these diseases. Mouse TAT (mTAT) was cloned from a mouse cDNA library, and its recombinant protein was produced using Escherichia coli cells and purified using various chromatographic techniques. The recombinant mTAT is able to catalyze the transamination of tyrosine using α-ketoglutaric acid as an amino group acceptor at neutral pH. The enzyme also can use glutamate and phenylalanine as amino group donors and p-hydroxy-phenylpyruvate, phenylpyruvate and alpha-ketocaproic acid as amino group acceptors. Through macromolecular crystallography we have determined the mTAT crystal structure at 2.9 Å resolution. The crystal structure revealed the interaction between the pyridoxal-5'-phosphate cofactor and the enzyme, as well as the formation of a disulphide bond. The detection of disulphide bond provides some rational explanation regarding previously observed TAT inactivation under oxidative conditions and reactivation of the inactive TAT in the presence of a reducing agent. Molecular dynamics simulations using the crystal structures of Trypanosoma cruzi TAT and human TAT provided further insight regarding the substrate-enzyme interactions and substrate specificity. The biochemical and structural properties of TAT and the binding of its cofactor and the substrate may help in elucidation of the mechanism of TAT inhibition and activation.
Animals ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Humans ; Mice ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Tyrosine Transaminase ; chemistry

Crystallography, X-Ray ; Hepatitis A ; genetics ; virology ; Hepatitis A virus ; chemistry ; pathogenicity ; Humans

Crystallography, X-Ray ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; chemistry ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism

China ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Spinacia oleracea ; chemistry ; metabolism