ISSN:
1399-0047
Source:
Crystallography Journals Online : IUCR Backfile Archive 1948-2001
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Catalase (hydrogen peroxide:hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, E.C. 1.11.1.6) is present in most aerobic prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Despite a large number of studies on catalases, the only mammalian catalase structure available is that from beef liver, in which about 50% of the haem groups are degraded to bile pigments. Three different crystal forms of human erythrocyte catalase were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion technique using PEG as precipitant. Monoclinic crystals, with space group P21 and unit-cell parameters a = 102.9, b = 140.0, c = 173.6 Å and β = 103.2°, require NADP(H) in the crystallization solution. Two types of hexagonal packing, with unit-cell parameters of either a = b = 86.9, c = 255.5 Å or a = b = 90.0, c = 521.2 Å, were obtained under identical crystallization conditions in the absence of NADP(H). Only one diffraction data set could be collected: this was obtained from the hexagonal crystals with the smaller c axis using synchrotron radiation, with resolution to 2.65 Å. A molecular-replacement solution, determined using a modified beef-liver catalase model as a search structure, corresponds to space group P6422 and contains a single subunit in the asymmetric unit, with an estimated solvent volume of about 50%. The packing determined suggests how minor rearrangements might allow the transition between both hexagonal crystal forms and provides an explanation for the anisotropic character of the corresponding diffractions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S0907444999002747
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