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In insects, odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) connect the peripheral sensory system to receptors of olfactory organs. Medfly Ceratitis capitata CcapObp22 shows 37% identity and close phylogenetic affinities with Drosophila melanogaster OBP69a/pheromone‐binding protein related protein 1. The CcapObp22 gene is transcribed in the antennae and maxillary palps, suggesting an active role in olfaction. Here, we recombinantly produced CcapObp22, obtaining a 13.5 kDa protein capable of binding multiple strongly hydrophobic terpene compounds, including medfly male pheromone components. The highest binding affinity [half maximal effective concentration (EC50) = 0.48 µM] was to (E,E)‐α‐farnesene, one of the most abundant compounds in the male pheromone blend. This odorant was used in cocrystallization experiments, yielding the structure of CcapOBP22. The monomeric structure shows the typical OBP folding, constituted by six α‐helical elements interconnected by three disulphide bridges. A C‐terminal seventh α‐helix constitutes the wall of a deep, L‐shaped hydrophobic cavity. Analysis of the electron density in this cavity suggested trapping of farnesene in the crystal structure, although with partial occupancy. Superposition of the CcapOBP22 structure with related seven‐helical OBPs highlights striking similarity in the organization of the C‐terminal segment of these proteins. Collectively, our molecular and physiological data on medfly CcapOBP22 suggest its involvement in intersex olfactory communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human factor D (FD) is a self-inhibited thrombin-like serine proteinase that is critical for amplification of the complement immune response. FD is activated by its substrate through interactions outside the active site. The substrate-binding, or `exosite', region displays a well defined and rigid conformation in FD. In contrast, remarkable flexibility is observed in thrombin and related proteinases, in which Na(+) and ligand binding is implied in allosteric regulation of enzymatic activity through protein dynamics. Here, ensemble refinement (ER) of FD and thrombin crystal structures is used to evaluate structure and dynamics simultaneously. A comparison with previously published NMR data for thrombin supports the ER analysis. The R202A FD variant has enhanced activity towards artificial peptides and simultaneously displays active and inactive conformations of the active site. ER revealed pronounced disorder in the exosite loops for this FD variant, reminiscent of thrombin in the absence of the stabilizing Na(+) ion. These data indicate that FD exhibits conformational dynamics like thrombin, but unlike in thrombin a mechanism has evolved in FD that locks the unbound native state into an ordered inactive conformation via the self-inhibitory loop. Thus, ensemble refinement of X-ray crystal structures may represent an approach alternative to spectroscopy to explore protein dynamics in atomic detail.

Alditol oxidase is a 45 kDa enzyme containing a covalently bound FAD cofactor. This oxidase efficiently oxidizes a range of alditols to the corresponding aldoses. Owing to its substrate range and regioselectivity, this enzyme is an interesting candidate for biotechnological applications. Crystals of alditol oxidase from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method and diffracted to 1.1 A resolution. The crystals belong to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 107, b = 68, c = 58 A, beta = 94 degrees. Crystals of seleno-L-methionine-labelled alditol oxidase were obtained after seeding the crystallization drops with native microcrystals and showed a diffraction limit of 2.4 A.

Diffraction data from two non-isomorphous crystals (forms 1 and 2) of an artificial protein with a four-helix bundle motif, di-Co(II)-DF1-L13A, have been collected using synchrotron radiation. The phase of form 1 has been assigned using the group and minimal non-isomorphic supergroup relation between the space group of the previously determined di-Mn(II)-DF1-L13G structure and the space group of this form. This unconventional method of solving the phase problem has also been tested with form 2 using a reverse relation. The structure of the latter form has been solved using the group and maximal non-isomorphic subgroup relation with the space group of form 2 of the analogous dimanganese protein. This application has shown that this phasing method can be used for solving the protein structures of polymorphic crystals as an alternative to the molecular-replacement method.