Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of dUTPase from the φ11 helper phage of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus superantigen-carrying pathogenicity islands (SaPIs) play a determinant role in spreading virulence genes among bacterial populations that constitute a major health hazard. Repressor (Stl) proteins are responsible for the transcriptional regulation of pathogenicity island genes. Recently, a derepressing interaction between the repressor Stl SaPIbov1 and dUTPase from the φ11 helper phage has been suggested [Tormo-Mas et al. (2010), Nature (London), 465, 779-782]. Towards elucidation of the molecular mechanism of this interaction, this study reports the expression, purification and X-ray analysis of φ11 dUTPase, which contains a phage-specific polypeptide segment that is not present in other dUTPases. Crystals were obtained using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method at room temperature. Data were collected to 2.98 A resolution from one type of crystal. The crystal of φ11 dUTPase belonged to the cubic space group I23, with unit-cell parameters a = 98.16 A, α = β = γ = 90.00°.