The use of high halide-ion concentrations and automated phasing procedures for the structural analysis of BclA, the major component of the exosporium of Bacillus anthracis spores

International audience; The structure determination of the recombinant form of BclA, the major protein component of Bacillus anthracis exosporium, involved soaking in a high concentration of potassium iodide as the means of obtaining a good-quality heavy-atom derivative. The data to 2 angstroms resolution collected on a laboratory source were of sufficient quality to allow successful phasing and chain tracing by automated methods.