Protocol for improving diffraction quality of leucyl-tRNA synthetase 1 with methylation and post-crystallization soaking and cooling in cryoprotectants

Summary Leucyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (LARS1) synthesizes Leu-tRNALeu for protein synthesis and plays an important role in mTORC1 activation by sensing intracellular leucine concentrations. Here, we describe a protocol for the purification, reductive methylation, binding affinity measurement by microscale thermophoresis, Ti value measurement by Tycho, and post-crystallization soaking and cooling in cryoprotectants to improve crystallization of LARS1. Collectively, this allowed us to build the RagD binding domain, which was shown to be a dynamic region of LARS1 refractory to crystallization. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Kim et al. (2021).
Graphical abstract
Highlights • Efficient reductive methylation of LARS1 for improvement of crystal resolution • Optimized post-crystallization soaking and cooling in cryoprotectants with crystals • Biochemical binding affinity measurement of LARS1 by microscale thermophoresis
Leucyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (LARS1) synthesizes Leu-tRNALeu for protein synthesis and plays an important role in mTORC1 activation by sensing intracellular leucine concentrations. Here, we describe a protocol for the purification, reductive methylation, binding affinity measurement by microscale thermophoresis, Ti value measurement by Tycho, and post-crystallization soaking and cooling in cryoprotectants to improve crystallization of LARS1. Collectively, this allowed us to build the RagD binding domain, which was shown to be a dynamic region of LARS1 refractory to crystallization.