Metal-Mediated Self-Assembly of a Beta-Sandwich Protein.
Crowley, P.B., Matias, P.M., Khan, A.R., Roessle, M., Svergun, D.I.(2009) Chemistry 15: 12672
- PubMed: 19834935 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.200901410
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2W88, 2W8C - PubMed Abstract: 
The beta-sandwich cupredoxin Plastocyanin (Pc) was found to self-assemble in the presence of Zn(2+), a known mediator of protein-protein interfaces. Diffraction-quality crystals of Pc grew from solutions containing zinc acetate as the sole precipitant. Di- and trinuclear zinc sites contribute to the crystal contacts in this structure. A different crystal form, also involving numerous zinc bridging ions, was obtained in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) 8 000. Comparison of the two crystal forms reveals the effect of macromolecular crowding on self-assembly. Solution-state structural characterisation of the Zn(2+)-mediated Pc oligomers was performed by using a combination of chemical shift perturbation mapping and small-angle X-ray scattering. The data indicate the formation of dimers in solution. The implications for metal-mediated assembly and crystallisation are discussed.
Organizational Affiliation: 
UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. [email protected]