CRYSTALLIZATION OF A MAMMALIAN ORNITHINE DECARBOXYLASE

Crystals of truncated (Delta 425-461) pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dep endent mouse ornithine decarboxylase (mOrnDC') have been obtained that diffract to 2.2 Angstrom resolution (P2(1)2(1)2, a = 119.5 Angstrom, b = 74.3 Angstrom, c = 46.1 Angstrom). OrnDC produces putrescine, whic h is the precursor for the synthesis of polyamines in eukaryotes, Regu lation of activity and understanding of the mechanism of action of thi s enzyme may aid in the development of compounds against cancer, mOrnD C is a member of group IV PLP-dependent decarboxylases, for which ther e are no known representative structures. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.