CRYSTALLIZATION AND PRELIMINARY-X-RAY DIFFRACTION STUDIES OF FORMYLMETHANOFURAN - TETRAHYDROMETHANOPTERIN FORMYLTRANSFERASE FROM METHANOPYRUS-KANDLERI

Formylmethanofuran:tetrahydromethanopterin formyltransferase from the hyperthermophilic methanogenic Archaeon Methanopyrus kandleri (growth temperature optimum 98 degrees C) was crystallized by vapor diffusion methods, Crystal form M obtained with 2-methyl-2,4-pentamediol as prec ipitant displayed the space group P2(1) with unit cell parameters of a = 87.0 Angstrom, b = 75.4 Angstrom, c = 104.7 Angstrom, and beta = 11 3.9 degrees and diffracted better than 2 Angstrom resolution. Crystal form P grown from polyethylene glycol 8000 belonged to the space group I4(1)22 and had unit cell parameters of 157.5 Angstrom and 242.1 Angs trom. Diffraction data to 1.73 Angstrom were recorded, Crystal form S which was crystallized from (NH4)(2)SO4 in the space group I4(1)22 wit h unit cell parameters of 151.3 Angstrom and 249.5 Angstrom diffracted at least to 2.2 Angstrom resolution, All crystal forms probably have four molecules per asymmetric unit and are suitable for X-ray structur e analysis. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.