CRYSTALLIZATION AND PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF LIMA-BEAN TRYPSIN-INHIBITOR

Crystals of lima bean trypsin inhibitor (LBTI) were obtained by using the vapor phase equilibration technique with sodium/potassium tartrate as the precipitating agent, The space group was determined to be cubi c, I2(1)3 with a = 110.2 Angstrom. These crystals diffract to about 1. 9 Angstrom resolution. Preliminary analysis of self-rotation maps (cal culated from native x-ray intensity data) suggests the presence of two monomers in the asymmetric unit, LBTI is very thermostable and retain s activity even after boiling for 10 minutes. This property is exploit ed as part of its purification procedure. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.