PRELIMINARY CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF CITRATE SYNTHASE FROM AN ANTARCTIC PSYCHROTOLERANT BACTERIUM

Recombinant citrate synthase from a psychrotolerant bacterium, DS2-3R, recently isolated in Antarctica, has been crystallized. The crystals belong to space group P6(1)22 or P6(5)22, with cell dimensions a = b = 70.8, c = 307.8 Angstrom. Diffraction data collected on a synchrotron from a cryoprotected crystal extend to at least 2.0 Angstrom. Knowled ge of the structure of this enzyme Rill add to the understanding of to ld activity and thermolability and will be of biotechnological interes t. Previously, the structure of citrate synthase from Archaea inhabiti ng environments at 328 and 373 K, has been reported. This present stud y will extend our understanding of the structural integrity and activi ty of proteins at the temperature extremes of life.