CRYSTALLIZATION AND PRELIMINARY-X-RAY ANALYSIS OF THE SINGLE-HEADED AND DOUBLE-HEADED MOTOR PROTEIN KINESIN

Crystals of the single-headed and double-headed kinesin motor domains of Rattus norvegicus have been grown by vapor diffusion using ammonium sulfate as the precipitant. Both crystal systems belong to the orthor hombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Double-headed kinesin crystallized w ith unit cell constants of a = 72.2 Angstrom, b = 91.9 Angstrom, and c = 141.7 Angstrom, and so far the best crystals diffracted to a maximu m resolution of 2.7 Angstrom. Using ammonium sulfate single-headed kin esin crystallized in two different crystal forms with cell constants o f a = 73.1 Angstrom, b = 73.2 Angstrom, c = 84.0 Angstrom and a = 73.4 Angstrom, b = 74.1 Angstrom, c = 74.7 Angstrom, respectively. They we re found to diffract to 2.1 Angstrom resolution. Crystals of monomeric kinesin were also obtained with lithium sulfate as precipitant, They have cell constants of a = 71.6 Angstrom, b = 73.7 Angstrom and c = 74 .1 Angstrom and diffract up to 1.7 Angstrom resolution. (C) 1997 Acade mic Press.