N-terminal T4 lysozyme fusion facilitates crystallization of a G protein coupled receptor.

ABSTRACT: A highly crystallizable T4 lysozyme (T4L) was fused to the N-terminus of the ?(2) adrenergic receptor (?(2)AR), a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) for catecholamines. We demonstrate that the N-terminal fused T4L is sufficiently rigid relative to the receptor to facilitate crystallogenesis without thermostabilizing mutations or the use of a stabilizing antibody, G protein, or protein fused to the 3rd intracellular loop. This approach adds to the protein engineering strategies that enable crystallographic studies of GPCRs alone or in complex with a signaling partner.

SUBMITTER: Zou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3464249 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature