Structure of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase: Form III crystals

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A new crystal form (III) of tobacco [Nicotiana tabacum] leaf ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase [3-phospho-D-glycerate carboxy-lyase (dimerizing), EC 4.1.1.39] was grown by dialysis procedures, and is suitable for structural studies at near atomic resolution. The crystals exhibit birefringence, grow as pseudoregular rhombic dodecahedrons, and belong to the tetragonal space group P42212 with a = b = 149 .ANG., c = 138 .ANG. and V = 3.04 .times. 106 A3. Each unit cell contains 2 molecules, with 2 large and 2 small subunits per asymmetric unit. At low resolution (> 10 .ANG.) the crystal structure is body centered belonging to space group 1422 with 1 large/small pair in the asymmetric unit. At low resolution the molecular symmetry is D4, the highest possible symmetry for an oligomer of stoichiometry large8small8. Form III crystals may be identical to crystalline inclusions found in chloroplasts.