Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of nerve growth factor from Vipera lebetina

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 110; no. 1; pp. 214 - 219
• Main Authors: Joachimiak, A., Giel, M., Otwinowski, Z., Arumae, U., Siigur, J., Saarma, M., Sigler, P.B., Barciszewski, J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.1991; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Crystalline structure; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Molecular biophysics; Structure in molecular biology; Growth from vapor; Proteins; Geometrical crystallography; Crystallization; Nerve growth factor; Experimental study; Lattice parameters; X ray diffraction; Space group
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-0248(91)90888-C

Crystals of nerve growth factor purified from Vipera lebetina venom have been grown by the vapour diffusion method from concentrated solutions of ammonium sulphate. The crystals, which have the form of trigonal, elongated prisms (0.3×0.3×1.0 mm), diffract X-rays to at least 3.2 Å resolution and belong to the R32 space group (rhombohedral packing). The hexagonal unit cell parameters have been determined from precession and oscillation photographs as follows: a = b = 301.1 A ̊ , c = 247.5 A ̊ , α = β =90°, γ=120°, V = 1.08×10 6 A ̊ 3 . The crystalline protein retains its activity when tested in vitro.