Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of four cysteine proteases from Ficus carica latex

The latex of the common fig (Ficus carica) contains a mixture of at least five cysteine proteases commonly known as ficins (EC 3.4.22.3). Four of these proteases were purified to homogeneity and crystals were obtained in a variety of conditions. The four ficin (iso)forms appear in ten different crystal forms. All diffracted to better than 2.10 Å resolution and for each form at least one crystal form diffracted to 1.60 Å resolution or higher. Ficin (iso)forms B and C share a common crystal form, suggesting close sequence and structural similarity. The latter diffracted to a resolution of 1.20 Å and belonged to space group P3121 or P3221, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 88.9, c = 55.9 Å.

Source: Acta Crystallographica Section F - March 20, 2015 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Haesaerts, S.Rodriguez Buitrago, J.A.Loris, R.Baeyens-Volant, D.Azarkan, M. Tags: ficin cysteine protease papain Ficus carica research communications Source Type: research