Carola Glotz

Characterization of crystals of small ribosomal subunits

Crystals of intact small ribosomal subunits from Thermus thermophilus have been obtained from functionally active particles. The crystals (P42(1)2, 407 A x 407 A x 171 A) are suitable for X-ray crystallography analysis to 9.9 A using synchrotron radiation at cryotemperature. Crystallographic data from native and a potential heavy-atom derivative have been collected.

Crystals of complexes mimicking protein biosynthesis are suitable for crystallographic studies.

A complex of 70S ribosomes from Thermus thermophilus together with an average of 1.5-1.8 equivalents of PhetRNA(Phe) and a short mRNA chain, composed of 35 +/- 5 uridines, was crystallized under the conditions used for the growth of crystals of isolated ribosomes from the same source. Considering the reproducibility of their growth, their internal order and their shape, the crystals of the complex are superior to those of isolated ribosomes. In accord with previous three-dimensional reconstruction and modeling experiments, we conclude that the complex is less flexible and that an average population of complexes is more homogeneous than that of isolated 70S ribosomes. The crystals of the complex diffract to higher than 15 A resolution and can be irradiated with synchrotron X-ray beam at cryo-temperatures for days without noticeable decay. Since the crystals of the complex are apparently isomorphous with these of the isolated 70S ribosomes (P4(1)2(1)2; a = b = 526; c = 315 A), they should provide tool for phasing as well as for locating the mRNA and tRNA binding sites.

Crystallography of ribosomal particles

Abstract Several forms of three-dimensional crystals and two-dimensional sheets of intact ribosomes and their subunits have been obtained as a result of: (a) an extensive systematic investigation of the parameters involved in crystallization, (b) a development of an experimental procedure for controlling the volumes of the crystallization droplets, (c) a study of the nucleation process, and (d) introducing a delicate seeding procedure coupled with variations in the ratios of mono- and divalent ions in the crystallization medium. In all cases only biologically active particles could be crystallized, and the crystalline material retains its integrity and activity. Crystallographic data have been collected from crystals of 50S ribosomal subunits, using synchrotron radiation at temperatures between + 19 and - 180°C. Although at 4°C the higher resolution reflections decay within minutes in the synchrotron beam, at cryo-temperature there was hardly any radiation damage, and a complete set of data to about 6Aresolution could be collected from a single crystal. Heavy-atom clusters were used for soaking as well as for specific binding to the surface of the ribosomal subunits prior to crystallization. The 50S ribosomal subunits from a mutant of B. stearothermophilus which lacks the ribosomal protein BL11 crystallize isomorphously with in the native ones. Models, aimed to be used for low resolution phasing, have been reconstructed from two-dimensional sheets of 70S ribosomes and 50S subunits at 47 and 30A, respectively. These models show the overall structure of these particles, the contact areas between the large and small subunits, the space where protein synthesis might take place and a tunnel which may provide the path for the nascent protein chain.

Derivatization of ribosomes and of tRNA with an undecagold cluster: crystallographic and functional studies

An undecagold cluster was covalently attached to whole ribosomes and to their small and large subunits prior to their crystallization. X-ray crystallographic data were collected from crystals of the first two. The same cluster was bound to tRNAphe fromE. coli at base 47. It was found that the modified tRNA molecule binds to the ribosome and can be aminoacylated by its cognate synthetase. The gold cluster modified tRNAphe may be used for phasing diffraction data of crystals of complexes containing it, mimicking defined states in the process of protein biosynthesis.

Two-dimensional crystalline sheets of Bacillus stearothermophilus 50S ribosomal subunits containing a nascent polypeptide chain

Polylysine chains were synthesized on Bacillus stearothermophilus ribosomes in a poly(A)-programmed in vitro system. After separation of the ribosomal subunits by sucrose gradient centrifugation, the polylysine chains (in contrast to the polyphenylalanine chains synthesized in a poly(U) system) reproducibly remained attached to the large ribosomal subunit. It was possible to produce two-dimensional crystalline sheets from the large ribosomal subunits containing the polylysine chains. These sheets are an essential prerequisite for three-dimensional reconstruction studies aiming to show that the tunnel in the large ribosomal subunit provides a path for the nascent polypeptide chain.

Crystallography of ribosomes: Attempts at decorating the ribosomal surface

Crystals of various ribosomal particles, diffracting best to 2.9 A resolution were grown. Crystallographic data were collected from shock frozen crystals with intense synchrotron radiation at cryo temperature. For obtaining phase information, monofunctional reagents were prepared from an undecagold and a tetrairidium cluster, by attaching to them chemically reactive handles, specific for sulfhydryl moieties. Heavy-atom derivatives were prepared by a specific and quantitative binding of the undecagold cluster to an exposed sulfhydryl prior to the crystallization. To create potential binding sites on the halophilic and thermophilic ribosomal particles, which yield our best and most interesting crystals, exposed reactive moieties were inserted, using genetic and chemical procedures. In order to choose the appropriate locations for these insertions, the surfaces of the ribosomal particles were mapped by direct chemical determination of exposed amino and sulfhydryl groups.

Crystallographic, biochemical and genetic studies on halophilic ribosomes

Summary Ribosomal particles from Haloarcula marismortui were crystallized. The best crystals, diffracting to 2.9 A resolution and yielding crystallographic data of reasonable quality were grown from the large ribosomal subunits. Attempts at crystallization of functional ribosomal complexes are in progress, benefiting from experience gained from crystals of ribosomes of an extreme thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus . For obtaining phase information, a monofunctional reagent was prepared from an undecagold cluster, by attaching to it a chemically reactive handle, specific for sulfhydryl moieties. Heavy atom derivatives were prepared by binding this cluster to exposed sulfhydryls prior to the crystallization. Cores of halophilic ribosomal particles, lacking four ribosomal proteins, were prepared using dioxane. All detached proteins could be fully reconstituted. However, blocking the -SH group of one of them (HmaL11), prevented its incorporation into the core particles. The so obtained depleted 50S subunits crystallize under the same conditions as native ones and show apparent isomorphism with them. Most of the genes of several r-proteins were cloned. These are being used for sequencing as well as for providing new locations for binding heavy atom clusters by genetic insertion of cysteines on the ribosomal surface, according to accessibility data, obtained either chemically or by limited proteolysis. A nucleoprotein complex of protein HmaL1 and a fragment of the 23S rRNA was isolated from ribosomes. Chimeric complexes were reconstituted with E. coli ribosomal components, indicating rather high homolgy, despite the evolution distance.

The growth of ordered two-dimensional sheets of ribosomal particles from salt-alcohol mixtures

A procedure for the in vitro growth of well-ordered two-dimensional sheets from ribosomal particles using salts and salt-alcohol mixtures has been developed. Employing this procedure, ordered two-dimensional sheets of the wild type as well as of mutated 50 S ribosomal subunits from Bacillus stearothermophilus can readily be obtained. These sheets, stained with uranyl acetate or gold-thioglucose, are suitable for three-dimensional image reconstruction. They consist of relatively small unit cells with dimensions of 160 +/- 15 and 365 +/- 20 A. Diffraction patterns of electron micrographs of these sheets contain features to 25 A resolution.