W0060
Solvent Behavior and Radiation Damage in Protein Crystals
at Cryo-Temperatures. M. Weik, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 41 rue
Jules Horowitz, 38027 Grenoble, France.
Intense synchrotron radiation produces specific structural and
chemical damage to proteins even at 100 K. Disulfides form radicals [1] or
break, acidic residues are decarboxylated and the active site of enzymes appear
particularly radiation-sensitive. The physical state of the crystal solvent
plays an important role in radiation damage. Amorphous at 100 K, the
solvent undergoes a glass transition and crystallizes upon warming, at
temperatures that depend on the size of the solvent channels within the crystal
[2]. The temperature-dependence of specific radiation damage was assessed by
collecting a series of data sets on a single crystal of the enzyme
acetylcholinesterase at two temperatures, one below (100 K) and one above
(155 K) the glass transition of the crystal solvent [3]. Besides increased
damage to sulfur-containing groups, conformational changes in the catalytic
triad at the active site were observed above the solvent glass transition. These
results show that at 155 K the protein has acquired sufficient
conformational flexibility to adapt to irradiation-induced alterations in the
conformational energy landscape. They reveal the influence of both protein and
solvent dynamics on specific radiation damage to proteins.
[1] Weik, M., Bergès, J., Raves, M., Gros, P.,
McSweeney, S., Silman, I., Sussman, J., Houée-Levin, C. & Ravelli, R.
(2002). J. Synchrotron Radiat. 9, 342.
[2] Weik, M., Kryger, G., Schreurs, A.M.M., Bouma B., Silman,
I., Sussman, J.L., Gros, P. & Kroon, J. (2001). Acta Crystallogr. D
57, 566.
[3] Weik, M., Ravelli, R.B., Silman, I., Sussman, J.L., Gros,
P. & Kroon, J. (2001). Protein Sci. 10, 1953.