CENTER FOR BIOCRYSTALLOGRAPHIC RESEARCH


Head:
Mariusz Jaskólski

Research Staff:
Grzegorz Bujacz, Krzysztof Brzezinski

Research Support:
Marian Gawron, Mirosław Gilski, Mieczysława Kluge

Ph.D. Students:
Jakub Barciszewski, Magda Bejger, Humberto Fernandes, Agnieszka Wojtkowiak

Undergraduate Students:
Bartosz Siemiński

Keywords:
3D domain swapping, amyloidogenic proteins, hydrolytic enzymes, protease inhibitors, antileukemic bacterial asparaginases, isoaspartyl aminopeptidases, Ntn hydrolases, retroviral proteins, plant pathogenesis-related proteins, RNA duplexes, high-resolution protein crystallography

 

X-Ray crystallography has been and continues to be the major source of information about the three-dimensional structure of macromolecules. Typically, crystallographic stud-ies of the structure of a macromolecule are divided into several steps. First, the biomolecule under study has to be obtained in crystalline form, often a success-limiting step. Next, the crystals are exposed to X-rays and the diffraction pattern is recorded. The diffraction pattern is then the basis for the structure determination process.
The Center is equipped and prepared to carry out all the steps necessary for macromo-lecular structure determination, from protein purification and crystallization through low-temperature diffraction experiments, to the structure evaluation and analysis. The bio-molecules studied in the Center include both proteins and nucleic acids.
The Center was created in 1994 with financial support from the Foundation for Polish Science as a joint initiative of the Department of Crystallography, A. Mickiewicz University and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry.

 

Current research activities:

  • 3D Domain swapping;
  • Cysteine proteases and their inhibitors;
  • Retroviral enzymes;
  • Antileukemic bacterial asparaginases;
  • Plant-type asparaginases;
  • Plant pathogenesis-related proteins;
  • Protein structure at ultrahigh resolution;
  • High-resolution structure of RNA duplexes;
  • Crystallographic methodology;
  • Crystal engineering.



    PROTEIN BIOCHEMISTRY GROUP

    Head: Michał M. Sikorski

    Research Support:
    Alina Kasperska

    Ph.D. Students:
    Oliwia Pasternak

    Undergraduate students:
    Wiesława Włoszczak, Agnieszka Molińska, Katarzyna Konieczna

    Keywords:
    plant pathogenesis-related proteins, allergens, cytokinin-specific binding proteins, gene expression, recombinant proteins

    Current research activities:




    STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIP IN BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES GROUP


    Head: Wojciech R. Rypniewski


    PhD. students:
    Katarzyna Banaszak, Joanna Raczyńska, Agnieszka Kiliszek

    Keywords:
    key enzymes in fungi, non-canonical RNA duplexes, RNA hairpin-duplex transition



    SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

    H. Czapińska, J. Otlewski, Sz. Krzywda, G. M. Sheldrick, M. Jaskólski
    High resolution structure of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor with altered binding loop sequence.
    J. Mol. Biol. 295, 1237-1249 (2000).

    D. Borek, M. Jaskólski
    Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of a new L-asparaginase encoded by the Escherichia coli genome.
    Acta Cryst. D56, 1505-1507 (2000).

    M. M. Sikorski, L. Handschuh, J. Biesiadka, A. B. Legocki
    Two subclasses of yellow lupine PR10 proteins and their possible function during the symbiosis development.
    Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture 38, 319-322 (2000).

    D. A. Adamiak, W. R. Rypniewski, J. Milecki, R. W. Adamiak
    The 1. 19 A X-ray structure of 2'-O-Me(CGCGCG)2 duplex shows dehydrated RNA with 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol in the minor groove.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 29, 4144-4153 (2001).

    Z. Dauter, D. A. Adamiak
    Anomalous signal of phosphorus used for phasing DNA oligomer: importance of data redundancy.
    Acta Cryst. D57, 990-995 (2001).

    M. Jaskólski, M. Kozak, J. Lubkowski, G. Palm, A. Wlodawer
    Structures of two highly homologous bacterial L-asparaginases: a case of enantiomorphic space groups.
    Acta Cryst. D57, 369-377 (2001).

    A. Addlagatta, H. Czapińska, Sz. Krzywda, J. Otlewski, M. Jaskólski
    Ultrahigh-resolution structure of a BPTI mutant.
    Acta Cryst. D57, 649-663 (2001).

    R. Janowski, M. Kozak, E. Jankowska, Z. Grzonka, A. Grubb, M. Abrahamson, M. Jaskólski
    Human cystatin C, an amyloidogenic protein, dimerizes through 3D domain swapping.
    Nature Struct. Biol. 8, 316-320 (2001).

    M. Jaskólski
    3D Domain swapping, protein oligomerization, and amyloid formation.
    Acta Biochim. Polon. 48, 807-827 (2001).

    K. Brzeziński, R. Janowski, J. Podkowiński, M. Jaskólski
    Sequence determination and analysis of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase from yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus).
    Acta Biochim. Polon. 48, 477-483 (2001).

    A. Hilgeroth, E. Tykarska, M. Jaskólski
    Crystal structure of a novel synthetic inhibitor of HIV-1 protease.
    J. Mol. Struct. 605, 63-70 (2002).

    M. Kozak, D. Borek, R. Janowski, M. Jaskólski
    Crystallization of D90E mutant of Escherichia coli L-asparaginase II in five crystal forms.
    Acta Cryst. D58, 130-132 (2002).

    R. Janowski, G. Bujacz, D. Gerlach, M. Jaskólski
    Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of Streptococcus pyogenes cysteine protease precursor.
    Acta Cryst. D58, 723-726 (2002).

    P. Vishweshwar, R. Thaimattam, M. Jaskólski, G. R. Desiraju
    Supramolecular synthons based on N-H...N and C-H...O hydrogen bonds. Crystal engineering of a helical structure with 5,5-diethylbarbituric acid.
    Chem. Commun. 2002, 1830-1831 (2002).

    J. Biesiadka, G. Bujacz, M. M. Sikorski, M. Jaskólski
    Crystal structures of two homologous pathogenesis-related proteins from yellow lupine.
    J. Mol. Biol. 319, 1223-1234 (2002).

    R. Thaimattam, E. Tykarska, A. Bierzyński, G.M. Sheldrick, M. Jaskólski
    Atomic resolution structure of squash trypsin inhibitor: unexpected metal coordination.
    Acta Cryst. D58, 1448-1461 (2002).

    D. Piękna, M. M. Sikorski, H. Augustyniak
    The gene encoding the PSST subunit of respiratory chain complex I is present in more than one copy in yellow lupine.
    Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1577, 144-148 (2002).

    R. Kołodziejczyk, M. Kochman, G. Bujacz, P. Dobryszycki, A. Ożyhar, M. Jaskólski
    Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of Juvenile Hormone Binding Protein from Galleria mellonella hemolymph.
    Acta Cryst. D59, 519-521 (2003).

    M. Cyrański, M. Gilski, M. Jaskólski, T. M. Krygowski
    On the Aromatic Character of the Heterocyclic Bases of DNA and RNA.
    J. Org. Chem. 68, 8607-8613 (2003).

    G. D. Bujacz, O. Pasternak, Y. Fujimoto, Y. Hashimoto, M. M. Sikorski, M. Jaskólski
    Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of cytokinin-specific binding protein from mung bean.
    Acta Cryst. D59, 522-525 (2003).

    M. Perbandt, E. W. Guthöhrlein, W. R. Rypniewski, K. Idakieva, S. Stoeva, W. Voelter, N. Genov, Ch. Betzel
    The structure of a functional unit from the wall of a gastropod hemocyanin offers a possible mechanism for cooperativity.
    Biochemistry 42, 6341-6346 (2003).

    T. Ruiz, I. Mechin, J. Bär, W. R. Rypniewski, G. Kopperschläger, M. Radermacher
    The 10.8 Å structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae phosphofructokinase determined by cryo electron microscopy: localization of the putative fructose 6-phosphate binding sites.
    J. Struct. Biol. 143, 124-134 (2003).

    A. Schmidt, Ch. Jelsch, P. Oestergaard, W. R. Rypniewski, V. S. Lamzin
    Trypsin revisited: Crystallography at (sub)atomic resolution and quantum chemistry revealing details of catalysis.
    J. Biol. Chem. 278, 43357-43362 (2003).

    K. Brzeziński, B. Rogoziński, T. Stępkowski, G. Bujacz, M. Jaskólski
    Cloning, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of Bradyrhizobium fucosyltransferase NodZ.
    Acta Cryst. D60, 344-346 (2004).

    D. Borek, K. Michalska, K. Brzeziński, A. Kisiel, J. Podkowiński, D. T. Bonthron, D. Krowarsch, J. Otlewski, M. Jaskólski
    Expression, purification, and catalytic activity of Lupinus luteus asparagine b-amidohydrolase and its Escherichia coli homolog.
    Eur. J. Biochem. 271, 3215-3226 (2004).

    M. Nilsson, X. Wang, S. Rodziewicz-Motowidło, R. Janowski, V. Lindstrom, P. Onnerfjord, G. Westermark, Z. Grzonka, M. Jaskólski, A. Grubb
    Prevention of domain swapping inhibits dimerization and amyloid fibril formation of cystatin C: use of engineered disulfide bridges, antibodies and carboxymethylpapain to stabilize the monomeric form of cystatin C.
    J. Biol. Chem. 279, 24236-24245 (2004).

    R. Janowski, M. Abrahamson, A. Grubb, M. Jaskólski
    3D Domain-Swapped Dimers of N-Truncated Human Cystatin C.
    J. Mol. Biol. 341, 151-160 (2004).

    M. Vallazza, M. Perbandt, S. Klussmann, W. Rypniewski, H. M. Einspahr, V. A. Erdmann, C. Betzel.
    First look at RNA in L-configuration.
    Acta Cryst. D60, 1-7 (2004).

    D. N. Georgieva, M. Perbandt, W. Rypniewski, K. Hristov, N. Genov, Ch. Betzel
    The X-ray structure of a snake venom Gln48 phospholipase A2 at 1.9 Å resolution reveals an ion-binding sites.
    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 316, 33-38 (2004).

    S. Benini, W. R. Rypniewski, K. S. Wilson, S. Mangani, S. Ciurli
    Molecular details of urease inhibition by boric acid: Insights into the catalytic mechanism.
    J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126, 3714-3715 (2004).

    D. N. Georgieva, W. R. Rypniewski, A. Gabdoulkhakov, N. Genov, Ch. Betzel
    Phospholipase A2-Elaidoylamide complex: a new mode of inhibition.
    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 319, 1314-1321 (2004).

    K. Banaszak, I. Mechin, G. Frost, W. R. Rypniewski
    Structure of the reduced disulpfide-bond isomerase DsbC from Escherichia coli.
    Acta Cryst. D60, 1747-1752 (2004).

    D. N. Georgieva, W. R. Rypniewski, H. Echner, M. Perbandt, M. Koker, J. Clos, L. Redecke, R. Bredehorst, W. Voelter, N. Genov, Ch. Betzel
    Synthetic human prion protein octapeptide repeat binds to the proteinase K active site.
    Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 325, 1406-1411 (2004).

    O. Pasternak, J. Biesiadka, R. Dolot, G. Bujacz, M. M. Sikorski, M. Jaskólski
    Crystal structure of a yellow lupine pathogenesis-related PR-10 protein belonging to a novel subclass.
    Acta Cryst. D61, 99-107 (2005).

    T. Stępkowski, K. Brzeziński, A. B. Legocki, M. Jaskólski, G. Bena
    Bayesian phylogenetic analysis reveals two-domain topology of S-adenosylhomocysteine hy-drolase protein sequences.
    Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 34, 15-28 (2005).