Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen

Abstract

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen (YPM), a superantigen with no amino-acid sequence similarity to other known superantigens, has been crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 138.67, b = 78.66, c = 32.91 A, beta = 91.97 degrees. A native data set has been collected to a resolution of 1.8 A using synchrotron radiation. Self-rotation function calculations suggest the presence of three molecules in the asymmetric unit, corresponding to a solvent content of 45%.