Crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of tobacco streak virus and a proteolytically modified form of the capsid protein

Abstract

Isolated tobacco streak virus strain mild (TSV-M) top nucleoprotein component (TV) was crystallized by vapor diffusion with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and methyl pentanediol. The morphology of the crystal suggested a hexagonal space group, however, the crystals were disordered as analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Capsid protein from TSV (strains M and white clover) was treated with trypsin to remove 87 amino terminal residues. The modified capsid protein was purified by ion exchange chromatography and crystallized in both hexagonal and triclinic forms. Hexagonal crystals grown by vapor diffusion in PEG diffract X rays to 4.5 A. The crystals, in the space group P6(2) or its enantiomorph, possess unit cell dimensions of a = 98.3 A, c = 108.7 A and probably contain 12 dimers/unit cell. Triclinic crystals grown by vapor diffusion in ammonium sulfate diffracted X rays to 2.4 A resolution when exposed to X-ray synchrotron radiation. The crystals have unit cell dimensions of a = 60.1 A, b = 77.5 A, c = 73.9 A with alpha = 67.8 degrees, beta = 130 degrees, and gamma = 106 degrees and probably contain 4 dimers/unit cell.