Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the recombinant N-terminal domain of riboflavin synthase

Riboflavin synthase catalyzes the final step in the biosynthesis of riboflavin. Animals and humans lack this enzyme, whereas many bacteria and certain yeasts are absolutely dependent on endogenous riboflavin synthesis. Riboflavin synthase is therefore an attractive target for chemotherapy. The N-terminal domain of riboflavin synthase forms a dimer in solution and is capable of strongly binding riboflavin. It can serve as a model for the binding site of the native enzyme. Structural information obtained from this domain at high resolution will be helpful in the determination of the binding mode of riboflavin and thus for the development of antimicrobial drugs. Here, the crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the N-terminal domain of riboflavin synthase are reported. The crystals belong to the space group C222(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 50.3, b = 104.7, c = 85.3 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees, and diffract to 2.6 A resolution.