Mouse testis-brain RNA-binding protein (TB-RBP): expression, purification and crystal X-ray diffraction

TB-RBP (testis-brain RNA-binding protein) is a mouse RNA-binding protein that controls the temporal and spatial expression of mRNA. Found most abundantly in brain and male germ cells in the testis, TB-RBP is known to suppress the translation of specific testicular and brain mRNAs as part of cell development. TB-RBP-mRNA complexes can bind microtubules and thereby facilitate RNA translocation. Translin is the human orthologue of TB-RBP which binds to single-stranded ends of DNA sequences in breakpoint regions of chromosomal translocations. TB-RBP/translin has been crystallized in space group P2(1)2(1)2. The expression, purification, and crystallization of TB-RBP are described as well as preliminary X-ray diffraction data. The multimeric state of TB-RBP is addressed using dynamic light-scattering results.