A stepwise optimization of crystals of rhamnogalacturonan lyase from Aspergillus aculeatus

Recombinant rhamnogalacturonan lyase from Aspergillus aculeatus has been crystallized by a stepwise procedure and X-ray diffraction data have been collected. The crystals were grown using hanging-drop vapour-diffusion and microseeding techniques. Crystals were obtained showing a flat plate morphology. The crystallization conditions were 20% PEG 4000, 9% PEG 400, 0.1 M (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and 0.1 M sodium acetate pH 4.4. These crystals diffracted to a resolution of 1.5 A. The unit-cell parameters are a = b = 77.0, c = 170.8 A with the possible space group P4(3)2(1)2 or P4(1)2(1)2. There is most likely to be one molecule in the asymmetric unit, leading to a calculated solvent content of approximately 47% for the crystals.