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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases
Published on: November 21, 2010
Crystal structure of yeast nitronate monooxygenase from Cyberlindnera saturnus
Johnson Agniswamy1, Renata A G Reis2, Yuan-Fang Wang1
1Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30302-3965.
Abstract:
Nitronate monooxygenase (NMO) is an FMN-dependent enzyme that oxidizes the neurotoxin propionate 3-nitronate (P3N) and represents the best-known system for P3N detoxification in different organisms. The crystal structure of the first eukaryotic Class I NMO from Cyberlindnera saturnus (CsNMO) has been solved at 1.65 Å resolution and refined to an R-factor of 14.0%. The three-dimensional structures of yeast CsNMO and bacterial PaNMO are highly conserved with the exception of three additional loops on the surface in the CsNMO enzyme and differences in four active sites residues. A PEG molecule was identified in the structure and formed extensive interactions with CsNMO, suggesting a specific binding site; however, 8% PEG showed no significant effect on the enzyme activity. This new crystal structure of a eukaryotic NMO provides insight into the function of this class of enzymes.
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