YopT domain of the PfhB2 toxin from Pasteurella multocida: protein expression, characterization, crystallization and...

Pasteurella multocida causes respiratory-tract infections in a broad range of animals, as well as opportunistic infections in humans. P. multocida secretes a multidomain toxin called PfhB2, which contains a YopT-like cysteine protease domain at its C-terminus. The YopT domain of PfhB2 contains a well conserved Cys-His-Asp catalytic triad that defines YopT family members, and shares high sequence similarity with the prototype YopT from Yersinia sp. To date, only one crystal structure of a YopT family member has been reported; however, additional structural information is needed to help characterize the varied substrate specificity and enzymatic action of this large protease family. Here, a catalytically inactive C3733S mutant of PfhB2 YopT that provides enhanced protein stability was used with the aim of gaining structural insight into the diversity within the YopT protein family. To this end, the C3733S mutant of PfhB2 YopT has been successfully cloned, overexpressed, purified and crystallized. Diffraction data sets were collected from native crystals to 3.5 Å resolution and a single-wavelength anomalous data set was collected from an iodide-derivative crystal to 3.2 Å resolution. Data pertaining to crystals belonging to space group P3₁, with unit-cell parameters a = 136.9, b = 136.9, c = 74.7 Å for the native crystals and a = 139.2, b = 139.2, c = 74.7 Å for the iodide-derivative crystals, are discussed.