Crystallization of a Fe,Zn superoxide dismutase from the archaebacterium Thermoplasma acidophilium

The novel Fe,Zn superoxide dismutase from the archaebacterium Thermoplasma acidophilium has been crystallized in space groups P1, P2(1) and P2(1)2(1)2, with 2,4 and 1/2 of an 84,000 Mr tetramer, respectively, estimated to be in the asymmetric unit of the unit cell. The orthorhombic crystals, which have unit cell dimensions a = 84.2 A, b = 72.7 A, c = 67.8 A, diffract X-rays to at least 2.0 A and are suitable for a determination of the three-dimensional structure of the Fe,Zn superoxide dismutase.