Neue Science Publikation aus der Gruppe von Prof. Ilka Axmann

20/03/2017

Structures of the cyanobacterial circadian oscillator frozen in a fully assembled state

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Snijder J, Schuller JM, Wiegard A, Lössl P, Schmelling N, Axmann IM, Plitzko JM, Förster F, Heck AJ

Structures of the cyanobacterial circadian oscillator frozen in a fully assembled state
Cyanobacteria have a robust circadian oscillator, known as the Kai system. Reconstituted from the purified protein components KaiC, KaiB, and KaiA, it can tick autonomously in the presence of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). The KaiC hexamers enter a natural 24-hour reaction cycle of autophosphorylation and assembly with KaiB and KaiA in numerous diverse forms. We describe the preparation of stoichiometrically well-defined assemblies of KaiCB and KaiCBA, as monitored by native mass spectrometry, allowing for a structural characterization by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and mass spectrometry. Our data reveal details of the interactions between the Kai proteins and provide a structural basis to understand periodic assembly of the protein oscillator.

<link http: science.sciencemag.org content external-link-new-window internal link in current>Science. 2017 Mar 17;355(6330):1181-1184. doi: 10.1126/science.aag3218. Epub 2017 Mar 16.