To perform biochemical and structural analyses, ten human members of the lipocalin protein family were produced by secretion into the periplasm of E. coli. Dissociation constants were determined for four different ligands (retinol, retinoic acid, DAUDA and ANS) under identical conditions. Using the same expression system, the X-ray crystal structure of a1-acid-glycoprotein (AGP) was elucidated, thus confirming its membership of the lipocalin family. The predominantly nonpolar binding pocket of AGP can be divided into three smaller pockets, which explains the broad ligand-binding activity of this lipocalin. Furthermore, the crystal structure of a protein complex of an engineered lipocalin (anticalin) and its protein target, the human immune receptor CTLA4, was solved. Comparison with the uncomplexed anticalin (apoprotein), which was also analyzed, illustrates the astonishing flexibility of the binding site, comparable to the recognition mode of antibodies.
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To perform biochemical and structural analyses, ten human members of the lipocalin protein family were produced by secretion into the periplasm of E. coli. Dissociation constants were determined for four different ligands (retinol, retinoic acid, DAUDA and ANS) under identical conditions. Using the same expression system, the X-ray crystal structure of a1-acid-glycoprotein (AGP) was elucidated, thus confirming its membership of the lipocalin family. The predominantly nonpolar binding pocket of A...
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