Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of Pz peptidase B from Geobacillus collagenovorans MO-1.

Pz peptidase B is an intracellular M3 metallopeptidase that is found together with Pz peptidase A in the thermophile Geobacillus collagenovorans MO-1 and recognizes collagen-specific tripeptide units (-Gly-Pro-X-). These peptidases have low homology in their primary structures; however, their cleavage patterns towards peptide substrates are similar. In this work, Pz peptidase B was crystallized using the counter-diffusion method. Data were collected to a resolution of 1.6 Å at 100 K from a crystal obtained in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM; also known as `Kibo') at the International Space Station (ISS). The crystal belonged to the trigonal space group P3(1)21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 87.64, c = 210.5 Å. A complete data set was also obtained from crystals of selenomethionine-substituted protein.