Model building of a molluscan hemocyanin from X-ray solution scattering

Micron. 2004;35(1-2):17-20. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2003.10.006.

Abstract

Molluscan hemocyanins are proteins of a truly enormous size. Because of this, determination of their quaternary structure at high resolution cannot easily be obtained by standard methods such as X-ray crystallography and NMR. Therefore, different approaches, using several low-resolution techniques are currently necessary to understand hemocyanin structure. In this work a model of the Rapana venosa hemocyanin has been obtained from a template model and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data. The template model was built from the electron density of the closely related Haliotis tuberculata hemocyanin and a computer program was written to fit this model to the SAXS data using the simulated annealing algorithm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Hemocyanins / chemistry*
  • Mathematics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mollusca / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Hemocyanins