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M. Schlapschy, M. K. Dommel, K. Hadian, M. Fogarasi, I.P. Korndörfer, A. Skerra

The periplasmic E. coli chaperone Skp is a trimer in solution: biophysical and preliminary crystallographic characterization

The 'seventeen kilodalton protein' Skp confers transient solubility on outer membrane proteins during biogenesis in Gram-negative bacteria. Here we report a first biophysical characterization of this chaperone itself, which also possesses biotechnological potential in the production of recombinant proteins. Using cross-linking and gel filtration methods, we found that Skp forms a stable homo-trimer in solution. Following thermal denaturation, monitored by CD spectroscopy, this chaperone refolds with high efficiency but exhibits a pronounced hysteresis between the un- and refolding transitions. Using the recombinant protein equipped with the Strep-tag II at its N-terminus, suitable crystallization conditions for Skp were found. A first data set was collected to 2.60 å resolution.

Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 385, 03/2004
Pages: 137 - 143

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