Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase from Allochromatium vinosum

The membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase is a unique metalloprotein that is able to catalyze the reversible oxidation of hydrogen to protons and electrons during a complex reaction cycle. The [NiFe] hydrogenase was isolated from the photosynthetic purple sulfur bacterium Allochromatium vinosum and its crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis are reported. It was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using sodium citrate and imidazole as crystallization agents. The crystals belong to space group P2₁2₁2, with unit-cell parameters a = 205.00, b = 217.42, c = 120.44 Å. X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 2.5 Å resolution.