Crystallization of parasporin-2, a Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein with selective cytocidal activity against human cells

Bacillus thuringiensis is a valuable source of protein toxins that are specifically effective against certain insects and worms but harmless to mammals. In contrast, a protein toxin obtained from B. thuringiensis strain A1547, designated parasporin-2, is not insecticidal but has a strong cytocidal activity against human cells with markedly divergent target specificity. The 37 kDa inactive protein is proteolytically activated to a 30 kDa active form. The active form of the recombinant protein toxin was crystallized in the presence of ethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol 8000 at neutral pH. The crystals belong to the hexagonal space group P6₁ or P6₅, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 134.37, c = 121.24 Å. Diffraction data from a native crystal were collected to 2.75 Å resolution using a synchrotron-radiation source.