Crystallization and biochemical characterization of an archaeal lectin from Methanococcus voltae A3

A lectin from Methanococcus voltae A3 has been cloned, expressed, purified and characterized. The lectin appears to be specific for complex sugars. The protein crystallized in a tetragonal space group, with around 16 subunits in the asymmetric unit. Sequence comparisons indicate the lectin to have a β-prism I fold, with poor homology to lectins of known three-dimensional structure.