Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of mouse prostaglandin F_2α synthase, AKR1B3

Aldo-keto reductase 1B3 (AKR1B3) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of prostaglandin H₂ (PGH₂), which is a common intermediate of various prostanoids, to form PGF_2α. AKR1B3 also reduces PGH₂ to PGD₂ in the absence of NADPH. AKR1B3 produced in Escherichia coli was crystallized in complex with NADPH by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystal was tetragonal, belonging to space group P4₁2₁2 or P4₃2₁2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 107.62, c = 120.76 Å. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.4 Å resolution at 100 K using a synchrotron-radiation source.