Probing the oxygen-binding site of the human formylglycine-generating enzyme using halide ions

The human formylglycine-generating enzyme was cocrystallized with bromide and iodide ions, which, among other positions, occupy an oxygen-binding pocket that is crucial for enzyme catalysis. Halide ions may substitute for xenon in the detection of oxygen-binding sites.

Pseudo-merohedral twinning in monoclinic crystals of human orotidine-5′-monophosphate decarboxylase

The crystal structure of orotidine-5′-monophosphate decarboxylase, the C-terminal domain of human UMP synthase, was determined by molecular replacement using data from highly pseudo-merohedrally twinned monoclinic crystals with a ≃ c unit-cell parameters.