Plant natiuretic peptides are peptide hormones involved in water and salt homeostasis in plants (see [cite num=1] or consult Chris Gehring for further details). irPNP from Arabidopsis has a molecular weight of approximately 10kDa, making it suitable for either NMR or X-ray. The structure is currently uncharacterised.
The protein has been recombinantly expressed as a GST fusion and shown to be biologically active, and some optimisation of expression and solubility conditions has been done. The project will involve scale-up of expression and preliminary NMR studies and crystallisation trials. Depending on the success of the former, NMR or X-ray data will be collected and the structure determined in collaboration with either David or Muhammed.
- Gehring, C. A., & Irving, H. R. (2003). Natriuretic peptides–a class of heterologous molecules in plants. Int J Biochem Cell Biol, 35(9), 1318-22. PMID: 12798346 [cite num=”1″ return=TRUE]