Crystallographic refinement of ricin to 2.5 A.
Rutenber, E., Katzin, B.J., Ernst, S., Collins, E.J., Mlsna, D., Ready, M.P., Robertus, J.D.(1991) Proteins 10: 240-250
- PubMed: 1881880 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/prot.340100308
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2AAI - PubMed Abstract: 
The plant cytotoxin ricin consists of two disulfide-linked chains, each of about 30,000 daltons. An initial model based on a 2.8 A MIR electron density map has been refined against 2.5 A data using rounds of hand rebuilding coupled with either a restrained least squares algorithm or molecular dynamics (XPLOR). The last model (9) has an R factor of 21.6% and RMS deviations from standard bond lengths and angles of 0.021 A and 4.67 degrees, respectively. Refinement required several peptide segments in the original model to be adjusted translationally along the electron density. A wide range of lesser changes were also made. The RMS deviation of backbone atoms between the original and model 9 was 1.89 A. Molecular dynamics proved to be a very powerful refinement tool. However, tests showed that it could not replace human intervention in making adjustments such as local translations of the peptide chain. The R factor is not a completely satisfactory indicator of refinement progress; difference Fouriers, when observed carefully, may be a better monitor.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Clayton Foundation Biochemical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas, Austin 78712.