Crystallization and X-ray analysis of human cytoplasmic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase

Human cytosolic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (hcPheRS) is responsible for the covalent attachment of phenylalanine to its cognate tRNA(Phe). Significant differences between the amino-acid sequences of eukaryotic and prokaryotic PheRSs indicate that the domain composition of hcPheRS differs from that of the Thermus thermophilus analogue. As a consequence of the absence of the anticodon-recognizing B8 domain, the binding mode of tRNA(Phe) to hcPheRS is expected to differ from that in prokaryotes. Recombinant hcPheRS protein was purified to homogeneity and crystallized. The crystals used for structure determination diffracted to 3.3 angstrom resolution and belonged to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 362.9, b = 213.6, c = 212.7 angstrom, beta = 125.2 degrees. The structure of hcPheRS was determined by the molecular-replacement method in combination with phase information from multiwavelength anomalous dispersion.