Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the human CKIP-1 pleckstrin homology domain

The casein kinase 2 interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1) is involved in many cellular functions, including apoptosis, signalling pathways, cell growth, cytoskeleton and bone formation. Its N-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain is thought to play an important role in membrane localization and controls shuttling of CKIP-1 between the plasma membrane and nucleus. In this study, the human CKIP-1 PH domain was purified but problems were encountered with nucleic acid contamination. An S84D/S86D/S88D triple mutant designed to abolish nucleic acid binding was purified and successfully crystallized. Single crystals diffracted to 1.7 angstrom resolution and belonged to space group P43212 with unit-cell parameters a = 53.0, b = 53.0, c = 113.8 angstrom, = = = 90.0 degrees.