Getting the Best out of Long-wavelength X-rays: De Novo Chlorine/sulfur SAD Phasing of a Structural Protein from ATV

The structure of a 14 kDa structural protein from Acidianus two-tailed virus (ATV) was solved by single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD) phasing using X-ray data collected at 2.0 A wavelength. Although the anomalous signal from methionine sulfurs was expected to suffice to solve the structure, one chloride ion turned out to be essential to achieve phasing. The minimal data requirements and the relative contributions of the Cl and S atoms to phasing are discussed. This work supports the feasibility of a systematic approach for the solution of protein crystal structures by SAD based on intrinsic protein light atoms along with associated chloride ions from the solvent. In such cases, data collection at long wavelengths may be a time-efficient alternative to selenomethionine substitution and heavy-atom derivatization.