Purification, characterization, and crystallization of alliinase from garlic.

Glycosylated dimeric alliinase (EC 4.4.1.4) was purified to homogeneity from its natural source, garlic. With 660 units/mg, the specific enzymatic activity of the pure enzyme is the highest reported to date. Based on both CD spectroscopy data and sequence-derived secondary structure prediction, the alpha-helix content of alliinase was estimated to be about 30%. Comparisons of all available amino acid sequences of alliinases revealed a common cysteine pattern of the type C-x18-19-C-x-C-x2-C-x5-C-x6-C in the N-terminal part of the sequences. This pattern is conserved in alliinases but absent in other pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes. It suggests the presence of an epidermal growth factor-like domain in the three-dimensional structures of alliinases, making them unique among the various families of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes. Well-ordered three-dimensional crystals of garlic alliinase were obtained in four different forms. The best diffraction was observed with crystal form IV (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), a=68.4, b=101.1, c=155.7 A) grown from an ammonium sulfate solution. These crystals diffract to at least 1.5 A resolution at a synchrotron source and are suitable for structure determination.