Structure of odorant binding proteins and chemosensory proteins determined by X-ray crystallography

Abstract

OBPs and CSPs are small soluble proteins used by organisms as shuttle to transport odorant molecules between air and the membrane-embedded receptors. Deciphering the interactions of these proteins with their ligands at a molecular level may give clue on the function and specificity of the olfactory chain. To reach this goal, protein crystallography is very helpful with more than hundred entries available in the protein data bank (PDB). In this chapter, we present the peculiarities of OBPs and CSPs concerning their crystallization and 3D structure determination by X-ray diffraction.

Keywords: Chemosensory proteins; Crystallization; Odorant binding proteins; Pheromone binding proteins; X-ray diffraction.