A Medium-Throughput Structural Proteomics Approach Applied to the Genome of E. coli

Abstract

Structural information of the protein complement of E.coli represents an important component in our quest for a more complete understanding of this organism at the molecular level. Structural proteomics, the application of technologies to enhance the rate of protein structure determination at the genome level, has significantly increased the structural coverage of the E.coli proteome. The Bacterial Structural Genomics Initiative (BSGI) has focused on the structure determination of E.coli proteins of both known and unknown function, using a combination of NMR and X-ray crystallography. This program has resulted in the implementation of several technologies, including robotics platforms, in a coordinated manner in order to streamline the steps involved in protein structure determination. Here, we describe our experimental approaches as well as some examples high-lighting new structural and functional insights of specific targets.