news and research about Pierce's Disease

What is Pierce's Disease?

Pierce’s Disease is a bacterial infection, which is spread by bugs that feed on grapevines, particularly the "glassy winged sharpshooter." Grapevines that become infected with PD can quickly become sick and die.

Crystallization and preliminary x-ray diffraction analysis of an oxidized state of ohr from xylella fastidiosa

  • Author(s): Oliveira, M.; Medrano, F.; Barbosa, G.; Ribeiro, Jadilson; Cussiol, Jose; Alves, Simone; Netto, L.; Guimares, B.;
  • Abstract: Xylella fastidiosa organic hydroperoxide-resistance protein (Ohr) is a dithiol-dependent peroxidase that is widely conserved in several pathogenic bacteria with high affinity for organic hydroperoxides. The protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method in the presence of PEG 4000 as precipitant after treatment with organic peroxide (t-butyl hydroperoxide). X-ray diffraction data were collected to a maximum resolution of 1.8 Angstrom using a synchrotronradiation source. The crystal belongs to the hexagonal space group P6(5)22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 87.66, c = 160.28 Angstrom. The crystal structure was solved by molecular-replacement methods. The enzyme has a homodimeric quaternary structure similar to that observed for its homologue from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but differs from the previous structure as the active-site residue Cys61 is oxidized. Structure refinement is in progress.
  • Publication Date: Feb 2004
  • Journal: Acta Crystallographica Section D-Biological Crystallography
  • Direct Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S0907444903026799