The possibility of using femtosecond pulses from an X-ray free-electron laser to collect diffraction data from protein crystals formed in their native cellular organelle has been explored. X-ray diffraction of submicrometre-sized alcohol oxidase crystals formed in peroxisomes within cells of genetically modified variants of the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha is reported and character...

Alcohol oxidase (AO) is a peroxisomal enzyme that catalyses the first step in methanol metabolism in yeast. Monomeric, inactive AO protein is synthesised in the cytosol and subsequently imported into peroxisomes, where the enzymatically active, homo-octameric form is found. The mechanisms involved in AO octamer assembly are largely unclear. Here we describe the isolation of Hansenula polymorpha...

ATG genes are required for autophagy-related processes that transport proteins/organelles destined for proteolytic degradation to the vacuole. Here, we describe the identification and characterisation of the Hansenula polymorpha ATG21 gene. Its gene product Hp-Atg21p, fused to eGFP, had a dual location in the cytosol and in peri-vacuolar dots. We demonstrate that Hp-Atg21p is essential for two ...

The methods currently used for protein extraction from yeast are either laborious or insuf®ciently reliable. Here I report a method for protein extraction for electrophoretic analysis that is both easy and reliable. In this method, yeast cells are subjected to mild alkali treatment and then boiled in a standard electrophoresis loading buffer. The method was tested for different strains of Sacch...

We have analyzed the highly conserved N-terminus of Hansenula polymorpha Pex14p for its function in peroxisomal matrix protein import. The region comprising aa 10-54 of HpPex14p is predicted to contain three alpha-helices. Its alpha-helical structure was confirmed by CD analysis of a synthetic peptide, corresponding to residues 8-58. Deletion of aa 1-21 of HpPex14p, but not of aa 1-9, completel...

The methods currently used for protein extraction from yeast are either laborious or insufficiently reliable. Here I report a method for protein extraction for electrophoretic analysis that is both easy and reliable. In this method, yeast cells are subjected to mild alkali treatment and then boiled in a standard electrophoresis loading buffer. The method was tested for different strains of Sacc...

Formaldehyde (FA) is a very toxic pollutant. FA in indoor air has a negative effect on human health and should be removed by ventilation or by conversion to non-toxic products. The formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FdDH), a NADand glutathione-dependent enzyme from recombinant methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha, was tested for its ability to oxidize airborne FA. A continuous fluidized bed biore...