Kallistatin is a serine protease inhibitor (serpin) which specifically inhibits human tissue kallikrein; however, its inhibitory activity is inhibited by heparin. In order to elucidate the underlying mechanism, recombinant human kallistatin was prepared in Escherichia coli and the protein was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 1.9 Å resolution. The crystals were found to belong to space group P61, with unit-cell parameters a = 113.51, b = 113.51, c = 76.17 Å. Initial analysis indicated that the crystallized kallistatin was in a relaxed conformation, with its reactive-centre loop inserted in the central β-sheet.
Keywords: crystallization; heparin; kallistatin; serpins; tissue kallikrein.