Seleno-detergent MAD phasing of leukotriene C(4) synthase in complex with dodecyl-β-d-selenomaltoside

Dodecyl-β-d-selenomaltoside (SeDDM) is a seleno-detergent with a β-glycosidic seleno-ether in place of the ether moiety in dodecyl-β-d-maltoside. Seleno-detergents are candidates for heavy-atom agents in experimental phasing of membrane proteins in protein crystallography. Crystals of a nuclear membrane-embedded enzyme, leukotriene C(4) synthase (LTC(4)S), in complex with SeDDM were prepared and a multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) experiment was performed. The SeDDM in the LTC(4)S crystal exhibited sufficient anomalous diffraction for determination of the structure using MAD phasing.