Errors in the Structure Determination of MsbA
Author Information
Author(s): Jeffrey Philip D.
Primary Institution: Princeton University
Hypothesis
How did methodological errors lead to incorrect structure determinations for the ABC transporter MsbA?
Conclusion
The study reveals that the inversion of the anomalous signal during structure determination can lead to significant errors in the resulting electron-density maps.
Supporting Evidence
- The study discusses the accidental inversion of the sign of the anomalous difference during data conversion as a key error.
- Examples of MAD phasing at high and low resolution illustrate the impact of inverted anomalous signals.
- The research highlights the importance of using well-tested program suites to minimize errors in structure determination.
Takeaway
Sometimes scientists make mistakes when figuring out how proteins are built, and this can lead to wrong pictures of those proteins. This study shows how one such mistake happened.
Methodology
The study analyzed methodological errors in structure determination using examples and conclusions based on test data and published structure papers.
Potential Biases
Previous structures biased the interpretation of subsequent experimental electron-density maps.
Limitations
The low resolution of the structural studies made it difficult to detect the inversion error.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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