Structural Studies of Tomato Nuclease TBN1

Bifunctional nuclease TBN1 from Solanum lycopersicum - red tomato belongs to plant nuclease I group. TBN1 is a relatively small glycoprotein and shows considerable activity in cell apoptosis, tissue differentiation and vascular system development. Therefore detailed structural study of this enzyme can lead to new ways of cancer and bacterial disease treatment. Heterologous expression of the enzyme yields amounts and quality of protein suitable for structural studies. Biochemical character- risation of TBN1 focused on 3D structure determination using crystallographic methods and also crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction experiments are reviewed.