Three-dimensional structure of the lipovitellin–phosvitin complex from amphibian oocytes

Abstract

Microcrystals of the lipoprotein-phosphoprotein complex which are found in the oocytes of Xenopus laevis were examined using EM. Analysis of Fourier transforms of the images of the (010) and (001) projections showed the space group to be P21221. Ten projections were combined to produce a map of the complex having about 20 .ANG. resolution. The lipoprotein complex consists of 2 subunits related by a local 2-fold symmetry axis. The density was averaged around the local symmetry and reasonably well defined structural domains can be seen in the resulting model.