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.