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Mohole M, Naglekar A, Sengupta D, Chattopadhyay A. Probing the energy landscape of the lipid interactions of the serotonin 1A receptor. Biophys Chem 2024; 313:107289. [PMID: 39002247 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are lipid-regulated transmembrane proteins that play a central role in cell signaling and pharmacology. Although the role of membrane lipids in GPCR function is well established, the underlying GPCR-lipid interactions have not been thermodynamically characterized due to the complexity of these interactions. In this work, we estimate the energetics and dynamics of lipid association from coarse-grain simulations of the serotonin1A receptor embedded in a complex membrane. We show that lipids bind to the receptor with varying energetics of 1-4 kT, and timescales of 1-10 μs. The most favorable energetics and longest residence times are observed for cholesterol, glycosphingolipid GM1, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids. Multi-exponential fitting of the contact probability suggests distinct dynamic regimes, corresponding to ps, ns and μs timescales, that we correlate with the annular, intermediate and non-annular lipid sites. The timescales of lipid binding correspond to high barrier heights, despite their relatively weaker energetics. Our results highlight that GPCR-lipid interactions are driven by both thermodynamic interactions and the dynamical features of lipid binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura Mohole
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
| | - Amit Naglekar
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
| | - Durba Sengupta
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India.
| | - Amitabha Chattopadhyay
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India.
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2
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Xia P, Cao Y, Zhao Q, Li H. Energy gap of conformational transition related with temperature for the NACore of α-synuclein. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:23062-23072. [PMID: 39175373 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp02131b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Pathological aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) into amyloid fibrils is a major feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). The self-assembly of α-syn is mainly governed by a non-amyloid-β component core (NACore). However, the effects of concentrations and temperatures on their conformational transition remain unclear. To answer this question, we investigated the aggregation kinetics of NACore oligomers in silico by performing several independent all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation results show that tetramers are more prone to form β-sheets at 300 K than dimers and octamers. We also found that the NACore oligomers had higher β-sheet and β-barrel contents at 310 K. The inter-chain hydrophobic interactions, the backbone hydrogen bonding, the residue-residue interactions between V70-V77 as well as V77-V77 play important roles in the aggregation tendency of NACore octamers at 310 K. Interestingly, the energy gap analysis revealed that the conformational transition of NACore oligomers from intermediate states (β-barrel conformation) to stable structures (β-sheet layers) was dependent on the temperatures. In short, our study provides insight into the kinetic and thermodynamic mechanisms of the conformational transition of NACore at different concentrations and temperatures, contributing to a better understanding of the aggregation process of α-syn in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxuan Xia
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Yuanming Cao
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Qingjie Zhao
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Huiyu Li
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
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3
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de Lucas M, Blazquez S, Troncoso J, Vega C, Gámez F. Dressing a Nonpolarizable Force Field for OH - in TIP4P/2005 Aqueous Solutions with Corrected Hirshfeld Charges. J Phys Chem Lett 2024:9411-9418. [PMID: 39248393 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c02261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
We present a rigid model for the OH- ion parametrized for binary mixtures with TIP4P/2005-type water molecules. Li+, Na+ and K+ were selected as counterions, hence mimicking the important and widely used solutions of soluble alkaline hydroxides. The optimized atomic charge distributions were obtained by scaling in a factor of 0.85 those derived from the atomic dipole corrected Hirshfeld approach. The agreement between experimental and Molecular Dynamics simulation results is remarkable for a set of properties, namely, the dependence of the density of the solutions on the hydroxide concentration and on temperature, the structure (i.e., positions of the atom-to-atom radial distribution functions and coordination numbers), the viscosity coefficients, the surface tension, or the freezing point depression. The proposed optimized potential parameters for OH- thus enlarge the set of models comprised within the Madrid-2019 force field and widen the potential applicability of the TIP4P/2005 water model in basic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos de Lucas
- Departamento de Química Física I, Fac. Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, España
| | - Samuel Blazquez
- Departamento de Química Física I, Fac. Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, España
| | - Jacobo Troncoso
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidade de Vigo, Escola de Enxeñaría Aeronaútica e do Espazo, E 32004, Ourense, España
| | - Carlos Vega
- Departamento de Química Física I, Fac. Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, España
| | - Francisco Gámez
- Departamento de Química Física I, Fac. Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, España
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4
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Guan L, Tan J, Qi B, Chen Y, Cao M, Zhang Q, Zou Y. Effects of an external static EF on the conformational transition of 5-HT1A receptor: A molecular dynamics simulation study. Biophys Chem 2024; 312:107283. [PMID: 38941873 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
The serotonin receptor subtype 1A (5-HT1AR), one of the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, has been implicated in several neurological conditions. Understanding the activation and inactivation mechanism of 5-HT1AR at the molecular level is critical for discovering novel therapeutics in many diseases. Recently there has been a growing appreciation for the role of external electric fields (EFs) in influencing the structure and activity of biomolecules. In this study, we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to examine conformational features of active states of 5-HT1AR and investigate the effect of an external static EF with 0.02 V/nm applied on the active state of 5-HT1AR. Our results showed that the active state of 5-HT1AR maintained the native structure, while the EF led to structural modifications in 5-HT1AR, particularly inducing the inward movement of transmembrane helix 6 (TM6). Furthermore, it disturbed the conformational switches associated with activation in the CWxP, DRY, PIF, and NPxxY motifs, consequently predisposing an inclination towards the inactive-like conformation. We also found that the EF led to an overall increase in the dipole moment of 5-HT1AR, encompassing TM6 and pivotal amino acids. The analyses of conformational properties of TM6 showed that the changed secondary structure and decreased solvent exposure occurred upon the EF condition. The interaction of 5-HT1AR with the membrane lipid bilayer was also altered under the EF. Our findings reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the transition of 5-HT1AR conformation induced by external EFs, which offer potential novel insights into the prospect of employing structure-based EF applications for GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Guan
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Jingwang Tan
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Bote Qi
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Yukang Chen
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Meng Cao
- Department of Physical Education, College of Sport, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Road, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518061, PR China
| | - Qingwen Zhang
- College of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Yu Zou
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China.
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Aguilar-Pineda J, González-Melchor M. Influence of the Water Model on the Structure and Interactions of the GPR40 Protein with the Lipid Membrane and the Solvent: Rigid versus Flexible Water Models. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:6369-6387. [PMID: 38991114 PMCID: PMC11270832 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) are responsible for modulating various physiological functions and are thus related to the pathophysiology of different diseases. Being potential therapeutic targets, multiple computational methodologies have been developed to analyze their behavior and interactions with other species. The solvent, on the other hand, has received much less attention. In this work, we analyzed the effect of four explicit water models on the structure and interactions of the GPR40 receptor in its apo form. We employed the rigid SPC/E and TIP4P models, and their flexible versions, the FBA/ϵ and TIP4P/ϵflex. We explored the structural changes and their correlation with some bulk dynamic properties of water. Our results showed an adverse effect on the conservation of the secondary structure of the receptor with all the models due to the breaking of the intramolecular hydrogen bond network, being more evident for the TIP4P models. Notably, all four models brought the receptor to states similar to the active one, modifying the intracellular part of the TM5 and TM6 domains in a "hinge" type movement, allowing the opening of the structure. Regarding the dynamic properties, the rigid models showed results comparable to those obtained in other studies on membrane systems. However, flexible models exhibit disparities in the molecular representation of systems. Surprisingly, the FBA/ϵ model improves the molecular picture of several properties, even though their agreement with bulk diffusion is poorer. These findings reinforce our idea that exploring other water models or improving the current ones, to better represent the membrane interface, can lead to a positive impact on the description of the signal transduction mechanisms and the search of new drugs by targeting these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge
Alberto Aguilar-Pineda
- Instituto de Física
“Luis Rivera Terrazas”, Benemérita Universidad
Autónoma de Puebla, Av San Claudio, Cd Universitaria, Apdo. Postal
J-48, Puebla 72570, México
| | - Minerva González-Melchor
- Instituto de Física
“Luis Rivera Terrazas”, Benemérita Universidad
Autónoma de Puebla, Av San Claudio, Cd Universitaria, Apdo. Postal
J-48, Puebla 72570, México
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6
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Mendanha K, Colherinhas G. Exploring How System Dimensions and Periodic Boundary Conditions Influence the Molecular Dynamics Simulation of A 6H Peptide Self-Assembly Nanostructures. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6853-6865. [PMID: 38981040 PMCID: PMC11264264 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c03043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
This work presents a study on the effects of periodic boundary conditions (PBC) on the energetic/structural properties and hydrogen bond dynamics (HB) using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of peptide membranes composed of alanine and histidine. Our results highlight that simulations using small surface areas for the peptide membrane may result in nonconvergent values for membrane properties, which are only observed in regions simulated at a certain distance from the PBCs. Specifically, regarding hydrogen bonds, a property pervasive in peptide membranes, our findings indicate a significant increase in the lifetime of these interactions, reaching values ∼19% higher when observed in structures free from PBCs. For peptide mobility in these nanomembranes, our results compare regions simulated directly under the influence of PBCs with regions free from these conditions, emphasizing greater mobility of amino acid psi/phi angles in the latter model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karinna Mendanha
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO 74690-900, Brazil
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7
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Phong NV, Kim HS, Park HJ, Yeom E, Yang SY. Assessing the Efficacy of Acanthoic Acid Isolated from Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai in Male Infertility: An In Vivo and In Silico Approach. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:7411-7429. [PMID: 39057081 PMCID: PMC11276288 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46070440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Acanthoic acid, a diterpene isolated from the root bark of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai, possesses diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, gastrointestinal protection, and cardiovascular protection. This study is the first to investigate the egg-hatching rates of Drosophila melanogaster affected by acanthoic acid. Notably, male flies supplemented with 10 μM acanthoic acid exhibited a strong increase in hatching rates compared with controls under adverse temperature conditions, suggesting a potential protective effect against environmental stressors. Molecular docking simulations revealed the binding affinities and specific interactions between acanthoic acid and proteins related to male infertility, including SHBG, ADAM17, and DNase I, with binding affinity values of -10.2, -6.8, and -5.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Following the docking studies, molecular dynamic simulations were conducted for a duration of 100 ns to examine the stability of these interactions. Additionally, a total binding energy analysis and decomposition analysis offered insights into the underlying energetic components and identified key contributing residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Viet Phong
- Department of Biology Education, Teachers College and Institute for Phylogenomics and Evolution, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea;
| | - Hyo-Sung Kim
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea;
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
- KNU-G LAMP Project Group, KNU-Institute of Basic Sciences, School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jung Park
- Department of Plant Life and Resource Science, Sangji University, Wonju-si 26339, Republic of Korea;
| | - Eunbyul Yeom
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea;
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
- KNU-G LAMP Project Group, KNU-Institute of Basic Sciences, School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Young Yang
- Department of Biology Education, Teachers College and Institute for Phylogenomics and Evolution, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea;
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8
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Majumder R, Banerjee S, Mandal M, Patra S, Das S, Mandal M. A Virtual Drug Discovery Screening Illuminates Campesterol as a Potent Estrogen Receptor Alpha Inhibitor in Breast Cancer. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10321-10335. [PMID: 38836562 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a global health challenge, and innovative strategies are required to target estrogen receptor α (ERα), a key player in its development. This study investigates the potential of campesterol, a natural phytosterol, as an ERα inhibitor for breast cancer. Our approach integrates in silico, in vitro, and ex vivo experiments to assess the therapeutic potential of campesterol. In silico analyses highlight campesterol as a promising ERα ligand with favorable binding affinities and dynamic properties. Structural analysis reveals conformational changes in ERα upon campesterol binding. In vitro studies confirm the selective growth inhibition of campesterol against ERα-positive breast cancer cells. This study extends to ER+ breast cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs), showing the effectiveness of campesterol in ERα-positive breast cancer PDOs. Importantly, it emphasizes the receptor-specific nature of campesterol, providing insights into its context-dependent action. In conclusion, campesterol displays potential as an ERα inhibitor, offering new avenues for ER+ breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranabir Majumder
- Cancer Biology Lab, School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Shreya Banerjee
- Cancer Biology Lab, School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Madhurima Mandal
- Cancer Biology Lab, School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Sucharita Patra
- Cancer Biology Lab, School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Subhasis Das
- Patient-Derived Models Lab, University of Illinois Cancer Center and Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago,Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Mahitosh Mandal
- Cancer Biology Lab, School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
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9
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Chava BS, Das S. Strength, number, and kinetics of hydrogen bonds for water confined inside boron nitride nanotubes. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2024; 6:3329-3337. [PMID: 38933867 PMCID: PMC11197425 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00948c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Water has shown a myriad of highly interesting properties and behaviors, such as very low friction, phase transition under unexpected conditions, massive property alterations, etc. inside strong nanoconfinements of few-nanometer to sub-nanometer diameters. Water-water hydrogen bonding is one of the most important factors dictating such water behavior and properties inside such strong nanoconfinements. In this paper, we employ Reactive Force Field (ReaxFF) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for studying multiple facets of such water-water hydrogen bonds (HBs) inside boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) having diameters ranging from a few nanometers to sub-nanometers. First, the strength of the water-water HB interactions, as a function of the HB configuration, is quantified by studying the corresponding PMF (potential of mean force). For water present in extreme confinements (BNNTs with sub-nanometric diameters), we see completely isolated HB basins. On the other hand, for bulk water the HB basin is connected (via a saddle point) to a nearby second PMF well. Therefore, our analysis successfully distinguishes the HB characteristics between the cases of water in extreme confinement and bulk water. Second, we study the kinetics of such water-water HBs: HBs formed by a given pair of water molecules in extreme confinements show a much larger probability of remaining intact once formed or re-forming after they have been broken. Both these results, which shed new light on water-water hydrogen bonding inside strong nanoconfinements, can be explained by the single-file structure formed by the water molecules in extreme BNNT confinements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhargav Sai Chava
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Siddhartha Das
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
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10
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Bastos RS, de Aguiar CPO, Cruz JN, Ramos RS, Kimani NM, de Souza JSN, Chaves MH, de Freitas HF, Pita SSR, dos Santos CBR. Rational Approach toward COVID-19's Main Protease Inhibitors: A Hierarchical Biochemoinformatics Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6715. [PMID: 38928422 PMCID: PMC11204165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the potential of selected compounds as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro through pharmacokinetic and toxicological analyses, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. In silico molecular docking simulations revealed promising ligands with favorable binding affinities for Mpro, ranging from -6.2 to -9.5 kcal/mol. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated the stability of protein-ligand complexes over 200 ns, maintaining protein secondary structures. MM-PBSA analysis revealed favorable interactions between ligands and Mpro, with negative binding energy values. Hydrogen bond formation capacity during molecular dynamics was confirmed, indicating consistent interactions with Mpro catalytic residues. Based on these findings, selected ligands show promise for future studies in developing COVID-19 treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruan S. Bastos
- Graduate Program in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Modeling, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapa 68903-419, AP, Brazil
| | - Christiane P. O. de Aguiar
- Graduate Program in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Modeling, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Jorddy N. Cruz
- Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapa 68903-419, AP, Brazil
| | - Ryan S. Ramos
- Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapa 68903-419, AP, Brazil
| | - Njogu M. Kimani
- Department of Physical Sciences, University of Embu, Embu P.O. Box 6-60100, Kenya
- Natural Product Chemistry and Computational Drug Discovery Laboratory, Embu P.O. Box 6-60100, Kenya
| | - João S. N. de Souza
- Chemistry Department, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, PI, Brazil
| | - Mariana H. Chaves
- Chemistry Department, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, PI, Brazil
| | - Humberto F. de Freitas
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Modeling (LaBiMM), Federal University of Bahia, Av. Barão de Jeremoabo, 147, Pharmacy College, Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, BA, Brazil; (H.F.d.F.); (S.S.R.P.)
| | - Samuel S. R. Pita
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Modeling (LaBiMM), Federal University of Bahia, Av. Barão de Jeremoabo, 147, Pharmacy College, Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, BA, Brazil; (H.F.d.F.); (S.S.R.P.)
| | - Cleydson B. R. dos Santos
- Graduate Program in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Modeling, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
- Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapa 68903-419, AP, Brazil
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11
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Tao Y, Xu J, Zhang N, Jiao X, Yan B, Zhao J, Zhang H, Chen W, Fan D. Unraveling the binding mechanisms of transglutaminase and substrate subjected to microwaves: Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. Food Chem 2024; 443:138568. [PMID: 38301564 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies showed that transglutaminase (TGase) and microwaves acted synergistically to improve the functional properties of proteins. The mechanism behind this has yet to be elucidated. In this study, the phenomenon of microwaves enhancing TGase activity was experimentally validated. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that moderate microwaves (105 and 108 V/m) increased the structural flexibility of TGase and promoted the orientation of the side chain carboxylate anion group on Asp255, driving the reaction forward. Also, TGase underwent partial transformation from α-helix to turns or coils at 105 and 108 V/m, exposing more residues in the active site and facilitating the binding of the substrate (CBZ-Gln-Gly) to TGase. However, 109 V/m microwaves completely destroyed the TGase structure, inactivating the enzyme. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between TGase and substrate subjected to microwaves, promoting the future applications of TGase and microwaves in food processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jiawei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Nana Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xidong Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Bowen Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Jianxin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Daming Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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12
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Zou Y, Guan L, Tan J, Qi B, Sun Y, Huang F, Zhang Q. Molecular Insights into the Differential Effects of Acetylation on the Aggregation of Tau Microtubule-Binding Repeats. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:3386-3399. [PMID: 38489841 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Aggregation of tau protein into intracellular fibrillary inclusions is characterized as the hallmark of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The microtubule-binding (MTB) domain of tau, containing either three or four repeats with sequence similarities, plays an important role in determining tau's aggregation. Previous studies have reported that abnormal acetylation of lysine residues displays a distinct effect on the formation of pathological tau aggregates. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains mostly elusive. In this study, we performed extensive replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations of 144 μs in total to systematically investigate the dimerization of four tau MTB repeats and explore the impacts of Lys280 (K280) or Lys321 (K321) acetylation on the conformational ensembles of the R2 or R3 dimer. Our results show that R3 is the most prone to aggregation among the four repeats, followed by R2 and R4, while R1 displays the weakest aggregation propensity with a disordered structure. Acetylation of K280 could promote the aggregation of R2 peptides by increasing the formation of β-sheet structures and strengthening the interchain interaction. However, K321 acetylation decreases the β-sheet content of the R3 dimer, reduces the ability of R3 peptides to form long β-strands, and promotes the stable helix structure formation. The salt bridge and Y310-Y310 π-π stacking interactions of the R3 dimer are greatly weakened by K321 acetylation, resulting in the inhibition of dimerization. This study uncovers the structural ensembles of tau MTB repeats and provides mechanistic insights into the influences of acetylation on tau aggregation, which may deepen the understanding of the pathogenesis of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zou
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Lulu Guan
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jingwang Tan
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Bote Qi
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Fengjuan Huang
- Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering (NIIME), Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Qingwen Zhang
- College of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
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13
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Khan K, Albalawi K, Abbas MN, Burki S, Musad Saleh EA, Al Mouslem A, Alsaiari AA, A Zaki ME, Khan AU, Alotaibi G, Jalal K. Pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness of anti-cancer traditional Chinese medicine: molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:3295-3306. [PMID: 37279114 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2216758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
MCM7 (Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7) is a component of the DNA replication licensing factor, which controls DNA replication. The MCM7 protein is linked to tumor cell proliferation and has a function in the development of several human cancers. Several types of cancer may be treated by inhibiting the protein, as it is strongly produced throughout this process. Significantly, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has a long history of clinical adjuvant use against cancer, is rapidly gaining traction as a valuable medical resource for the development of novel cancer therapies, including immunotherapy. Therefore, the goal of the research was to find small molecular therapeutic candidates against the MCM7 protein that may be used to treat human cancers. A computational-based virtual screening of 36,000 natural TCM libraries is carried out for this goal using a molecular docking and dynamic simulation technique. Thereby, ∼8 novel potent compounds i.e., ZINC85542762, ZINC95911541, ZINC85542617, ZINC85542646, ZINC85592446, ZINC85568676, ZINC85531303, and ZINC95914464 were successfully shortlisted, each having the capacity to penetrate the cell as potent inhibitors for MCM7 to curb this disorder. These selected compounds were found to have high binding affinities compared to the reference (AGS compound) i.e. < -11.0 kcal/mol. ADMET and pharmacological properties showed that none of these 8 compounds poses any toxic property (carcinogenicity) and have anti-metastatic, and anticancer activity. Additionally, MD simulations were run to assess the compounds' stability and dynamic behavior with the MCM7 complex for about 100 ns. Finally, ZINC95914464, ZINC95911541, ZINC85568676, ZINC85592446, ZINC85531303, and ZINC85542646 are identified as highly stable within the complex throughout the 100 ns simulations. Moreover, the results of binding free energy suggested that the selected virtual hits significantly bind to the MCM7 which implied these compounds may act as a potential MCM7 inhibitor. However, in vitro testing protocols are required to further support these results. Further, assessment through various lab-based trial methods can assist with deciding the action of the compound that will give options in contrast to human cancer immunotherapy.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanwal Khan
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Karma Albalawi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Samiullah Burki
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinnah Sindh medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Ebraheem Abdu Musad Saleh
- Chemistry Department, College of Arts & Science, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Al Mouslem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahad Amer Alsaiari
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Magdi E A Zaki
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afaq Ullah Khan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, PR China
| | - Ghallab Alotaibi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Shaqra, KSA
| | - Khurshid Jalal
- HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
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14
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Hrahsheh F, Jum'h I, Wilemski G. Second inflection point of supercooled water surface tension induced by hydrogen bonds: A molecular-dynamics study. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:114504. [PMID: 38506292 DOI: 10.1063/5.0185832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Surface tension of supercooled water is a fundamental property in various scientific processes. In this study, we perform molecular dynamics simulations with the TIP4P-2005 model to investigate the surface tension of supercooled water down to 220 K. Our results show a second inflection point (SIP) in the surface tension at temperature TSIP ≈ 267.5 ± 2.3 K. Using an extended IAPWS-E functional fit for the water surface tension, we calculate the surface excess internal-energy and entropy terms of the excess Helmholtz free energy. Similar to prior studies [Wang et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 21, 3360 (2019); Gorfer et al., J. Chem. Phys. 158, 054503 (2023)], our results show that the surface tension is governed by two driving forces: a surface excess entropy change above the SIP and a surface excess internal-energy change below it. We study hydrogen-bonding near the SIP because it is the main cause of water's anomalous properties. With decreasing temperature, our results show that the entropy contribution to the surface tension reaches a maximum slightly below the SIP and then decreases. This is because the number of hydrogen bonds increases more slowly below the SIP. Moreover, the strengths and lifetimes of the hydrogen bonds also rise dramatically below the SIP, causing the internal-energy term to dominate the excess surface free energy. Thus, the SIP in the surface tension of supercooled TIP4P-2005 water is associated with an increase in the strengths and lifetimes of hydrogen bonds, along with a decrease in the formation rate (#/K) of new hydrogen bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fawaz Hrahsheh
- Higher Colleges of Technology, ETS, MZWC, Abu Dhabi 25026, United Arab Emirates
| | - Inshad Jum'h
- School of Basic Sciences and Humanities, German Jordanian University, Amman 11180, Jordan
| | - Gerald Wilemski
- Department of Physics, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409, USA
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15
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Hesamzadeh P, Seif A, Mahmoudzadeh K, Ganjali Koli M, Mostafazadeh A, Nayeri K, Mirjafary Z, Saeidian H. De novo antioxidant peptide design via machine learning and DFT studies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6473. [PMID: 38499731 PMCID: PMC10948870 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57247-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Antioxidant peptides (AOPs) are highly valued in food and pharmaceutical industries due to their significant role in human function. This study introduces a novel approach to identifying robust AOPs using a deep generative model based on sequence representation. Through filtration with a deep-learning classification model and subsequent clustering via the Butina cluster algorithm, twelve peptides (GP1-GP12) with potential antioxidant capacity were predicted. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations guided the selection of six peptides for synthesis and biological experiments. Molecular orbital representations revealed that the HOMO for these peptides is primarily localized on the indole segment, underscoring its pivotal role in antioxidant activity. All six synthesized peptides exhibited antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay, while the hydroxyl radical test showed suboptimal results. A hemolysis assay confirmed the non-hemolytic nature of the generated peptides. Additionally, an in silico investigation explored the potential inhibitory interaction between the peptides and the Keap1 protein. Analysis revealed that ligands GP3, GP4, and GP12 induced significant structural changes in proteins, affecting their stability and flexibility. These findings highlight the capability of machine learning approaches in generating novel antioxidant peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parsa Hesamzadeh
- Department of Chemistry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolvahab Seif
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita' di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Kazem Mahmoudzadeh
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Oil, Faculty of Chemistry, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Amrollah Mostafazadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Kosar Nayeri
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Zohreh Mirjafary
- Department of Chemistry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Saeidian
- Department of Science, Payame Noor University (PNU), PO Box: 19395-4697, Tehran, Iran.
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16
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Fukuyama M, Mizuguchi T, Santivongskul P, Ono Y, Kasuya M, Inagawa A, Hibara A. Kinetic description of water transport during spontaneous emulsification induced by Span 80. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:4056-4062. [PMID: 38345086 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06121c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Spontaneous emulsification is a phenomenon that forms nanometer-sized droplets (nanodroplets) without the application of any external force, and the mechanism has been actively studied for application to various technologies. In this study, we analyzed the kinetics of spontaneous emulsification induced by Span 80. The measurement of water concentration in Span 80 hexadecane solution indicated that the chemical potential of water in the nanodroplets decreased as the amount of water in the nanodroplets decreased. Based on this result, water transport between the aqueous phase and nanodroplets in which the chemical potential of water was controlled was quantitatively investigated by using a microfluidic device. The results demonstrate that the kinetics of water transport during spontaneous emulsification induced by Span 80 was described by a model of osmotic transport through an organic liquid film between the aqueous phase and nanodroplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao Fukuyama
- Institution of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-Ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
| | - Tomoko Mizuguchi
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
| | - Piangrawee Santivongskul
- Institution of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-Ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
| | - Yuri Ono
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Motohiro Kasuya
- Faculty of Production Systems Engineering and Sciences, Komatsu University, Nu 1-3, Yonchoumemachi, Komatsu, Ishikawa 923-0971, Japan
| | - Arinori Inagawa
- Faculty of Engineering, Utsunomiya University, 7-1-2, Yoto, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8585, Japan
| | - Akihide Hibara
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan.
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17
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Tang J, Sun R, Wan J, Xu Z, Zou Y, Zhang Q. Atomic insights into the inhibition of R3 domain of tau protein by epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin and gallic acid. Biophys Chem 2024; 305:107142. [PMID: 38088006 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Inhibiting tau protein aggregation has become a prospective avenue for the therapeutic development of tauopathies. The third microtubule-binding repeat (R3) domain of tau is confirmed as the most aggregation-favorable fragment of the whole protein. As dimerization is the first step of the aggregation of tau into amyloid fibrils, impeding the dimerization of the R3 domain is critical to prevent the full-length tau aggregation. Natural polyphenol small molecules epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), quercetin (QE) and gallic acid (GA) are proven to inhibit the aggregation of the full-length recombinant tau (For EGCG and QE) or the R3 domain (For GA) of tau in vitro. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the inhibitive effects on the R3 domain of tau remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted numerous all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on R3 dimers with and without EGCG, QE or GA, respectively. The results reveal that all three molecules can effectively decrease the β structure composition of the R3 dimer, induce the dimer to adopt loosely-packed conformations, and weaken interchain interactions, thus impeding the dimerization of the R3 peptide chains. The specific preferentially binding sites for the three molecules exhibit similarities and differences. Hydrophobic, π-π stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions collectively drive EGCG, QE and GA respectively binding on the R3 dimer, while QE also binds with the dimer through cation-π interaction. Given the incurable nature of tauopathies hitherto, our research provides helpful knowledge for the development of drugs to treat tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Tang
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqing Sun
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaqian Wan
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengdong Xu
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zou
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qingwen Zhang
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Guca E, Alarcon R, Palo MZ, Santos L, Alonso-Gil S, Davyt M, de Lima LHF, Boissier F, Das S, Zagrovic B, Puglisi JD, Hashem Y, Ignatova Z. N 6-methyladenosine in 5' UTR does not promote translation initiation. Mol Cell 2024; 84:584-595.e6. [PMID: 38244546 PMCID: PMC10909339 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The most abundant N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification on mRNAs is installed non-stoichiometrically across transcripts, with 5' untranslated regions (5' UTRs) being the least conductive. 5' UTRs are essential for translation initiation, yet the molecular mechanisms orchestrated by m6A remain poorly understood. Here, we combined structural, biochemical, and single-molecule approaches and show that at the most common position, a single m6A does not affect translation yields, the kinetics of translation initiation complex assembly, or start codon recognition both under permissive growth and following exposure to oxidative stress. Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the late preinitiation complex reveal that m6A purine ring established stacking interactions with an arginine side chain of the initiation factor eIF2α, although with only a marginal energy contribution, as estimated computationally. These findings provide molecular insights into m6A interactions with the initiation complex and suggest that the subtle stabilization is unlikely to affect the translation dynamics under homeostatic conditions or stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Guca
- INSERM U1212 Acides nucléiques: Régulations Naturelle et Artificielle (ARNA), Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac 33607, France
| | - Rodrigo Alarcon
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Z Palo
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Leonardo Santos
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Santiago Alonso-Gil
- Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Center for Molecular Biology, University of Vienna, 1030, Vienna, Austria; Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcos Davyt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Leonardo H F de Lima
- INSERM U1212 Acides nucléiques: Régulations Naturelle et Artificielle (ARNA), Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac 33607, France; Department of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of São João Del Rei, Sete Lagoas Campus, Sete Lagoas 35701-970, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fanny Boissier
- INSERM U1212 Acides nucléiques: Régulations Naturelle et Artificielle (ARNA), Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac 33607, France
| | - Sarada Das
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bojan Zagrovic
- Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Center for Molecular Biology, University of Vienna, 1030, Vienna, Austria; Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joseph D Puglisi
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Yaser Hashem
- INSERM U1212 Acides nucléiques: Régulations Naturelle et Artificielle (ARNA), Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac 33607, France.
| | - Zoya Ignatova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
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19
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Ye Y, Zheng L, Hong L, García Sakai V, de Souza NR, Teng D, Wu B, Xu Y, Cai J, Liu Z. Direct Observation of the Mutual Coupling Effect in the Protein-Water-Glycerol Mixture by Combining Neutron Scattering and Selective Deuteration. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:405-414. [PMID: 38183282 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have discussed the impact of cosolvents on the structure, dynamics, and stability of proteins in aqueous solutions. However, the dynamics of cosolvents in the protein-water-cosolvent ternary system is largely unexplored in experiments due to technical difficulty. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay among proteins, water, and cosolvents is still lacking. Here, we employed selective deuteration and neutron scattering techniques to characterize the individual motions of each component in the protein/water/glycerol (GLY) mixture across various temperatures. The consistent dynamic onset temperatures and the correlation between the MSD of the protein and the viscosity of solvents revealed the mutual coupling effects among the three components. Furthermore, our experimental and simulation results showed that the hydrogen bond relaxation energy barrier in the ternary system is ∼43 kJ/mol, whereas in the protein-water binary system it is merely ∼35 kJ/mol. Therefore, we suggest that GLY can enhance hydrogen bond interactions in the ternary system through the mutual coupling effect, thereby serving as one of the protective mechanisms of protein preservation by GLY.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Ye
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lirong Zheng
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Liang Hong
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai National Centre for Applied Mathematics (SJTU Center), MOE-LSC, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai 200232, China
| | - Victoria García Sakai
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science & Technology Facilities Council, Didcot OX11 0QX, U.K
| | - Nicolas R de Souza
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology (ANSTO), Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, New South Wales 2232, Australia
| | - Dahong Teng
- Organ Transplantation Center, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Bin Wu
- Organ Transplantation Center, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Yichao Xu
- Organ Transplantation Center, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Jinzhen Cai
- Organ Transplantation Center, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai National Centre for Applied Mathematics (SJTU Center), MOE-LSC, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai 200232, China
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20
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Fontana C, de Meirelles JL, Verli H. Theoretical models of staurosporine and analogs uncover detailed structural information in biological solution. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 126:108653. [PMID: 37922640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Staurosporine and its analogs (STA-analogs) are indolocarbazoles (ICZs) compounds able to inhibit kinase proteins in a non-specific way, while present antimicrobial and cytostatic properties. The knowledge of molecular features associated to the complexation, including the ligand shape in solution and thermodynamics of complexation, is substantial to the development of new bioactive ICZs with improved therapeutic properties. In this context, the empirical approach of GROMOS force field is able to accurately reproduce condensed phase physicochemical properties of molecular systems after parameterization. Hence, through parameterization under GROMOS force field and molecular simulations, we assessed STA-analogs dynamics in aqueous solution, as well as its interaction with water to probe conformational and structural features involved in complexation to therapeutic targets. The coexistence of multiple conformers observed in simulations, and confirmed by metadynamics calculations, expanding the conformational space knowledge of these ligands with potential implications in understanding the ligand conformational selection during complexation. Also, changes in availability to H-bonding concerning the different substituents and water can reflect on effects at complexation free energy due to variation at the desolvation energetic costs. Based on these results, we expect the obtained structural data provide systemic framework for rational chemical modification of STA-analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crisciele Fontana
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Centro de Biotecnologia, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 (Caixa Postal 15005), Porto Alegre, CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - João Luiz de Meirelles
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Centro de Biotecnologia, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 (Caixa Postal 15005), Porto Alegre, CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Hugo Verli
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Centro de Biotecnologia, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 (Caixa Postal 15005), Porto Alegre, CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
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21
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Nolte TM. 300-fold higher neuro- and immunotoxicity from low-redox transformation of carbamazepine. Toxicol Rep 2023; 11:319-329. [PMID: 37927955 PMCID: PMC10622881 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Current challenges in (eco)toxicology are in understanding the transformation of (reactive) substances, and how transformation affects toxic modes of action. Empirical assessment of transformation products of, practically an infinite number of substances, via experimentation, is impossible. Predicting transformation products for (benchmarking) compounds from conditions, facilitates risk analyses. This study applied calculus to predict transformation products of an important environmental and medicinal/toxicological marker, carbamazepine. As radicals are ubiquitous in humans and the environment, we looked into radical-mediated transformations of carbamazepine as a benchmark. We calculated proportions of their speciation states as function of redox conditions, which we took as pH and O2 concentration, describing transformation via covalent and ionic interactions. Formation of ring-contracted products with neuro-immunological activity is thermodynamically favored under anaerobic conditions and at low pH. Experimentally observed product distributions and toxicities reflect that pattern. Our predictive method may support toxicity predictions for other substances and conditions 'similar' to the current case study via interpolation. This paves the way for a more coherent, effective and easier risk assessment of transformation products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom M. Nolte
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud, University Nijmegen, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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22
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Xiang X, Zhu E, Xiong D, Wen Y, Xing Y, Yue L, He S, Han N, Huang Z. Improving the Thermostability of Thermomyces lanuginosus Lipase by Restricting the Flexibility of N-Terminus and C-Terminus Simultaneously via the 25-Loop Substitutions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16562. [PMID: 38068886 PMCID: PMC10706272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Lipases are catalysts widely applied in industrial fields. To sustain the harsh treatments in industries, optimizing lipase activities and thermal stability is necessary to reduce production loss. (2) The thermostability of Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL) was evaluated via B-factor analysis and consensus-sequence substitutions. Five single-point variants (K24S, D27N, D27R, P29S, and A30P) with improved thermostability were constructed via site-directed mutagenesis. (3) The optimal reaction temperatures of all the five variants displayed 5 °C improvement compared with TLL. Four variants, except D27N, showed enhanced residual activities at 80 °C. The melting temperatures of three variants (D27R, P29S, and A30P) were significantly increased. The molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the 25-loop (residues 24-30) in the N-terminus of the five variants generated more hydrogen bonds with surrounding amino acids; hydrogen bond pair D254-I255 preserved in the C-terminus of the variants also contributes to the improved thermostability. Furthermore, the newly formed salt-bridge interaction (R27…E56) in D27R was identified as a crucial determinant for thermostability. (4) Our study discovered that substituting residues from the 25-loop will enhance the stability of the N-terminus and C-terminus simultaneously, restrict the most flexible regions of TLL, and result in improved thermostability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Xiang
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Enheng Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Diao Xiong
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yin Wen
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yu Xing
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lirong Yue
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Shuang He
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Nanyu Han
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan for Biomass Energy and Biotechnology of Environment, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zunxi Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sustainable and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan for Biomass Energy and Biotechnology of Environment, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
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23
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Ma Z, Mu K, Zhu J, Xiao M, Wang L, Jiang X. Molecular dynamics simulations identify the topological weak spots of a protease CN2S8A. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 124:108571. [PMID: 37487372 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Thermophilic enzymes are highly desired in industrial applications due to their efficient catalytic activity at high temperature. However, most enzymes exhibit inferior thermostability and it remains challenging to identify the optimal sites for designing mutations to improve protein stability. To tackle this issue, we integrated topological analysis and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to efficiently pinpoint the thermally-unstable regions in protein structures. Using a protease CN2S8A as the model, we analyzed the intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between adjacent secondary structure elements, and then identified the topological weak spots of CN2S8A where weak hydrogen bonding interactions were formed. To examine the role of these sites in protein structural stability, we designed three virtual mutations at different weak spots and characterized the effects of these mutations on the structural properties of CN2S8A. The results showed that all three mutations increased the protein structural stability. In conclusion, these findings provide a novel method to identify the topological weak spots of proteins, with implications in the rational design of biocatalysts with superior thermostability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Ma
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Kaijie Mu
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, 3500, Australia
| | - Jingyi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Min Xiao
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Lushan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xukai Jiang
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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24
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Kurapati R, Natarajan U. Complex role of chemical nature and tacticity in the adsorption free energy of carboxylic acid polymers at the oil-water interface: molecular dynamics simulations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:27783-27797. [PMID: 37814803 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp02754f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Scientific understanding of the molecular structure and adsorption of polymers at oil-water liquid interfaces is very limited. In this study the adsorption free energy at the oil (CCl4)-water interface was estimated using umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations for six carboxylate type vinyl polymers differing in hydrophobic nature and tacticity: isotactic and syndiotactic poly(acrylic acid) (i-PAA, s-PAA), isotactic and syndiotactic poly(methacrylic acid) (i-PMA, s-PMA), and atactic and syndiotactic poly(ethylacrylic acid) (a-PEA, s-PEA). ΔGads values are in the order i-PMA < a-PEA < s-PEA < s-PAA < i-PAA < s-PMA. The results show the significant and complex influence of the chemical nature as well as tacticity of the polymer on its adsorption free energy as related to hydrogen bonding and orientation of bonds with respect to oil and water phases. The influence of tacticity is found to be the highest for PMA, which is interpreted to occur due to the balance between interactions among side groups and those occurring between side groups and solvent. Interactions between side-groups are crucial for determining the conformation of PAA (most hydrophilic) and the solvation of the side-group in water is crucial for determining the conformation of PEA (most hydrophobic). The adsorption of PMA represents the transition between these two dominating effects. The molecular contributions to the enthalpy of adsorption indicate that adsorption is favored mainly through two interactions: polymer-CCl4 and water-water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raviteja Kurapati
- Macromolecular Modeling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
| | - Upendra Natarajan
- Macromolecular Modeling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
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25
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Zou Y, Qi B, Tan J, Guan L, Zhang Q, Sun Y, Huang F. Deciphering the Inhibitory Mechanism of Naphthoquinone-Dopamine on the Aggregation of Tau Core Fragments PHF6* and PHF6. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3265-3277. [PMID: 37585669 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation of neurofibrillary tangles by abnormal aggregation of tau protein is considered to be an important pathological characteristic of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Two hexapeptides 275VQIINK280 and 306VQIVYK311 in the microtubule binding region, named PHF6* and PHF6, are known to be aggregation-prone and responsible for tau fibrillization. Previous experiments reported that naphthoquinone-dopamine (NQDA) could effectively inhibit the aggregation of PHF6* and PHF6 and disrupt the fibrillar aggregates into nontoxic species, displaying a dual effect on the amyloid aggregation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains mostly elusive. Herein, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for 114 μs in total to systematically investigate the impacts of NQDA on the oligomerization of PHF6* and PHF6. The conformational ensembles of PHF6* and PHF6 peptides generated by replica exchange MD simulations show that NQDA could effectively prevent the hydrogen bond formation, reduce the ability of peptides to self-assemble into long β-strand and large β-sheets, and induce peptides to form a loosely packed and coil-rich oligomer. The interaction analysis shows that the binding of NQDA to PHF6* is mainly through hydrophobic interactions with residue I277 and hydrogen bonding interactions with Q276; for the PHF6 peptides, NQDA displays a strong π-π stacking interaction with residue Y310, thus impeding the Y310-Y310 π-π stacking and I308-Y310 CH-π interactions. The DA group of NQDA displays a stronger cation-π interaction than the NQ group, while the NQ group exhibits a stronger π-π stacking interaction. MD simulations demonstrate that NQDA prevents the conformational conversion to β-sheet-rich aggregates and displays an inhibitory effect on the oligomerization dynamics of PHF6* and PHF6. Our results provide a complete picture of inhibitory mechanisms of NQDA on PHF6* and PHF6 oligomerization, which may pave the way for designing drug candidates for the treatment of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zou
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Bote Qi
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jingwang Tan
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Lulu Guan
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Qingwen Zhang
- College of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Fengjuan Huang
- Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering (NIIME), Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
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26
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Zhang Z, Wen L, Zhang F, Dang Z, Zhang L. Effects and mechanisms of anion and cation on the gelation of nanosilica sol by all-atom molecular dynamics simulation: promotion or inhibition? SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6490-6500. [PMID: 37581281 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00797a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Nanosilica sol (NSS) is prone to gelation due to the condensation of silicon hydroxyl at normal temperature and pressure, which is further exacerbated by the addition of electrolytes during production. Therefore, the effects of ions and the mechanism of gelation of NSS are crucial for its stability. Herein, all-atom molecular dynamics (AAMD) was carried out to explore the effects and mechanisms of cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+) and anions (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, PO43-) on the sol-gel transition. Results indicated that highly electrophilic cations (e.g., Ca2+) and anions with slightly stronger nucleophilicity than Si(OH)3O- (e.g., NO3-) could inhibit gelation by preventing Si(OH)4 and Si(OH)3O- from approaching the silica surface. Such inhibition is more pronounced in NSS with larger particle sizes. Our findings offer some critical insights into the effects of ions on the gel stability of NSS, which also contributes significantly to screening suitable electrolytes for the production of NSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuqin Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
| | - Liyang Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
| | - Fusheng Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
| | - Zhi Dang
- Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Cluster, Ministry of Education, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Green Chemical Product Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
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27
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Shi R, Cooper AJ, Tanaka H. Impact of hierarchical water dipole orderings on the dynamics of aqueous salt solutions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4616. [PMID: 37550299 PMCID: PMC10406952 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40278-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Ions exhibit highly ion-specific complex behaviours when solvated in water, which remains a mystery despite the fundamental importance of ion solvation in nature, science, and technology. Here we explain these ion-specific properties by the ion-induced hierarchical dipolar, translational, and bond-orientational orderings of ion hydration shell under the competition between ion-water electrostatic interactions and inter-water hydrogen bonding. We first characterise this competition by a new length λHB(q), explaining the ion-specific effects on solution dynamics. Then, by continuously tuning ion size and charge, we find that the bond-orientational order of the ion hydration shell highly develops for specific ion size and charge combinations. This ordering drastically stabilises the hydration shell; its degree changes the water residence time around ions by 11 orders of magnitude for main-group ions. These findings are fundamental to ionic processes in aqueous solutions, providing a physical principle for electrolyte design and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Shi
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Technology and Device, School of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
- Department of Fundamental Engineering, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8505, Japan.
| | - Anthony J Cooper
- Department of Fundamental Engineering, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8505, Japan
- Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9530, USA
| | - Hajime Tanaka
- Department of Fundamental Engineering, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8505, Japan.
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan.
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28
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Zhang C, Cao L, Jiang Y, Huang Z, Liu G, Wei Y, Xia Q. Molecular Dynamics Simulations on the Adsorbed Monolayers of N-Dodecyl Betaine at the Air-Water Interface. Molecules 2023; 28:5580. [PMID: 37513452 PMCID: PMC10384152 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Betaine is a kind of zwitterionic surfactant with both positive and negative charge groups on the polar head, showing good surface activity and aggregation behaviors. The interfacial adsorption, structures and properties of n-dodecyl betaine (NDB) at different surface coverages at the air-water interface are studied through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Interactions between the polar heads and water molecules, the distribution of water molecules around polar heads, the tilt angle of the NDB molecule, polar head and tail chain with respect to the surface normal, the conformations and lengths of the tail chain, and the interfacial thickness of the NDB monolayer are analyzed. The change of surface coverage hardly affects the locations and spatial distributions of the water molecules around the polar heads. As more NDB molecules are adsorbed at the air-water interface, the number of hydrogen bonds between polar heads and water molecules slightly decreases, while the lifetimes of hydrogen bonds become larger. With the increase in surface coverage, less gauche defects along the alkyl chain and longer NDB chain are obtained. The thickness of the NDB monolayer also increases. At large surface coverages, tilted angles of the polar head, tail chain and whole NDB molecule show little change with the increase in surface area. Surface coverages can change the tendency of polar heads and the tail chain for the surface normal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengfeng Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Lulu Cao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Yongkang Jiang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Zhiyao Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Guokui Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Yaoyao Wei
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Qiying Xia
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
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29
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Tang X, Jiang B, Gong Y, Jin Y, He J, Xie H, Guo S, Liu Y. Designing Nonconventional Luminescent Materials with Efficient Emission in Dilute Solutions via Modulation of Dynamic Hydrogen Bonds. Molecules 2023; 28:5240. [PMID: 37446901 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonconventional luminescent materials (NLMs) which do not contain traditional aromatic chromophores are of great interest due to their unique chemical structures, optical properties, and their potential applications in various areas, such as cellular imaging and chemical sensing. However, most reported NLMs show weak or no emission in dilute solutions, which severely limits their applications. In this work, dynamic hydrogen bonds were utilized to design NLMs with efficient emission in dilute solutions. To further validate the results, polymers P1 and P2 were successfully prepared and investigated. It was found that the luminescence quantum efficiency of P1 and P2 at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL in water solution was 8.9 and 0.6%, respectively. The high efficiency can be attributed to the fact that polymer P1 has more intra- or intermolecular dynamic hydrogen bonds and other short interactions than P2 in dilute solutions, allowing P1 to achieve the through-space conjugation effect to increase the degree of system conjugation, restrict molecular motion, and decrease nonradiative transitions, which can effectively improve luminescence. In addition, polymer P2 exhibits the characteristics of clustering-triggered emission, excitation wavelength-dependent and concentration-dependent fluorescence properties, excellent photobleaching resistance, low cytotoxicity, and selective recognition of Fe3+. The present study investigates the manipulation of luminescence properties of NLMs in dilute solutions through the modulation of dynamic hydrogen bonds. This approach can serve as a semi-empirical technique for designing and building innovative NLMs in the times ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuansi Tang
- Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Nonferrous Metal & Materials, Ministry of Education, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Bingli Jiang
- College of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Yongyang Gong
- Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Nonferrous Metal & Materials, Ministry of Education, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yuxin Jin
- College of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Jiao He
- Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Nonferrous Metal & Materials, Ministry of Education, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Huihong Xie
- Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Nonferrous Metal & Materials, Ministry of Education, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Song Guo
- Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Nonferrous Metal & Materials, Ministry of Education, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yuanli Liu
- Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Nonferrous Metal & Materials, Ministry of Education, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
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30
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Ganjali Koli M, Eshaghi Malekshah R, Hajiabadi H. Insights from molecular dynamics and DFT calculations into the interaction of 1,4-benzodiazepines with 2-hydroxypropyl-βCD in a theoretical study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9866. [PMID: 37332009 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36385-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
This study delves into the interaction between benzodiazepine (BZD) drugs and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2HPβCD), a cyclodextrin (CD) known to improve drug delivery and enhance therapeutic outcomes. We find that the 2HPβCD's atoms become more rigid in the presence of chlordiazepoxide (CDP), clonazepam (CLZ), and diazepam (DZM), whereas they become more flexible in the presence of nordazepam (NDM) and nitrazepam (NZP). We also investigated the structure of 2HPβCD and found that loading these drugs increases both the area and volume of the 2HPβCD cavity, making it more suitable for drug delivery. Moreover, this research found that all drugs exhibited negative values for the binding free energy, indicating thermodynamic favorability and improved solubility. The binding free energy order of the BZDs was consistent in both molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo methods, with CDP and DZM having the highest affinity for binding. We also analyzed the contribution of different interaction energies in binding between the carrier and the drugs and found that Van der Waals energy is the primary component. Our results indicate that the number of hydrogen bonds between 2HPβCD/water slightly decreases in the presence of BZDs, but the hydrogen bond's quality remains constant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mokhtar Ganjali Koli
- InSilicoSci Computational Research Centre, Nikopardazesh Ltd., Karaj, Iran
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
| | | | - Hossein Hajiabadi
- InSilicoSci Computational Research Centre, Nikopardazesh Ltd., Karaj, Iran
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31
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Zhou Y, Yao Y, Yang Z, Tang Y, Wei G. Naphthoquinone-dopamine hybrids disrupt α-synuclein fibrils by their intramolecular synergistic interactions with fibrils and display a better effect on fibril disruption. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:14471-14483. [PMID: 37190853 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp00340j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αSyn) is an intrinsically disordered protein and its abnormal aggregation into amyloid fibrils is the main hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). The disruption of preformed αSyn fibrils using small molecules is considered as a potential strategy for PD treatment. Recent experiments have reported that naphthoquinone-dopamine hybrids (NQDA), synthesized by naphthoquinone (NQ) and dopamine (DA) molecules, can significantly disrupt αSyn fibrils and cross the blood-brain barrier. To unravel the fibril-disruptive mechanisms at the atomic level, we performed microsecond molecular dynamics simulations of αSyn fibrils in the absence and presence of NQDA, NQ, DA, or NQ+DA molecules. Our simulations showed that NQDA reduces the β-sheet content, disrupts K45-E57 and E46-K80 salt-bridges, weakens the inter-protofibril interaction, and thus destabilizes the αSyn fibril structure. NQDA has the ability to form cation-π and H-bonding interactions with K45/K80, and form π-π stacking interactions with Y39/F94. Those interactions between NQDA and αSyn fibrils play a crucial role in disaggregating αSyn fibrils. Moreover, we found that NQDA has a better fibril destabilization effect than that of NQ, DA, and NQ+DA molecules. This is attributed to the synergistic fibril-binding effect between NQ and DA groups in NQDA molecules. The DA group can form strong π-π stacking interactions with aromatic residues Y39/F94 of the αSyn fibril, while the DA molecule cannot. In addition, NQDA can form stronger cation-π interactions with residues K45/K80 than those of both NQ and DA molecules. Our results provide the molecular mechanism underlying the disaggregation of the αSyn fibril by NQDA and its better performance in fibril disruption than NQ, DA, and NQ+DA molecules, which offers new clues for the screening and development of promising drug candidates to treat PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhou
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yifei Yao
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhongyuan Yang
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yiming Tang
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guanghong Wei
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China.
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32
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Malik S, Karmakar S, Debnath A. Relaxation time scales of interfacial water upon fluid to ripple to gel phase transitions of bilayers. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:114503. [PMID: 36948835 DOI: 10.1063/5.0138681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The slow relaxation of interface water (IW) across three primary phases of membranes is relevant to understand the influence of IW on membrane functions at supercooled conditions. To this objective, a total of ∼16.26μs all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine lipid membranes are carried out. A supercooling-driven drastic slow-down in heterogeneity time scales of the IW is found at the fluid to the ripple to the gel phase transitions of the membranes. At both fluid-to-ripple-to-gel phase transitions, the IW undergoes two dynamic crossovers in Arrhenius behavior with the highest activation energy at the gel phase due to the highest number of hydrogen bonds. Interestingly, the Stokes-Einstein (SE) relation is conserved for the IW near all three phases of the membranes for the time scales derived from the diffusion exponents and the non-Gaussian parameters. However, the SE relation breaks for the time scale obtained from the self-intermediate scattering functions. The behavioral difference in different time scales is universal and found to be an intrinsic property of glass. The first dynamical transition in the α relaxation time of the IW is associated with an increase in the Gibbs energy of activation of hydrogen bond breaking with locally distorted tetrahedral structures, unlike the bulk water. Thus, our analyses unveil the nature of the relaxation time scales of the IW across membrane phase transitions in comparison with the bulk water. The results will be useful to understand the activities and survival of complex biomembranes under supercooled conditions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheeba Malik
- Department of Chemistry, IIT Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Smarajit Karmakar
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - Ananya Debnath
- Department of Chemistry, IIT Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
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Light, Water, and Melatonin: The Synergistic Regulation of Phase Separation in Dementia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065835. [PMID: 36982909 PMCID: PMC10054283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The swift rise in acceptance of molecular principles defining phase separation by a broad array of scientific disciplines is shadowed by increasing discoveries linking phase separation to pathological aggregations associated with numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, that contribute to dementia. Phase separation is powered by multivalent macromolecular interactions. Importantly, the release of water molecules from protein hydration shells into bulk creates entropic gains that promote phase separation and the subsequent generation of insoluble cytotoxic aggregates that drive healthy brain cells into diseased states. Higher viscosity in interfacial waters and limited hydration in interiors of biomolecular condensates facilitate phase separation. Light, water, and melatonin constitute an ancient synergy that ensures adequate protein hydration to prevent aberrant phase separation. The 670 nm visible red wavelength found in sunlight and employed in photobiomodulation reduces interfacial and mitochondrial matrix viscosity to enhance ATP production via increasing ATP synthase motor efficiency. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that lowers viscosity to increase ATP by scavenging excess reactive oxygen species and free radicals. Reduced viscosity by light and melatonin elevates the availability of free water molecules that allow melatonin to adopt favorable conformations that enhance intrinsic features, including binding interactions with adenosine that reinforces the adenosine moiety effect of ATP responsible for preventing water removal that causes hydrophobic collapse and aggregation in phase separation. Precise recalibration of interspecies melatonin dosages that account for differences in metabolic rates and bioavailability will ensure the efficacious reinstatement of the once-powerful ancient synergy between light, water, and melatonin in a modern world.
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Garrett P, Shirley JC, Baiz CR. Forced Interactions: Ionic Polymers at Charged Surfactant Interfaces. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:2829-2836. [PMID: 36926899 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c08636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing electrostatic interactions at heterogeneous interfaces is critical for developing a fundamental description of the dynamic processes at charged interfaces. Water-in-oil reverse micelles (RMs) offer a high degree of tunability across composition, polarity, and temperature, making them ideal systems for studying interactions at heterogeneous liquid-liquid interfaces. In the present study, we use a combination of ultrafast two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to determine the picosecond interfacial dynamics in RMs containing binary compositions of sorbitan monostearate and anionic or cationic cosurfactants, which are used to tune the ratio of charged to nonionic surfactants at the interface. The positively charged polyethylenimine (PEI) polymer is encapsulated within the RMs, and the carbonyl stretching mode of sorbitan monostearate reports on the interfacial hydrogen-bond populations and dynamics. The results show that hydrogen-bond populations are altered through the inclusion of both negatively and positively charged cosurfactants. Charged surfactants increase interfacial water penetration into the surfactant layer, and the surface localization of polymers decreases water penetration. Local hydrogen-bond dynamics undergo a slowdown with the inclusion of charged surfactants, and the encapsulation of polymers results in similar effects, irrespective of the charge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Garrett
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Joseph C Shirley
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Carlos R Baiz
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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35
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Bonito CA, Ferreira RJ, Ferreira MJU, Gillet JP, Cordeiro MNDS, Dos Santos DJVA. Long-range communication between transmembrane- and nucleotide-binding domains does not depend on drug binding to mutant P-glycoprotein. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:14428-14437. [PMID: 36858814 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2181633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the impact of four P-gp mutations (G185V, G830V, F978A and ΔF335) on drug-binding and efflux-related signal-transmission mechanism was comprehensively evaluated in the presence of ligands within the drug-binding pocket (DBP), experimentally related with changes in their drug efflux profiles. The severe repacking of the transmembrane helices (TMH), induced by mutations and exacerbated by the presence of ligands, indicates that P-gp is sensitive to perturbations in the transmembrane region. Alterations on drug-binding were also observed as a consequence of the TMH repacking, but were not always correlated with alterations on ligands binding mode and/or binding affinity. Finally, and although all P-gp variants holo systems showed considerable changes in the intracellular coupling helices/nucleotide-binding domain (ICH-NBD) interactions, they seem to be primarily induced by the mutation itself rather than by the presence of ligands within the DBP. The data further suggest that the changes in drug efflux experimentally reported are mostly related with changes on drug specificity rather than effects on signal-transmission mechanism. We also hypothesize that an increase in the drug-binding affinity may also be related with the decreased drug efflux, while minor changes in binding affinities are possibly related with the increased drug efflux observed in transfected cells.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia A Bonito
- LAQV@REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo J Ferreira
- Red Glead Discovery AB, Medicon Village, Lund, Sweden
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria-José U Ferreira
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jean-Pierre Gillet
- Laboratory of Molecular Cancer Biology, URPhyM, NARILIS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - M Natália D S Cordeiro
- LAQV@REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniel J V A Dos Santos
- LAQV@REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- CBIOS-Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal
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36
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Özkan AU, Tuncel D, Erbaş A. Effect of Charge State on the Equilibrium and Kinetic Properties of Mechanically Interlocked [5]Rotaxane: A Molecular Dynamics Study. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:1254-1263. [PMID: 36716388 PMCID: PMC9923746 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c07645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Rotaxanes can exhibit stimuli-responsive behavior by allowing positional fluctuations of their rota groups in response to physiochemical conditions such as the changes in solution pH. However, ionic strength of the solution also affects the molecular conformation by altering the charge state of the entire molecule, coupling the stimuli-responsiveness of rotaxanes with their conformation. A molecular-scale investigation on a model system can allow the decoupling and identification of various effects and can greatly benefit applications of such molecular switches. By using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we study equilibrium and kinetics properties of various charge states of the [5]rotaxane, which is a supramolecular moiety with four rotaxanes bonded to a porphyrin core. We model various physiochemical charge states, each of which can be realized at various solution pH levels as well as several exotic charge distributions. By analyzing molecular configurations, hydrogen bonding, and energetics of single molecules in salt-free water and its polyrotaxanated network at the interface of water and chloroform, we demonstrate that charge-neutral and negatively charged molecules often tend to collapse in a way that they can expose their porphyrin core. Contrarily, positively charged moieties tend to take more extended molecular configurations blocking the core. Further, sudden changes in the charge states emulating the pH alterations in solution conditions lead to rapid, sub-10 ns level, changes in the molecular conformation of [5]rotaxane via shuttling motion of CB6 rings along axles. Finally, simulations of 2D [5]rotaxane network structures support our previous findings on a few nanometer-thick film formation at oil-water interfaces. Overall, our results suggest that rotaxane-based structures can exhibit a rich spectrum of molecular configurations and kinetics depending on the ionic strength of the solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ata Utku Özkan
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara06800, Turkey
| | - Dönüş Tuncel
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara06800, Turkey,Department
of Chemistry, Bilkent University, Ankara06800, Turkey
| | - Aykut Erbaş
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara06800, Turkey,E-mail:
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37
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Henrique Santana Silveira P, Pita SSDR. Druggable sites identification in Streptococcus mutans VicRK system evaluated by catechols. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:12000-12015. [PMID: 36703608 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2166118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Dental caries is a global public health problem, being the most common non-communicable disease. Streptococcus mutans, the causative agent of human cariogenic dental biofilms, produce glycosyltransferases (Gtfs) whose gene expression is modulated by the VicRK system, which makes them a promising target for dental biofilm inhibitor developments. Bioinformatics have playing a significant role in drug discovery programs mainly in novel hit identification. In this study, potential inhibitors against the S. mutans VicK system have been identified through Structure-based Virtual Screening performed between the VicK druggable sites followed byMolecular Dynamic simulations (MD) with binding affinity analysis by MM-PBSA approach. First, VicK protein was downloaded from PDB, and druggability analyses were performed by PockDrug and FTMap servers describing three interaction sites (S1, S2, and S3) that covered the most important domains for stability and activity. Next, a catechol virtual screening (n = 383) was performed on AutoDock4.2, and better-docked catechols showed strong binding affinity interaction through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and π-stacking with VicK auto kinase and phosphatase activity sites. Ligand efficiency indexes were also calculated (LE, LELP, LLE, and BEI) and showed optimal values. Furthermore, a 200 ns MD simulation run showed stability (RMSD and RMSF) and a high number of hydrogen bonds into peltatoside and maritimein, the two best VicK complexes. These results supported that catechols could potentially inhibit exopolysaccharides synthesis and be used in the biofilm management of new anti-cariogenic and antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Henrique Santana Silveira
- Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Campus Anísio Teixeira, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA - IMS/CAT), Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil
| | - Samuel Silva da Rocha Pita
- Laboratory of Bioinformatic and Molecular Modelling (LaBiMM), Pharmacy College, Ondina Campus, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
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38
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Moldenhauer M, Tseng HW, Kraskov A, Tavraz NN, Yaroshevich IA, Hildebrandt P, Sluchanko NN, Hochberg GA, Essen LO, Budisa N, Korf L, Maksimov EG, Friedrich T. Parameterization of a single H-bond in Orange Carotenoid Protein by atomic mutation reveals principles of evolutionary design of complex chemical photosystems. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1072606. [PMID: 36776742 PMCID: PMC9909426 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1072606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Dissecting the intricate networks of covalent and non-covalent interactions that stabilize complex protein structures is notoriously difficult and requires subtle atomic-level exchanges to precisely affect local chemical functionality. The function of the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP), a light-driven photoswitch involved in cyanobacterial photoprotection, depends strongly on two H-bonds between the 4-ketolated xanthophyll cofactor and two highly conserved residues in the C-terminal domain (Trp288 and Tyr201). Method: By orthogonal translation, we replaced Trp288 in Synechocystis OCP with 3-benzothienyl-L-alanine (BTA), thereby exchanging the imino nitrogen for a sulphur atom. Results: Although the high-resolution (1.8 Å) crystal structure of the fully photoactive OCP-W288_BTA protein showed perfect isomorphism to the native structure, the spectroscopic and kinetic properties changed distinctly. We accurately parameterized the effects of the absence of a single H-bond on the spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties of OCP photoconversion and reveal general principles underlying the design of photoreceptors by natural evolution. Discussion: Such "molecular surgery" is superior over trial-and-error methods in hypothesis-driven research of complex chemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Moldenhauer
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hsueh-Wei Tseng
- Department of Biocatalysis, Institute of Chemistry L1, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anastasia Kraskov
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Neslihan N. Tavraz
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Igor A. Yaroshevich
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter Hildebrandt
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nikolai N. Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Georg A. Hochberg
- Max-Planck-Institute of Terrestrial Microbiology, Evolutionary Biochemistry Group, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lars-Oliver Essen
- Department of Chemistry and Unit for Structural Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Department of Biocatalysis, Institute of Chemistry L1, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Lukas Korf
- Department of Chemistry and Unit for Structural Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Eugene G. Maksimov
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Thomas Friedrich
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Thomas Friedrich,
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39
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Kříž K, Schmidt L, Andersson AT, Walz MM, van der Spoel D. An Imbalance in the Force: The Need for Standardized Benchmarks for Molecular Simulation. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:412-431. [PMID: 36630710 PMCID: PMC9875315 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Force fields (FFs) for molecular simulation have been under development for more than half a century. As with any predictive model, rigorous testing and comparisons of models critically depends on the availability of standardized data sets and benchmarks. While such benchmarks are rather common in the fields of quantum chemistry, this is not the case for empirical FFs. That is, few benchmarks are reused to evaluate FFs, and development teams rather use their own training and test sets. Here we present an overview of currently available tests and benchmarks for computational chemistry, focusing on organic compounds, including halogens and common ions, as FFs for these are the most common ones. We argue that many of the benchmark data sets from quantum chemistry can in fact be reused for evaluating FFs, but new gas phase data is still needed for compounds containing phosphorus and sulfur in different valence states. In addition, more nonequilibrium interaction energies and forces, as well as molecular properties such as electrostatic potentials around compounds, would be beneficial. For the condensed phases there is a large body of experimental data available, and tools to utilize these data in an automated fashion are under development. If FF developers, as well as researchers in artificial intelligence, would adopt a number of these data sets, it would become easier to compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of different models and to, eventually, restore the balance in the force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Kříž
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-75124Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lisa Schmidt
- Faculty
of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg69117, Germany
| | - Alfred T. Andersson
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-75124Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie-Madeleine Walz
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-75124Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David van der Spoel
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-75124Uppsala, Sweden
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40
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Chen L, Zhang B, Wu Z, Liu G, Li W, Tang Y. In Silico discovery of aptamers with an enhanced library design strategy. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:1005-1013. [PMID: 36733700 PMCID: PMC9883144 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
With advances in force fields and algorithms, robust tools have been developed for molecular simulation of three-dimensional structures of nucleic acids and investigation of aptamer-target interactions. The traditional aptamer discovery technique, Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), continues to suffer from high investment and low return, while in vitro screening by simulated SELEX remains a challenging task, where more accurate structural modeling and enhanced sampling limit the large-scale application of the method. Here, we proposed a modified aptamer enhanced library design strategy to facilitate the screening of target-binding aptamers. In this strategy, a comprehensive analysis of the original complexes and the target secondary structure were used to construct an enhanced initial library for screening. Our enhanced sequence library design strategy based on the target secondary structure explored a certain sequence space while ensuring the accuracy of the structural conformation and the calculation method. In an enhanced library of only a few dozen sequences, four sequences showed a similar or better binding free energy than the original aptamer, with consistently high binding stability over three rounds of multi-timescale simulations, ranging from - 30.27 to - 32.25 kcal/mol. Consequently, the enhanced library strategy based on the target secondary structure is shown to have very significant potential as a new aptamer design and optimization strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Bibi Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zengrui Wu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Guixia Liu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Weihua Li
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yun Tang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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41
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Pirhadi E, Vanegas JM, Farin M, Schertzer JW, Yong X. Effect of Local Stress on Accurate Modeling of Bacterial Outer Membranes Using All-Atom Molecular Dynamics. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:363-372. [PMID: 36579901 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Biological membranes are fundamental components of living organisms that play an undeniable role in their survival. Molecular dynamics (MD) serves as an essential computational tool for studying biomembranes on molecular and atomistic scales. The status quo of MD simulations of biomembranes studies a nanometer-sized membrane patch periodically extended under periodic boundary conditions (PBCs). In nature, membranes are usually composed of different lipids in their two layers (referred to as leaflets). This compositional asymmetry imposes a fixed ratio of lipid numbers between the two leaflets in a periodically constrained membrane, which needs to be set appropriately. The widely adopted methods of defining a leaflet lipid ratio suffer from the lack of control over the mechanical tension of each leaflet, which could significantly influence research findings. In this study, we investigate the role of membrane-building protocol and the resulting initial stress state on the interaction between small molecules and asymmetric membranes. We model the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria using two different building protocols and probe their interactions with the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS). Our results show that differential stress could shift the position of free energy minimum for the PQS molecule between the two leaflets of the asymmetric membrane. This work provides critical insights into the relationship between the initial per-leaflet tension and the spontaneous intercalation of PQS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Pirhadi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000, United States
| | - Juan M Vanegas
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-4003, United States
| | - Mithila Farin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000, United States
| | - Jeffrey W Schertzer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000, United States
| | - Xin Yong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902-6000, United States
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Investigating soil properties and vegetation parameters in different biochar-amended vegetated soil at large suction for application in bioengineered structures. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21261. [PMID: 36481749 PMCID: PMC9732361 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22149-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioengineered structures, such as landfill cover, vegetated slopes or embankments, green roof and turf are comprised of soil and vegetation where vegetation imparts stability and protection through root reinforcement and hydrologic action. Soil in bioengineered structures often compacted and subjected to prolong drying due to irregular irrigation which necessitates the investigation of soil properties and vegetation growth in biochar-amended soil (BAS) under large suction range and it is scarce in the literature. In the present study, the effect of different biochar types on soil properties, and the vegetation growth in compacted soil and under large suction range was investigated for application in bioengineered structures. The results revealed that the biochar amendment decreased the dry density (5-32%) and increased the water retention capacity (θs by 15-104%, θ1500 by 82-445% and plant available water content (PAWC) by 22-55%), pH (28-77%) and cation exchange capacity (CEC, 16-723%) of the soil. Further, the vegetation growth i.e., vegetation density, dry root mass and shoot mass increased by 8-13%, 33-108% and 4-157% respectively after biochar amendment. The vegetation wilting was started at a higher suction (~ 900 kPa) relative to bare soil (800 kPa), the permanent wilting point (PWP) increased (by 3-35%) and the complete photosynthetic activity remained unchanged at a higher suction (1600 kPa) relative to bare soil (1050 kPa) after biochar amendment. Among the biochar types i.e., Sugarcane Bagasse biochar (SBB), Mesquite biochar (MB) and Water Hyacinth biochar (WHB) tested, the MB showed the best performance i.e., the suitable vegetation growth and health status. The improved water retention due to increased porosity, specific surface area (SSA) and presence of hydrophilic functional groups, and the higher pH, CEC and lower dry density in BAS attributed to the higher vegetation growth. The findings of the present study suggest the application of BAS in bioengineered structures.
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JM-20, a Benzodiazepine-Dihydropyridine Hybrid Molecule, Inhibits the Formation of Alpha-Synuclein-Aggregated Species. Neurotox Res 2022; 40:2135-2147. [PMID: 35997936 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-022-00559-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Studies showed that JM-20, a benzodiazepine-dihydropyridine hybrid molecule, protects against rotenone and 6-hydroxydopamine neurotoxicity. However, its protective effects against cytotoxicity induced by endogenous neurotoxins involved in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis have never been investigated. In this study, we evaluated the ability of JM-20 to inhibit alpha-synuclein (aSyn) aggregation. We also evaluated the interactions of JM-20 with aSyn by molecular docking and molecular dynamics and assessed the protective effect of JM-20 against aminochrome cytotoxicity. We demonstrated that JM-20 induced the formation of heterogeneous amyloid fibrils, which were innocuous to primary cultures of mesencephalic cells. Moreover, JM-20 reduced the average size of aSyn positive inclusions in H4 cells transfected with SynT wild-type and synphilin-1-V5, but not in HEK cells transfected with synphilin-1-GFP. In silico studies showed the interaction between JM-20 and the aSyn-binding site. Additionally, we showed that JM-20 protects SH-SY5Y cells against aminochrome cytotoxicity. These results reinforce the potential of JM-20 as a neuroprotective compound for PD and suggest aSyn as a molecular target for JM-20.
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44
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EF4K bola-amphiphilic peptide nanomembrane: structural, energetic and dynamic properties using molecular dynamics. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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45
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Mendanha K, Bruno Assis Oliveira L, Colherinhas G. Modeling, energetic and structural analysis of peptide membranes formed by arginine and phenylalanine (R2F4R2) using fully atomistic molecular dynamics. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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46
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An in-silico study to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of glucosylation on quercetin properties. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2022.113981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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47
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Kurapati R, Natarajan U. Role of Chemical Linkage in Solvation of Polyurethanes in Organic Solvents Studied by Explicit Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Ind Eng Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c02421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raviteja Kurapati
- Macromolecular Modeling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai600036, India
| | - Upendra Natarajan
- Macromolecular Modeling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai600036, India
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48
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Giulia Bordoni P, Colherinhas G. On the influence of increasing the concentration of Au144(SRCOO1-)60 nanoparticles in water/Na1+ solution using molecular dynamics simulations. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Biswas A, Mallik BS. Molecular Simulation-Guided Spectroscopy of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids and Effects of Methylation on Ion-Cage and -Pair Dynamics. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8838-8850. [PMID: 36264223 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c04901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Classical molecular dynamics simulations were performed to assess an atomistic interpretation of the ion-probe structural interactions in two typical ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [BMIm][NTf2] and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [BDimIm][NTf2] through computational ultrafast spectroscopy. The nitrile stretching vibrations of the thiocyanate anion, [SCN]-, serve as the local mode of the ultrafast system dynamics within the imidazolium-based ionic liquid environment. The wavelet transform of classical trajectories determines the time-varying fluctuating frequencies and the stretch spectral signatures of SCN- in the normalized distribution. However, computational modeling of the two-dimensional (2D) spectra from the wavelet-derived vibrational frequencies yields time evolution of the local molecular structure along with the varied time-dependent dynamics of the spectral diffusion process. We calculated the frequency-frequency correlation functions (FFCFs), time correlations associated with the ion-pair and -cage dynamics, and mean square displacements as a function of time, depicting diffusive dynamics. The calculated results based on the pair correlation functions and the distribution of atomic density suggest that the hydrogen and methylated carbon at the two-position of the imidazolium ring of [BMIm] and [BDimIm] cations, respectively, strongly interact with the probe through the N of the thiocyanate anion rather than the S atom. The center-of-mass center-of-mass (COM-COM) cation-probe radial distribution functions (RDFs) in conjunction with the site-specific structural analysis further reveal well-structured interactions of the thiocyanate ion and [BMIm]+ cation rather than the [BDimIm] cation. In contrast, the anion-probe COM-COM RDFs depict weak interactive associations within the vibrational probe [SCN]- and [NTf2]- ions. Methylation at the two-position of the imidazolium ring predicts slower structural reorganization and breaking and reformation dynamics of the ion pairs and cages within the ionic liquid framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aritri Biswas
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy502285, Telangana, India
| | - Bhabani S Mallik
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy502285, Telangana, India
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Tran B, Cai Y, Janik MJ, Milner ST. Hydrogen Bond Thermodynamics in Aqueous Acid Solutions: A Combined DFT and Classical Force-Field Approach. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:7382-7398. [PMID: 36190836 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c04124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The thermodynamics of hydrogen bonds in aqueous and acidic solutions significantly impacts the kinetics and thermodynamics of acid reaction chemistry. We utilize in this work a multiscale approach, combining density functional theory (DFT) with classical molecular dynamics (MD) to model hydrogen bond thermodynamics in an acidic solution. Using thermodynamic cycles, we split the solution phase free energy into its gas phase counterpart plus solvation free energies. We validate this DFT/MD approach by calculating the aqueous phase hydrogen bond free energy between two water molecules (H2O-···-H2O), the free energy to transform an H3O+ cation into an H5O2+ cation, and the hydrogen bond free energy of protonated water clusters (H3O+-···-H2O and H5O2+-···-H2O). The computed equilibrium hydrogen bond free energy of H2O-···-H2O is remarkably accurate, especially considering the large individual contributions to the thermodynamic cycle. Turning to cations, we find the ion to be more stable than H3O+ by roughly 1-2 kBT. This small free energy difference allows for thermal fluctuation between the two idealized motifs, consistent with spectroscopic and simulation studies. Lastly, hydrogen bonding free energies between either H+ cation and H2O in solution were found to be stronger than between two H2O, though much less so than in vacuum because of dielectric screening in solution. Altogether, our results suggest the DFT/MD approach is promising for application in modeling hydrogen bonding and proton transfer thermodynamics in condensed phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolton Tran
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania16801, United States
| | - Yusheng Cai
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19104, United States
| | - Michael J Janik
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania16801, United States
| | - Scott T Milner
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania16801, United States
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