Communication Maps: Exploring Energy Transport through Proteins and Water

Activation-Induced Reorganization of Energy Transport Networks in the β2 Adrenergic Receptor

We compute energy exchange networks (EENs) through the β₂ adrenergic receptor (β₂AR), a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), in inactive and active states, based on the results of molecular dynamics simulations of this membrane bound protein. We introduce a new definition for the reorganization of EENs upon activation that depends on the relative change in rates of energy transfer across noncovalent contacts throughout the protein. On the basis of the reorganized network that we obtain for β₂AR upon activation, we identify a branched pathway between the agonist binding site and the cytoplasmic region, where a G-protein binds to the receptor when activated. The pathway includes all of the motifs containing molecular switches previously identified as contributing to the allosteric transition of β₂AR upon agonist binding. EENs and their reorganization upon activation are compared with structure-based contact networks computed for the inactive and active states of β₂AR.

Energy Transfer across Nonpolar and Polar Contacts in Proteins: Role of Contact Fluctuations

Molecular dynamics simulations of the villin headpiece subdomain HP36 have been carried out to examine relations between rates of vibrational energy transfer across non-covalently bonded contacts and equilibrium structural fluctuations, with focus on van der Waals contacts. Rates of energy transfer across van der Waals contacts vary inversely with the variance of the contact length, with the same constant of proportionality for all nonpolar contacts of HP36. A similar relation is observed for hydrogen bonds, but the proportionality depends on contact pairs, with hydrogen bonds stabilizing the α-helices all exhibiting the same constant of proportionality, one that is distinct from those computed for other polar contacts. Rates of energy transfer across van der Waals contacts are found to be up to 2 orders of magnitude smaller than rates of energy transfer across polar contacts.

Water-Mediated Energy Dynamics in a Homodimeric Hemoglobin

We examine energy dynamics in the unliganded and liganded states of the homodimeric hemoglobin from Scapharca inaequivalvis (HbI), which exhibits cooperativity mediated by the cluster of water molecules at the interface upon ligand binding and dissociation. We construct and analyze a dynamic network in which nodes representing the residues, hemes, and water cluster are connected by edges that represent energy transport times, as well as a nonbonded network (NBN) indicating regions that respond rapidly to local strain within the protein via nonbonded interactions. One of the two largest NBNs includes the Lys30-Asp89 salt bridge critical for stabilizing the dimer. The other includes the hemes and surrounding residues, as well as, in the unliganded state, the cluster of water molecules between the globules. Energy transport in the protein appears to be controlled by the Lys30-Asp89 salt bridge critical for stabilizing the dimer, as well as the interface water cluster in the unliganded state. Possible connections between energy transport dynamics in response to local strain identified here and allosteric transitions in HbI are discussed.