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Deeks HM, Zinovjev K, Barnoud J, Mulholland AJ, van der Kamp MW, Glowacki DR. Free energy along drug-protein binding pathways interactively sampled in virtual reality. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16665. [PMID: 37794083 PMCID: PMC10551034 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43523-x] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe a two-step approach for combining interactive molecular dynamics in virtual reality (iMD-VR) with free energy (FE) calculation to explore the dynamics of biological processes at the molecular level. We refer to this combined approach as iMD-VR-FE. Stage one involves using a state-of-the-art 'human-in-the-loop' iMD-VR framework to generate a diverse range of protein-ligand unbinding pathways, benefitting from the sophistication of human spatial and chemical intuition. Stage two involves using the iMD-VR-sampled pathways as initial guesses for defining a path-based reaction coordinate from which we can obtain a corresponding free energy profile using FE methods. To investigate the performance of the method, we apply iMD-VR-FE to investigate the unbinding of a benzamidine ligand from a trypsin protein. The binding free energy calculated using iMD-VR-FE is similar for each pathway, indicating internal consistency. Moreover, the resulting free energy profiles can distinguish energetic differences between pathways corresponding to various protein-ligand conformations (e.g., helping to identify pathways that are more favourable) and enable identification of metastable states along the pathways. The two-step iMD-VR-FE approach offers an intuitive way for researchers to test hypotheses for candidate pathways in biomolecular systems, quickly obtaining both qualitative and quantitative insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen M Deeks
- Center for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Kirill Zinovjev
- Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Jonathan Barnoud
- Center for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
- CiTIUS | Centro Singular de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Intelixentes da USC, Rúa de Jenaro de la Fuente, s/n, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Center for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Marc W van der Kamp
- Center for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
| | - David R Glowacki
- CiTIUS | Centro Singular de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Intelixentes da USC, Rúa de Jenaro de la Fuente, s/n, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
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2
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Semelak JA, Zeida A, Foglia NO, Estrin DA. Minimum Free Energy Pathways of Reactive Processes with Nudged Elastic Bands. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:6273-6293. [PMID: 37647166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The determination of minimum free energy pathways (MFEP) is one of the most widely used strategies to study reactive processes. For chemical reactions in complex environments, the combination of quantum mechanics (QM) with a molecular mechanics (MM) representation is usually necessary in a hybrid QM/MM framework. However, even within the QM/MM approximation, the affordable sampling of the phase space is, in general, quite restricted. To reduce drastically the computational cost of the simulations, several methods such as umbrella sampling require performing a priori a selection of a reaction coordinate. The quality of the computed results, in an affordable computational time, is intimately related to the reaction coordinate election which is, in general, a nontrivial task. In this work, we provide an approach to model reactive processes in complex environments that does not require the a priori selection of a reaction coordinate. The proposed methodology combines QM/MM simulations with an extrapolation of the nudged elastic bands (NEB) method to the free energy surface (FENEB). We present and apply our own FENEB scheme to optimize MFEP in different reactive processes, using QM/MM frameworks at semiempirical and density functional theory levels. Our implementation is based on performing the FENEB optimization by uncoupling the optimization of the band in a perpendicular and tangential direction. In each step, a full optimization with the spring force is performed, which guarantees that the images remain evenly distributed. The robustness of the method and the influence of sampling on the quality of the optimized MFEP and its associated free energy barrier are studied. We show that the FENEB method provides a good estimation of the reaction barrier even with relatively short simulation times, supporting that its combination with QM/MM frameworks provides an adequate tool to study chemical processes in complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Semelak
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1428EHA, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1428EHA, Argentina
| | - Ari Zeida
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Nicolás O Foglia
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45470, Germany
| | - Darío A Estrin
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1428EHA, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1428EHA, Argentina
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Martí S. QMCube (QM 3 ): An all-purpose suite for multiscale QM/MM calculations. J Comput Chem 2021; 42:447-457. [PMID: 33337551 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.26465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
QMCube (QM3 ) is a suite written in the Python programming language, initially focused on multiscale QM/MM simulations of biological systems, but open enough to address other kinds of problems. It allows the user to combine highly efficient QM and MM programs, providing unified access to a wide range of computational methods. The suite also supplies additional modules with extra functionalities. These modules facilitate common tasks such as performing the setup of the models or process the data generated during the simulations. The design of QM3 has been carried out considering the least number of external dependencies (only an algebra library, already included in the distribution), which makes it extremely portable. Also, the modular structure of the suite should help to expand and develop new computational methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Martí
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
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4
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Recabarren R, Zinovjev K, Tuñón I, Alzate-Morales J. How a Second Mg 2+ Ion Affects the Phosphoryl-Transfer Mechanism in a Protein Kinase: A Computational Study. ACS Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c03304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Recabarren
- Centro de Bioinformática, Simulación y Modelado (CBSM), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Talca, 1 Poniente, 1141 Talca, Chile
| | - Kirill Zinovjev
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Iñaki Tuñón
- Departament de Química Física, Universitat de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Jans Alzate-Morales
- Centro de Bioinformática, Simulación y Modelado (CBSM), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Talca, 1 Poniente, 1141 Talca, Chile
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5
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Lodola A, Callegari D, Scalvini L, Rivara S, Mor M. Design and SAR Analysis of Covalent Inhibitors Driven by Hybrid QM/MM Simulations. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2114:307-337. [PMID: 32016901 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0282-9_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) hybrid technique is emerging as a reliable computational method to investigate and characterize chemical reactions occurring in enzymes. From a drug discovery perspective, a thorough understanding of enzyme catalysis appears pivotal to assist the design of inhibitors able to covalently bind one of the residues belonging to the enzyme catalytic machinery. Thanks to the current advances in computer power, and the availability of more efficient algorithms for QM-based simulations, the use of QM/MM methodology is becoming a viable option in the field of covalent inhibitor design. In the present review, we summarized our experience in the field of QM/MM simulations applied to drug design problems which involved the optimization of agents working on two well-known drug targets, namely fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In this context, QM/MM simulations gave valuable information in terms of geometry (i.e., of transition states and metastable intermediates) and reaction energetics that allowed to correctly predict inhibitor binding orientation and substituent effect on enzyme inhibition. What is more, enzyme reaction modelling with QM/MM provided insights that were translated into the synthesis of new covalent inhibitor featured by a unique combination of intrinsic reactivity, on-target activity, and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Lodola
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Donatella Callegari
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Tuñón I, Williams IH. The transition state and cognate concepts. ADVANCES IN PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.apoc.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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7
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Hovan L, Comitani F, Gervasio FL. Defining an Optimal Metric for the Path Collective Variables. J Chem Theory Comput 2018; 15:25-32. [PMID: 30468578 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.8b00563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Path Collective Variables (PCVs) are a set of path-like variables that have been successfully used to investigate complex chemical and biological processes and compute their associated free energy surfaces and kinetics. Their current implementation relies on general, but at times inefficient, metrics (such as RMSD or DRMSD) to evaluate the distance between the instantaneous conformational state during the simulation and the reference coordinates defining the path. In this work, we present a new algorithm to construct optimal PCVs metrics as linear combinations of different CVs weighted through a spectral gap optimization procedure. The method was tested first on a simple model, trialanine peptide, in vacuo and then on a more complex path of an anticancer inhibitor binding to its pharmacological target. We also compared the results to those obtained with other path-based algorithms. We find that not only our proposed approach is able to automatically select relevant CVs for the PCVs metric but also that the resulting PCVs allow for reconstructing the associated free energy very efficiently. What is more, at difference with other path-based methods, our algorithm is able to explore nonlocally the reaction path space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ladislav Hovan
- Department of Chemistry , University College London , London WC1E 6BT , United Kingdom
| | - Federico Comitani
- Department of Chemistry , University College London , London WC1E 6BT , United Kingdom
| | - Francesco L Gervasio
- Department of Chemistry , University College London , London WC1E 6BT , United Kingdom.,Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology , University College London , London WC1E 6BT , United Kingdom
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Zinovjev K, Tuñón I. Adaptive Finite Temperature String Method in Collective Variables. J Phys Chem A 2017; 121:9764-9772. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b10842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Zinovjev
- Departament de Química
Física, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Iñaki Tuñón
- Departament de Química
Física, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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Abstract
Approaches to determine chlorine kinetic isotope effects (Cl-KIEs) on enzymatic dehalogenations are discussed and illustrated by representative examples. Three aspects are considered. First methodology for experimental measurement of Cl-KIEs, with stress being on FAB-IRMS technique developed in our laboratory, is described. Subsequently, we concentrate our discussion on the consequences of reaction complexity in the interpretation of experimental values, a problem especially important in cases of polychlorinated reactants. The most fruitful studies of enzymatic dehalogenations by Cl-KIEs require their theoretical evaluation, hence the computational focus of the second part of this chapter.
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10
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Zinovjev K, Tuñón I. Reaction coordinates and transition states in enzymatic catalysis. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Zinovjev
- Departament de Química FísicaUniversitat de València Valencia Spain
| | - Iñaki Tuñón
- Departament de Química FísicaUniversitat de València Valencia Spain
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11
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Manna RN, Zinovjev K, Tuñón I, Dybala-Defratyka A. Dehydrochlorination of Hexachlorocyclohexanes Catalyzed by the LinA Dehydrohalogenase. A QM/MM Study. J Phys Chem B 2015; 119:15100-9. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b07538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rabindra Nath Manna
- Institute
of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, Lodz 90-924, Poland
| | - Kirill Zinovjev
- Departament
de Química Física, Universitat de Valéncia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Iñaki Tuñón
- Departament
de Química Física, Universitat de Valéncia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Agnieszka Dybala-Defratyka
- Institute
of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, Lodz 90-924, Poland
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12
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Zinovjev K, Tuñón I. Transition state ensemble optimization for reactions of arbitrary complexity. J Chem Phys 2015; 143:134111. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4931596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Zinovjev
- Departament de Química Física, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Iñaki Tuñón
- Departament de Química Física, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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13
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Dumont E, Monari A. Understanding DNA under oxidative stress and sensitization: the role of molecular modeling. Front Chem 2015; 3:43. [PMID: 26236706 PMCID: PMC4500984 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2015.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA is constantly exposed to damaging threats coming from oxidative stress, i.e., from the presence of free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Sensitization from exogenous and endogenous compounds that strongly enhance the frequency of light-induced lesions also plays an important role. The experimental determination of DNA lesions, though a difficult subject, is somehow well established and allows to elucidate even extremely rare DNA lesions. In parallel, molecular modeling has become fundamental to clearly understand the fine mechanisms related to DNA defects induction. Indeed, it offers an unprecedented possibility to get access to an atomistic or even electronic resolution. Ab initio molecular dynamics may also describe the time-evolution of the molecular system and its reactivity. Yet the modeling of DNA (photo-)reactions does necessitate elaborate multi-scale methodologies to tackle a damage induction reactivity that takes place in a complex environment. The double-stranded DNA environment is first characterized by a very high flexibility, but also a strongly inhomogeneous electrostatic embedding. Additionally, one aims at capturing more subtle effects, such as the sequence selectivity which is of critical important for DNA damage. The structure and dynamics of the DNA/sensitizers complexes, as well as the photo-induced electron- and energy-transfer phenomena taking place upon sensitization, should be carefully modeled. Finally the factors inducing different repair ratios for different lesions should also be rationalized. In this review we will critically analyze the different computational strategies used to model DNA lesions. A clear picture of the complex interplay between reactivity and structural factors will be sketched. The use of proper multi-scale modeling leads to the in-depth comprehension of DNA lesions mechanisms and also to the rational design of new chemo-therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Dumont
- Laboratoire de Chimie, UMR 5182 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon Lyon, France
| | - Antonio Monari
- Université de Lorraine - Nancy, Theory-Modeling-Simulation, Structure et Réactivité des Systèmes Moléculaires Complexes (SRSMC) Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Theory-Modeling-Simulation, Structure et Réactivité des Systèmes Moléculaires Complexes (SRSMC) Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France
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