The Oniom Method and its Applications to Enzymatic Reactions

Computational insights on the hydride and proton transfer mechanisms of L-proline dehydrogenase

L-Proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) is a flavin-dependent oxidoreductase, which catalyzes the oxidation of L-proline to (S)-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate. Based on the experimental studies, a stepwise proton and hydride transfer mechanism is supported. According to this mechanism, the amino group of L-proline is deprotonated by a nearby Lys residue, which is followed by the hydride transfer process from C5 position of L-proline to N5 position of isoalloxazine ring of FAD. It was concluded that the hydride transfer step is rate limiting in the reductive half-reaction, however, in the overall reaction, the oxidation of FAD is the rate limiting step. In this study, we performed a computational mechanistic investigation based on ONIOM method to elucidate the mechanism of the reductive half-reaction corresponding to the oxidation of L-proline into iminoproline. Our calculations support the stepwise mechanism in which the deprotonation occurs initially as a fast step as result of a proton transfer from L-proline to the Lys residue. Subsequently, a hydride ion transfers from L-proline to FAD with a higher activation barrier. The enzyme-product complex showed a strong interaction between reduced FAD and iminoproline, which might help to explain why a step in the oxidative half-reaction is rate-limiting.

Computational Insights on the Hydride and Proton Transfer Mechanisms of D-Arginine Dehydrogenase

D-Arginine dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PaDADH) is an amine oxidase which catalyzes the conversion of D-arginine into iminoarginine. It contains a non-covalent FAD cofactor that is involved in the oxidation mechanism. Based on substrate, solvent, and multiple kinetic isotope effects studies, a stepwise hydride transfer mechanism is proposed. It was shown that D-arginine binds to the active site of enzyme as α-amino group protonated, and it is deprotonated before a hydride ion is transferred from its α-C to FAD. Based on a mutagenesis study, it was concluded that a water molecule is the most likely catalytic base responsible from the deprotonation of α-amino group. In this study, we formulated computational models based on ONIOM method to elucidate the oxidation mechanism of D-arginine into iminoarginine using the crystal structure of enzyme complexed with iminoarginine. The calculations showed that Arg222, Arg305, Tyr249, Glu87, His 48, and two active site water molecules play key roles in binding and catalysis. Model systems showed that the deprotonation step occurs prior to hydride transfer step, and active site water molecule(s) may have participated in the deprotonation process.

Computational Mechanistic Study of l-Aspartate Oxidase by ONIOM Method

l-Aspartate oxidase (Laspo) is responsible for the oxidation of l-aspartate into iminoaspartate using flavin as a cofactor. During this process flavin is reduced, and it can be reoxidized by either molecular oxygen or fumarate. The overall fold and the catalytic residues of Laspo are similar to succinate dehydrogenase and fumarate reductase. On the basis of deuterium kinetic isotope effects as well as other kinetic and structural data, it is proposed that the enzyme can catalyze the oxidation of l-aspartate through a mechanism similar to amino acid oxidases. It is suggested that a proton is removed from the α-amino group, while a hydride is transferred from C2 to flavin. It is also suggested that the hydride transfer is a rate-limiting step. However, there is still an ambiguity about the stepwise or concerted mechanism of hydride- and proton-transfer steps. In this study, we formulated some computational models to study the hydride-transfer mechanism using the crystal structure of Escherichia colil-aspartate oxidase in complexes with succinate. The calculations involved our own N-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics method, and we evaluated the geometry and energetics of the hydride/proton-transfer processes while probing the roles of active site residues. Based on the calculations, it is concluded that proton- and hydride-transfer steps are decoupled, and a stepwise mechanism might be operative as opposed to the concerted one.

Computational vaccinology guided design of multi-epitope subunit vaccine against a neglected arbovirus of the Americas

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arbovirus found in the Americas that can cause debilitating arthritogenic disease. Although it is an emerging virus, the only current approach is vector control, as there are no approved vaccines to prevent MAYV infection nor therapeutics to treat it. In search of an effective vaccine candidate against MAYV, we used immunoinformatics and molecular modeling to attempt to identify promiscuous T-cell epitopes of the nonstructural polyproteins (nsP1, nsP2, nsP3, and nsP4) from 127 MAYV genomes sequenced in the Americas (08 Bolivia, 72 Brazil, 04 French Guiana, 05 Haiti, 20 Peru, 04 Trinidad and Tobago, and 14 Venezuela). For this purpose, consensus sequences of 360 proteins were used to identify short protein sequences that can bind to MHC I class (MHC II). Our analysis revealed 56 potential MHC-I/TCD8+ (29 MHC-II/TCD4+) epitopes, but only 6 (16) TCD8+ (TCD4+) epitopes showed high antigenicity and conservation, non-allergenicity, non-toxicity, and excellent population coverage. Finally, classical and quantum mechanical calculations (QM:MM) were used to improve the quality of the docking calculations, with the QM part of the simulations performed using the density functional theory formalism (DFT). These results provide insights for the advancement of diagnostic platforms, vaccine development, and immunotherapeutic interventions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Computational Analysis of the Nicotine Oxidoreductase Mechanism by the ONIOM Method

Nicotine oxidoreductase (NicA2) is a monoamine oxidase (MAO)-based flavoenzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of S-nicotine into N-methylmyosmine. Due to its nanomolar binding affinity toward nicotine, it is seen as an ideal candidate for the treatment of nicotine addiction. Based on the crystal structure of the substrate-bound enzyme, hydrophobic interactions mainly govern the binding of the substrate in the active site through Trp108, Trp364, Trp427, and Leu217 residues. In addition, Tyr308 forms H-bonding with the pyridyl nitrogen of the substrate. Experimental and computational studies support the hydride transfer mechanism for MAO-based enzymes. In this mechanism, a hydride ion transfers from the substrate to the flavin cofactor. In this study, computational models involving the ONIOM method were formulated to study the hydride transfer mechanism based on the crystal structure of the enzyme-substrate complex. The geometry and energetics of the hydride transfer mechanism were analyzed, and the roles of active site residues were highlighted.

On the Accuracy of QM/MM Models: A Systematic Study of Intramolecular Proton Transfer Reactions of Amino Acids in Water

This work presents a systematic assessment of QM/QM' and QM/MM models with respect to direct QM calculations for the tautomerization (neutral to zwitterion) reactions of amino acids (glycine, alanine, valine, aspartate, and neutral and protonated histidine) solvated in a 160 water cluster. The effect of varying QM region size and choice of embedding potentials, including fixed-charge and polarizable molecular mechanics force fields (TIP3P and EFP) and various semiempirical QM methods (PM7, GFN2-xTB, DFTBA, DFTB3, HF-3c, and PBEh-3c), on the accuracy of the models was examined. A surprising finding was that molecular mechanics force fields outperformed many of the semiempirical methods. Generally, the errors in the QM/QM' and QM/MM models converge slowly with respect to the QM region size, requiring 50 or more waters to be included in the QM region before the error in the model falls below 1 kcal mol^-1 of its pure QM result. Different QM region selection schemes were also compared, and it was found that selection based on Natural Population Analysis (NPA) atomic charges significantly reduced the error in the QM/QM' and QM/MM models particularly if a low-quality embedding potential was used. It is envisaged that these results will be useful for the development of future hybrid QM models.

Mechanistic study of L-6-hydroxynicotine oxidase by DFT and ONIOM methods

L-6-Hydroxynicotine oxidase (LHNO) is a member of monoamine oxidase (MAO) family and catalyzes conversion of (S)-6-hydroxynicotine to 6-hydroxypseudooxynicotine during bacterial degradation of nicotine. Recent studies indicated that the enzyme catalyzes oxidation of carbon-nitrogen bond instead of previously proposed carbon-carbon bond. Based on kinetics and mutagenesis studies, Asn166, Tyr311, and Lys287 as well as an active site water molecule have roles in the catalysis of the enzyme. A number of studies including experimental and computational methods support hydride transfer mechanism in MAO family as a common mechanism in which a hydride ion transfer from amine substrate to flavin cofactor is the rate-limiting step. In this study, we formulated computational models to study the hydride transfer mechanism using crystal structure of enzyme-substrate complex. The calculations involved ONIOM and DFT methods, and we evaluated the geometry and energetics of the hydride transfer process while probing the roles of active site residues. Based on the calculations involving hydride, radical, and polar mechanisms, it was concluded that hydride transfer mechanism is the only viable mechanism for LHNO.

Comparative Computational Approach To Study Enzyme Reactions Using QM and QM-MM Methods

Choline oxidase catalyzes oxidation of choline into glycine betaine through a two-step reaction pathway employing flavin as the cofactor. On the light of kinetic studies, it is proposed that a hydride ion is transferred from α-carbon of choline/hydrated-betaine aldehyde to the N5 position of flavin in the rate-determining step, which is preceded by deprotonation of hydroxyl group of choline/hydrated-betaine aldehyde to one of the possible basic side chains. Using the crystal structure of glycine betaine-choline oxidase complex, we formulated two computational systems to study the hydride-transfer mechanism including main active-site amino acid side chains, flavin cofactor, and choline as a model system. The first system used pure density functional theory calculations, whereas the second approach used a hybrid ONIOM approach consisting of density functional and molecular mechanics calculations. We were able to formulate in silico model active sites to study the hydride-transfer steps by utilizing noncovalent chemical interactions between choline/betaine aldehyde and active-site amino acid chains using an atomistic approach. We evaluated and compared the geometries and energetics of hydride-transfer process using two different systems. We highlighted chemical interactions and studied the effect of protonation state of an active-site histidine base on the energetics of transfer. Furthermore, we evaluated energetics of the second hydride-transfer process as well as hydration of betaine aldehyde.