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Nikolaev DM, Shtyrov AA, Vyazmin SY, Vasin AV, Panov MS, Ryazantsev MN. Fluorescence of the Retinal Chromophore in Microbial and Animal Rhodopsins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17269. [PMID: 38139098 PMCID: PMC10743670 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417269] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence of the vast majority of natural opsin-based photoactive proteins is extremely low, in accordance with their functions that depend on efficient transduction of absorbed light energy. However, several recently proposed classes of engineered rhodopsins with enhanced fluorescence, along with the discovery of a new natural highly fluorescent rhodopsin, NeoR, opened a way to exploit these transmembrane proteins as fluorescent sensors and draw more attention to studies on this untypical rhodopsin property. Here, we review the available data on the fluorescence of the retinal chromophore in microbial and animal rhodopsins and their photocycle intermediates, as well as different isomers of the protonated retinal Schiff base in various solvents and the gas phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii M. Nikolaev
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetskii pr, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey A. Shtyrov
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetskii pr, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergey Yu. Vyazmin
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina Street, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey V. Vasin
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 29 Polytechnicheskaya Str., 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maxim S. Panov
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetskii pr, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Center for Biophysical Studies, St. Petersburg State Chemical Pharmaceutical University, Professor Popov str. 14, lit. A, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail N. Ryazantsev
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetskii pr, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
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Cárdenas G, Ledentu V, Huix-Rotllant M, Olivucci M, Ferré N. Automatic Rhodopsin Modeling with Multiple Protonation Microstates. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:9365-9380. [PMID: 37877699 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c05413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Automatic Rhodopsin Modeling (ARM) is a simulation protocol providing QM/MM models of rhodopsins capable of reproducing experimental electronic absorption and emission trends. Currently, ARM is restricted to a single protonation microstate for each rhodopsin model. Herein, we incorporate an extension of the minimal electrostatic model (MEM) into the ARM protocol to account for all relevant protonation microstates at a given pH. The new ARM+MEM protocol determines the most important microstates contributing to the description of the absorption spectrum. As a test case, we have applied this methodology to simulate the pH-dependent absorption spectrum of a toy model, showing that the single-microstate picture breaks down at certain pH values. Subsequently, we applied ARM+MEM toAnabaenasensory rhodopsin, confirming an improved description of its absorption spectrum when the titration of several key residues is considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Massimo Olivucci
- Department of Chemistry, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, United States
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Nicolas Ferré
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR, 13013 Marseille, France
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Nikolaev DM, Mironov VN, Shtyrov AA, Kvashnin ID, Mereshchenko AS, Vasin AV, Panov MS, Ryazantsev MN. Fluorescence Imaging of Cell Membrane Potential: From Relative Changes to Absolute Values. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032435. [PMID: 36768759 PMCID: PMC9916766 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane potential is a fundamental property of biological cells. Changes in membrane potential characterize a vast number of vital biological processes, such as the activity of neurons and cardiomyocytes, tumorogenesis, cell-cycle progression, etc. A common strategy to record membrane potential changes that occur in the process of interest is to utilize organic dyes or genetically-encoded voltage indicators with voltage-dependent fluorescence. Sensors are introduced into target cells, and alterations of fluorescence intensity are recorded with optical methods. Techniques that allow recording relative changes of membrane potential and do not take into account fluorescence alterations due to factors other than membrane voltage are already widely used in modern biological and biomedical studies. Such techniques have been reviewed previously in many works. However, in order to investigate a number of processes, especially long-term processes, the measured signal must be corrected to exclude the contribution from voltage-independent factors or even absolute values of cell membrane potential have to be evaluated. Techniques that enable such measurements are the subject of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii M. Nikolaev
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies, Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, 29 Polytechnicheskaya str., 195251 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina str., 194021 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir N. Mironov
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina str., 194021 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey A. Shtyrov
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies, Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, 29 Polytechnicheskaya str., 195251 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina str., 194021 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Iaroslav D. Kvashnin
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina str., 194021 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey S. Mereshchenko
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetskii pr, 198504 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey V. Vasin
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies, Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, 29 Polytechnicheskaya str., 195251 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maxim S. Panov
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetskii pr, 198504 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Center for Biophysical Studies, Saint Petersburg State Chemical Pharmaceutical University, 14 Professor Popov str., lit. A, 197022 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail N. Ryazantsev
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina str., 194021 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetskii pr, 198504 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence:
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Watkins SL. Current Trends and Changes in Use of Membrane Molecular Dynamics Simulations within Academia and the Pharmaceutical Industry. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:148. [PMID: 36837651 PMCID: PMC9961006 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13020148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
There has been an almost exponential increase in the use of molecular dynamics simulations in basic research and industry over the last 5 years, with almost a doubling in the number of publications each year. Many of these are focused on neurological membranes, and biological membranes in general, applied to the medical industry. A smaller portion have utilized membrane simulations to answer more basic questions related to the function of specific proteins, chemicals or biological processes. This review covers some newer studies, alongside studies from the last two decades, to determine changes in the field. Some of these are basic, while others are more profound, such as multi-component embedded membrane machinery. It is clear that many facets of the discipline remain the same, while the focus on and uses of the technology are broadening in scope and utilization as a general research tool. Analysis of recent literature provides an overview of the current methodologies, covers some of the recent trends or advances and tries to make predictions of the overall path membrane molecular dynamics will follow in the coming years. In general, the overview presented is geared towards the general scientific community, who may wish to introduce the use of these methodologies in light of these changes, making molecular dynamic simulations more feasible for general scientific or medical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan L Watkins
- Plant Pathology and CRGB, Oregon State University, 2701 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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Wijesiri K, Gascón JA. Microsolvation Effects in the Spectral Tuning of Heliorhodopsin. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:5803-5809. [PMID: 35894868 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c03672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Heliorhodopsins (HeR) are a new category of heptahelical transmembrane photoactive proteins with a covalently linked all-trans retinal. The protonated Schiff base (PSB) nitrogen in the retinal is stabilized by a negatively charged counterion. It is well-known that stronger or weaker electrostatic interactions with the counterion cause a significant spectral blue- or red-shift, respectively, in both microbial and animal rhodopsins. In HeR, however, while Glu107 acts as the counterion, mutations of this residue are not directly correlated with a spectral shift. A molecular dynamics analysis revealed that a water cluster pocket produces a microsolvation effect on the Schiff base, compensating to various extents the replacement of the native counterion. Using a combination of molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanics (QM/MM), we study this microsolvation effect on the electronic absorption of the retinylidene Schiff base chromophore of HeR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kithmini Wijesiri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3060, United States
| | - José A Gascón
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3060, United States
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de Grip WJ, Ganapathy S. Rhodopsins: An Excitingly Versatile Protein Species for Research, Development and Creative Engineering. Front Chem 2022; 10:879609. [PMID: 35815212 PMCID: PMC9257189 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.879609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The first member and eponym of the rhodopsin family was identified in the 1930s as the visual pigment of the rod photoreceptor cell in the animal retina. It was found to be a membrane protein, owing its photosensitivity to the presence of a covalently bound chromophoric group. This group, derived from vitamin A, was appropriately dubbed retinal. In the 1970s a microbial counterpart of this species was discovered in an archaeon, being a membrane protein also harbouring retinal as a chromophore, and named bacteriorhodopsin. Since their discovery a photogenic panorama unfolded, where up to date new members and subspecies with a variety of light-driven functionality have been added to this family. The animal branch, meanwhile categorized as type-2 rhodopsins, turned out to form a large subclass in the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors and are essential to multiple elements of light-dependent animal sensory physiology. The microbial branch, the type-1 rhodopsins, largely function as light-driven ion pumps or channels, but also contain sensory-active and enzyme-sustaining subspecies. In this review we will follow the development of this exciting membrane protein panorama in a representative number of highlights and will present a prospect of their extraordinary future potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem J. de Grip
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biophysical Organic Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Srividya Ganapathy
- Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
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Kulkarni PU, Shah H, Vyas VK. Hybrid Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) Simulation: A Tool for Structure-based Drug Design and Discovery. Mini Rev Med Chem 2021; 22:1096-1107. [PMID: 34620049 DOI: 10.2174/1389557521666211007115250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Quantum mechanics (QM) is physics based theory which explains the physical properties of nature at the level of atoms and sub-atoms. Molecular mechanics (MM) construct molecular systems through the use of classical mechanics. So, hybrid quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) when combined together can act as computer-based methods which can be used to calculate structure and property data of molecular structures. Hybrid QM/MM combines the strengths of QM with accuracy and MM with speed. QM/MM simulation can also be applied for the study of chemical process in solutions as well as in the proteins, and has a great scope in structure-based drug design (CADD) and discovery. Hybrid QM/MM also applied to HTS, to derive QSAR models and due to availability of many protein crystal structures; it has a great role in computational chemistry, especially in structure- and fragment-based drug design. Fused QM/MM simulations have been developed as a widespread method to explore chemical reactions in condensed phases. In QM/MM simulations, the quantum chemistry theory is used to treat the space in which the chemical reactions occur; however the rest is defined through molecular mechanics force field (MMFF). In this review, we have extensively reviewed recent literature pertaining to the use and applications of hybrid QM/MM simulations for ligand and structure-based computational methods for the design and discovery of therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajakta U Kulkarni
- School of Pharmacy, ITM (SLS) Baroda University, Vadodara 391510, Gujarat. India
| | - Harshil Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sardar Patel College of Pharmacy, Bakrol, Anand 388315, Gujarat. India
| | - Vivek K Vyas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad 382481, Gujarat. India
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Shtyrov AA, Nikolaev DM, Mironov VN, Vasin AV, Panov MS, Tveryanovich YS, Ryazantsev MN. Simple Models to Study Spectral Properties of Microbial and Animal Rhodopsins: Evaluation of the Electrostatic Effect of Charged and Polar Residues on the First Absorption Band Maxima. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063029. [PMID: 33809708 PMCID: PMC8002287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A typical feature of proteins from the rhodopsin family is the sensitivity of their absorption band maximum to protein amino acid composition. For this reason, studies of these proteins often require methodologies that determine spectral shift caused by amino acid substitutions. Generally, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics models allow for the calculation of a substitution-induced spectral shift with high accuracy, but their application is not always easy and requires special knowledge. In the present study, we propose simple models that allow us to estimate the direct effect of a charged or polar residue substitution without extensive calculations using only rhodopsin three-dimensional structure and plots or tables that are provided in this article. The models are based on absorption maximum values calculated at the SORCI+Q level of theory for cis- and trans-forms of retinal protonated Schiff base in an external electrostatic field of charges and dipoles. Each value corresponds to a certain position of a charged or polar residue relative to the retinal chromophore. The proposed approach was evaluated against an example set consisting of twelve bovine rhodopsin and sodium pumping rhodopsin mutants. The limits of the applicability of the models are also discussed. The results of our study can be useful for the interpretation of experimental data and for the rational design of rhodopsins with required spectral properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A. Shtyrov
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina Street, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.A.S.); (D.M.N.); (V.N.M.)
| | - Dmitrii M. Nikolaev
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina Street, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.A.S.); (D.M.N.); (V.N.M.)
| | - Vladimir N. Mironov
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina Street, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.A.S.); (D.M.N.); (V.N.M.)
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Nab., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.S.P.); (Y.S.T.)
| | - Andrey V. Vasin
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Botechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 29 Polytechnicheskaya Street, 195251 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Maxim S. Panov
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Nab., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.S.P.); (Y.S.T.)
| | - Yuri S. Tveryanovich
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Nab., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.S.P.); (Y.S.T.)
| | - Mikhail N. Ryazantsev
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina Street, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.A.S.); (D.M.N.); (V.N.M.)
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Nab., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (M.S.P.); (Y.S.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Nikolaev DM, Shtyrov AA, Mereshchenko AS, Panov MS, Tveryanovich YS, Ryazantsev MN. An assessment of water placement algorithms in quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics modeling: the case of rhodopsins' first spectral absorption band maxima. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:18114-18123. [PMID: 32761024 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp02638g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) models are a widely used tool to obtain detailed insight into the properties and functioning of proteins. The outcome of QM/MM studies heavily depends on the quality of the applied QM/MM model. Prediction and right placement of internal water molecules in protein cavities is one of the critical parts of any QM/MM model construction. Herein, we performed a systematic study of four protein hydration algorithms. We tested these algorithms for their ability to predict X-ray-resolved water molecules for a set of membrane photosensitive rhodopsin proteins, as well as the influence of the applied water placement algorithms on the QM/MM calculated absorption maxima (λmax) of these proteins. We used 49 rhodopsins and their intermediates with available X-ray structures as the test set. We found that a proper choice of hydration algorithms and setups is needed to predict functionally important water molecules in the chromophore-binding cavity of rhodopsins, such as the water cluster in the N-H region of bacteriorhodopsin or two water molecules in the binding pocket of bovine visual rhodopsin. The QM/MM calculated λmax of rhodopsins is also quite sensitive to the applied protein hydration protocols. The best methodology allows obtaining an 18.0 nm average value for the absolute deviation of the calculated λmax from the experimental λmax. Although the major effect of water molecules on λmax originates from the water molecules located in the binding pocket, the water molecules outside the binding pocket also affect the calculated λmax mainly by causing a reorganization of the protein structure. The results reported in this study can be used for the evaluation and further development of hydration methodologies, in general, and rhodopsin QM/MM models, in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii M Nikolaev
- Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg Academic University, 8/3 Khlopina Street, St. Petersburg 194021, Russia.
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Special Issue: Membrane and Receptor Dynamics. J Membr Biol 2020; 252:207-211. [PMID: 31583440 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-019-00096-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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