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Diaz-Bárcena A, Fernandez-Pacios L, Giraldo P. Structural Characterization and Molecular Dynamics Study of the REPI Fusion Protein from Papaver somniferum L. Biomolecules 2023; 14:2. [PMID: 38275743 PMCID: PMC10813097 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010002] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
REPI is a pivotal point enzyme in plant benzylisoquinoline alkaloid metabolism as it promotes the evolution of the biosynthetic branch of morphinan alkaloids. Experimental studies of its activity led to the identification of two modules (DRS and DRR) that catalyze two sequential steps of the epimerization of (S)- to (R)-reticuline. Recently, special attention has been paid to its genetic characterization and evolutionary history, but no structural analyses of the REPI protein have been conducted to date. We present here a computational structural characterization of REPI with heme and NADP cofactors in the apo state and in three complexes with substrate (S)-reticuline in DRS and intermediate 1,2-dehydroreticuline in DRS and in DRR. Since no experimental structure exists for REPI, we used its AlphaFold model as a scaffold to build up these four systems, which were submitted to all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. A comparison of MD results for the four systems revealed key dynamic changes associated with cofactor and ligand binding and provided a dynamic picture of the evolution of their structures and interactions. We also explored the possible dynamic occurrence of tunnels and electrostatic highways potentially involved in alternative mechanisms for channeling the intermediate from DRS to DRR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Diaz-Bárcena
- Department of Biotechnology-Plant Biology, School of Agricultural, Food and Biosystems Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (L.F.-P.); (P.G.)
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2
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De Simone G, Sbardella D, Oddone F, Pesce A, Coletta M, Ascenzi P. Structural and (Pseudo-)Enzymatic Properties of Neuroglobin: Its Possible Role in Neuroprotection. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123366. [PMID: 34943874 PMCID: PMC8699588 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroglobin (Ngb), the third member of the globin family, was discovered in human and murine brains in 2000. This monomeric globin is structurally similar to myoglobin (Mb) and hemoglobin (Hb) α and β subunits, but it hosts a bis-histidyl six-coordinated heme-Fe atom. Therefore, the heme-based reactivity of Ngb is modulated by the dissociation of the distal HisE7-heme-Fe bond, which reflects in turn the redox state of the cell. The high Ngb levels (~100–200 μM) present in the retinal ganglion cell layer and in the optic nerve facilitate the O2 buffer and delivery. In contrast, the very low levels of Ngb (~1 μM) in most tissues and organs support (pseudo-)enzymatic properties including NO/O2 metabolism, peroxynitrite and free radical scavenging, nitrite, hydroxylamine, hydrogen sulfide reduction, and the nitration of aromatic compounds. Here, structural and (pseudo-)enzymatic properties of Ngb, which are at the root of tissue and organ protection, are reviewed, envisaging a possible role in the protection from neuronal degeneration of the retina and the optic nerve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna De Simone
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Roma, Italy;
| | | | | | - Alessandra Pesce
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16100 Genova, Italy;
| | - Massimo Coletta
- IRCCS Fondazione Bietti, 00198 Roma, Italy; (D.S.); (F.O.)
- Dipartmento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Roma, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (P.A.); Tel.: +39-06-72596365 (M.C.); +39-06-57336321 (P.A.)
| | - Paolo Ascenzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Roma, Italy;
- Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Via della Lungara 10, 00165 Roma, Italy
- Unità di Neuroendocrinologia, Metabolismo e Neurofarmacologia, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Roma, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (P.A.); Tel.: +39-06-72596365 (M.C.); +39-06-57336321 (P.A.)
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3
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Vavra O, Filipovic J, Plhak J, Bednar D, Marques SM, Brezovsky J, Stourac J, Matyska L, Damborsky J. CaverDock: a molecular docking-based tool to analyse ligand transport through protein tunnels and channels. Bioinformatics 2020; 35:4986-4993. [PMID: 31077297 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btz386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Protein tunnels and channels are key transport pathways that allow ligands to pass between proteins' external and internal environments. These functionally important structural features warrant detailed attention. It is difficult to study the ligand binding and unbinding processes experimentally, while molecular dynamics simulations can be time-consuming and computationally demanding. RESULTS CaverDock is a new software tool for analysing the ligand passage through the biomolecules. The method uses the optimized docking algorithm of AutoDock Vina for ligand placement docking and implements a parallel heuristic algorithm to search the space of possible trajectories. The duration of the simulations takes from minutes to a few hours. Here we describe the implementation of the method and demonstrate CaverDock's usability by: (i) comparison of the results with other available tools, (ii) determination of the robustness with large ensembles of ligands and (iii) the analysis and comparison of the ligand trajectories in engineered tunnels. Thorough testing confirms that CaverDock is applicable for the fast analysis of ligand binding and unbinding in fundamental enzymology and protein engineering. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION User guide and binaries for Ubuntu are freely available for non-commercial use at https://loschmidt.chemi.muni.cz/caverdock/. The web implementation is available at https://loschmidt.chemi.muni.cz/caverweb/. The source code is available upon request. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Vavra
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Filipovic
- Institute of Computer Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Plhak
- Institute of Computer Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Bednar
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sergio M Marques
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Brezovsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Stourac
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Matyska
- Institute of Computer Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Damborsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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4
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Levoin N, Jean M, Legembre P. CD95 Structure, Aggregation and Cell Signaling. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:314. [PMID: 32432115 PMCID: PMC7214685 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
CD95 is a pre-ligand-associated transmembrane (TM) receptor. The interaction with its ligand CD95L brings to a next level its aggregation and triggers different signaling pathways, leading to cell motility, differentiation or cell death. This diversity of biological responses associated with a unique receptor devoid of enzymatic property raises the question of whether different ligands exist, or whether the fine-tuned control of CD95 aggregation and conformation, its distribution within certain plasma membrane sub-domains or the pattern of post-translational modifications account for this such broad-range of cell signaling. Herein, we review how the different domains of CD95 and their post-translational modifications or the different forms of CD95L can participate in the receptor aggregation and induction of cell signaling. Understanding how CD95 response goes from cell death to cell proliferation, differentiation and motility is a prerequisite to reveal novel therapeutic options to treat chronic inflammatory disorders and cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mickael Jean
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, Rennes, France
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5
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Bringas M, Lombardi LE, Luque FJ, Estrin DA, Capece L. Ligand Binding Rate Constants in Heme Proteins Using Markov State Models and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Chemphyschem 2019; 20:2451-2460. [PMID: 31365183 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201900589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Computer simulation studies of the molecular basis for ligand migration in proteins allow the description of key events such as the transition between docking sites, displacement of existing ligands and solvent molecules, and open/closure of specific "gates", among others. In heme proteins, ligand migration from the solvent to the active site preludes the binding to the heme iron and triggers different functions. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations, a Markov State Model of migration and empirical kinetic equations are combined to study the migration of O2 and NO in two truncated hemoglobins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mt-TrHbN and Mt-TrHbO). For Mt-TrHbN, we show that the difference in the association constant in the oxy and deoxy states relies mainly in the displacement of water molecules anchored in the distal cavity in the deoxy form. The results here provide a valuable approach to study ligand migration in globins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Bringas
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE-CONICET), C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro E Lombardi
- Instituto de Cálculo, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F Javier Luque
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Campus Torribera, 08921, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB) and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB), University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Darío A Estrin
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE-CONICET), C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciana Capece
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE-CONICET), C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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6
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Arrar M, Boubeta FM, Szretter ME, Sued M, Boechi L, Rodriguez D. On the accurate estimation of free energies using the jarzynski equality. J Comput Chem 2018; 40:688-696. [DOI: 10.1002/jcc.25754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mehrnoosh Arrar
- Instituto de Química-Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía, CONICET-Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Fernando Martín Boubeta
- Instituto de Química-Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía, CONICET-Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Maria Eugenia Szretter
- Departamento de Matemática, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Instituto de Cálculo, CONICET-Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Mariela Sued
- Instituto de Cálculo, CONICET-Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Leonardo Boechi
- Instituto de Cálculo, CONICET-Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Daniela Rodriguez
- Instituto de Cálculo, CONICET-Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Argentina
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7
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Abdizadeh H, Atilgan AR, Atilgan C, Dedeoglu B. Computational approaches for deciphering the equilibrium and kinetic properties of iron transport proteins. Metallomics 2018; 9:1513-1533. [PMID: 28967944 DOI: 10.1039/c7mt00216e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
With the advances in three-dimensional structure determination techniques, high quality structures of the iron transport proteins transferrin and the bacterial ferric binding protein (FbpA) have been deposited in the past decade. These are proteins of relatively large size, and developments in hardware and software have only recently made it possible to study their dynamics using standard computational resources. We review computational techniques towards understanding the equilibrium and kinetic properties of iron transport proteins under different environmental conditions. At the level of detail that requires quantum chemical treatments, the octahedral geometry around iron has been scrutinized and it has been established that the iron coordinating tyrosines are in an unusual deprotonated state. At the atomistic level, both the N-lobe and the full bilobal structure of transferrin have been studied under varying conditions of pH, ionic strength and binding of other metal ions by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. These studies have allowed questions to be answered, among others, on the function of second shell residues in iron release, the role of synergistic anions in preparing the active site for iron binding, and the differences between the kinetics of the N- and the C-lobe. MD simulations on FbpA have led to the detailed observation of the binding kinetics of phosphate to the apo form, and to the conformational preferences of the holo form under conditions mimicking the environmental niches provided by the periplasmic space. To study the dynamics of these proteins with their receptors, one must resort to coarse-grained methodologies, since these systems are prohibitively large for atomistic simulations. A study of the complex of human transferrin (hTf) with its pathogenic receptor by such methods has revealed a potential mechanistic explanation for the defense mechanism that arises in evolutionary warfare. Meanwhile, the motions in the transferrin receptor bound hTf have been shown to disfavor apo hTf dissociation, explaining why the two proteins remain in complex during the recycling process from the endosome to the cell surface. Open problems and possible technological applications related to metal ion binding-release in iron transport proteins that may be handled by hybrid use of quantum mechanical, MD and coarse-grained approaches are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Abdizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, Orhanlı 34956, Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey.
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8
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Demicheli V, Moreno DM, Radi R. Human Mn-superoxide dismutase inactivation by peroxynitrite: a paradigm of metal-catalyzed tyrosine nitration in vitro and in vivo. Metallomics 2018; 10:679-695. [DOI: 10.1039/c7mt00348j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Nitration of human MnSOD at active site Tyr34 represents a biologically-relevant oxidative post-translational modification that causes enzyme inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Demicheli
- Departmento de Bioquimica
- Facultad de Medicina
- Center for Free Radical and Biomedical Research
- Universidad de la República
- Montevideo
| | - Diego M. Moreno
- Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR, CONICET-UNR)
- Área Química General e Inorgánica
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas
- Universidad Nacional de Rosario
- Argentina
| | - Rafael Radi
- Departmento de Bioquimica
- Facultad de Medicina
- Center for Free Radical and Biomedical Research
- Universidad de la República
- Montevideo
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9
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Yesudasan S, Wang X, Averett RD. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, and glycated hemoglobin under compression and shear exhibit an anisotropic mechanical behavior. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2017; 36:1417-1429. [PMID: 28441918 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2017.1323674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
We developed a new mechanical model for determining the compression and shear mechanical behavior of four different hemoglobin structures. Previous studies on hemoglobin structures have focused primarily on overall mechanical behavior; however, this study investigates the mechanical behavior of hemoglobin, a major constituent of red blood cells, using steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to obtain anisotropic mechanical behavior under compression and shear loading conditions. Four different configurations of hemoglobin molecules were considered: deoxyhemoglobin (deoxyHb), oxyhemoglobin (HbO2), carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C). The SMD simulations were performed on the hemoglobin variants to estimate their unidirectional stiffness and shear stiffness. Although hemoglobin is structurally denoted as a globular protein due to its spherical shape and secondary structure, our simulation results show a significant variation in the mechanical strength in different directions (anisotropy) and also a strength variation among the four different hemoglobin configurations studied. The glycated hemoglobin molecule possesses an overall higher compressive mechanical stiffness and shear stiffness when compared to deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, and carboxyhemoglobin molecules. Further results from the models indicate that the hemoglobin structures studied possess a soft outer shell and a stiff core based on stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumith Yesudasan
- a School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering , College of Engineering, University of Georgia , 597 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens , GA 30602 , USA
| | - Xianqiao Wang
- b School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering , College of Engineering, University of Georgia , 712G Boyd Graduate Studies Research Center, Athens , GA 30602 , USA
| | - Rodney D Averett
- a School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering , College of Engineering, University of Georgia , 597 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens , GA 30602 , USA
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10
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Ascenzi P, di Masi A, Leboffe L, Fiocchetti M, Nuzzo MT, Brunori M, Marino M. Neuroglobin: From structure to function in health and disease. Mol Aspects Med 2016; 52:1-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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11
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Drusin SI, Suarez IP, Gauto DF, Rasia RM, Moreno DM. dsRNA-protein interactions studied by molecular dynamics techniques. Unravelling dsRNA recognition by DCL1. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 596:118-25. [PMID: 26987516 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) participates in several biological processes, where RNA molecules acquire secondary structure inside the cell through base complementarity. The double stranded RNA binding domain (dsRBD) is one of the main protein folds that is able to recognize and bind to dsRNA regions. The N-terminal dsRBD of DCL1 in Arabidopsis thaliana (DCL1-1), in contrast to other studied dsRBDs, lacks a stable structure, behaving as an intrinsically disordered protein. DCL1-1 does however recognize dsRNA by acquiring a canonical fold in the presence of its substrate. Here we present a detailed modeling and molecular dynamics study of dsRNA recognition by DCL1-1. We found that DCL1-1 forms stable complexes with different RNAs and we characterized the residues involved in binding. Although the domain shows a binding loop substantially shorter than other homologs, it can still interact with the dsRNA and results in bending of the dsRNA A-type helix. Furthermore, we found that R8, a non-conserved residue located in the first dsRNA binding region, recognizes preferentially mismatched base pairs. We discuss our findings in the context of the function of DCL1-1 within the microRNA processing complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador I Drusin
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Ocampo y Esmeralda, Predio CCT, 2000 Rosario, Argentina; Área Física, Departamento de Químico-Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Irina P Suarez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Ocampo y Esmeralda, Predio CCT, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Diego F Gauto
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Ocampo y Esmeralda, Predio CCT, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo M Rasia
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Ocampo y Esmeralda, Predio CCT, 2000 Rosario, Argentina; Área Biofísica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego M Moreno
- Instituto de Química de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Suipacha 570, S2002LRK Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina; Área Inorgánica, Departamento de Químico-Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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12
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Shadrina MS, English AM, Peslherbe GH. Benchmarking Rapid TLES Simulations of Gas Diffusion in Proteins: Mapping O2 Migration and Escape in Myoglobin as a Case Study. J Chem Theory Comput 2016; 12:2038-46. [PMID: 26938707 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.5b01132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Standard molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of gas diffusion consume considerable computational time and resources even for small proteins. To combat this, temperature-controlled locally enhanced sampling (TLES) examines multiple diffusion trajectories per simulation by accommodating multiple noninteracting copies of a gas molecule that diffuse independently, while the protein and water molecules experience an average interaction from all copies. Furthermore, gas migration within a protein matrix can be accelerated without altering protein dynamics by increasing the effective temperature of the TLES copies. These features of TLES enable rapid simulations of gas diffusion within a protein matrix at significantly reduced (∼98%) computational cost. However, the results of TLES and standard MD simulations have not been systematically compared, which limits the adoption of the TLES approach. We address this drawback here by benchmarking TLES against standard MD in the simulation of O2 diffusion in myoglobin (Mb) as a case study since this model system has been extensively characterized. We find that 2 ns TLES and 108 ns standard simulations map the same network of diffusion tunnels in Mb and uncover the same docking sites, barriers, and escape portals. We further discuss the influence of simulation time as well as the number of independent simulations on the O2 population density within the diffusion tunnels and on the sampling of Mb's conformational space as revealed by principal component analysis. Overall, our comprehensive benchmarking reveals that TLES is an appropriate and robust tool for the rapid mapping of gas diffusion in proteins when the kinetic data provided by standard MD are not required. Furthermore, TLES provides explicit ligand diffusion pathways, unlike most rapid methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria S Shadrina
- Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling (CERMM) and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University , 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec, Canada H4B 1R6
| | - Ann M English
- Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling (CERMM) and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University , 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec, Canada H4B 1R6
| | - Gilles H Peslherbe
- Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling (CERMM) and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University , 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec, Canada H4B 1R6
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13
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Ramírez CL, Zeida A, Jara GE, Roitberg AE, Martí MA. Improving Efficiency in SMD Simulations Through a Hybrid Differential Relaxation Algorithm. J Chem Theory Comput 2015; 10:4609-17. [PMID: 26588154 DOI: 10.1021/ct500672d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The fundamental object for studying a (bio)chemical reaction obtained from simulations is the free energy profile, which can be directly related to experimentally determined properties. Although quite accurate hybrid quantum (DFT based)-classical methods are available, achieving statistically accurate and well converged results at a moderate computational cost is still an open challenge. Here, we present and thoroughly test a hybrid differential relaxation algorithm (HyDRA), which allows faster equilibration of the classical environment during the nonequilibrium steering of a (bio)chemical reaction. We show and discuss why (in the context of Jarzynski's Relationship) this method allows obtaining accurate free energy profiles with smaller number of independent trajectories and/or faster pulling speeds, thus reducing the overall computational cost. Moreover, due to the availability and straightforward implementation of the method, we expect that it will foster theoretical studies of key enzymatic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia L Ramírez
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente Y Energía (INQUIMAE), UBA-CONICET , Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Ari Zeida
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente Y Energía (INQUIMAE), UBA-CONICET , Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Gabriel E Jara
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente Y Energía (INQUIMAE), UBA-CONICET , Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Adrián E Roitberg
- Quantum Theory Project and Department of Chemistry, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Marcelo A Martí
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente Y Energía (INQUIMAE), UBA-CONICET , Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
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14
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Pesce A, Bustamante JP, Bidon-Chanal A, Boechi L, Estrin DA, Luque FJ, Sebilo A, Guertin M, Bolognesi M, Ascenzi P, Nardini M. The N-terminal pre-A region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 2/2HbN promotes NO-dioxygenase activity. FEBS J 2015; 283:305-22. [PMID: 26499089 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Revised: 08/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED A unique defense mechanisms by which Mycobacterium tuberculosis protects itself from nitrosative stress is based on the O2 -dependent NO-dioxygenase (NOD) activity of truncated hemoglobin 2/2HbN (Mt2/2HbN). The NOD activity largely depends on the efficiency of ligand migration to the heme cavity through a two-tunnel (long and short) system; recently, it was also correlated with the presence at the Mt2/2HbN N-terminus of a short pre-A region, not conserved in most 2/2HbNs, whose deletion results in a drastic reduction of NO scavenging. In the present study, we report the crystal structure of Mt2/2HbN-ΔpreA, lacking the pre-A region, at a resolution of 1.53 Å. We show that removal of the pre-A region results in long range effects on the protein C-terminus, promoting the assembly of a stable dimer, both in the crystals and in solution. In the Mt2/2HbN-ΔpreA dimer, access of heme ligands to the short tunnel is hindered. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the long tunnel branch is the only accessible pathway for O2 -ligand migration to/from the heme, and that the gating residue Phe(62)E15 partly restricts the diameter of the tunnel. Accordingly, kinetic measurements indicate that the kon value for peroxynitrite isomerization by Mt2/2HbN-ΔpreA-Fe(III) is four-fold lower relative to the full-length protein, and that NO scavenging by Mt2/2HbN-ΔpreA-Fe(II)-O2 is reduced by 35-fold. Therefore, we speculate that Mt2/2HbN evolved to host the pre-A region as a mechanism for preventing dimerization, thus reinforcing the survival of the microorganism against the reactive nitrosative stress in macrophages. DATABASE Coordinates and structure factors have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession number 5AB8.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan P Bustamante
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Axel Bidon-Chanal
- Departament de Fisicoquímica and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Facultat de Farmàcia, University of Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Leonardo Boechi
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Darío A Estrin
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física/INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco Javier Luque
- Departament de Fisicoquímica and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Facultat de Farmàcia, University of Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Anne Sebilo
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michel Guertin
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Martino Bolognesi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Italy.,CNR-IBF and CIMAINA, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Ascenzi
- Interdepartmental Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Nardini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Italy
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15
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PrinCCes: Continuity-based geometric decomposition and systematic visualization of the void repertoire of proteins. J Mol Graph Model 2015; 62:118-127. [PMID: 26409191 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2015.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Grooves and pockets on the surface, channels through the protein, the chambers or cavities, and the tunnels connecting the internal points to each other or to the external fluid environment are fundamental determinants of a wide range of biological functions. PrinCCes (Protein internal Channel & Cavity estimation) is a computer program supporting the visualization of voids. It includes a novel algorithm for the decomposition of the entire void volume of the protein or protein complex to individual entities. The decomposition is based on continuity. An individual void is defined by uninterrupted extension in space: a spherical probe can freely move between any two internal locations of a continuous void. Continuous voids are detected irrespective of their topological complexity, they may contain any number of holes and bifurcations. The voids of a protein can be visualized one by one or in combinations as triangulated surfaces. The output is automatically exported to free VMD (Visual Molecular Dynamics) or Chimera software, allowing the 3D rotation of the surfaces and the production of publication quality images. PrinCCes with graphic user interface and command line versions are available for MS Windows and Linux. The source code and executable can be downloaded at any of the following links: http://scholar.semmelweis.hu/czirjakgabor/s/princces/#t1 https://github.com/CzirjakGabor/PrinCCes http://1drv.ms/1bP9iJ3.
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16
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Access channels to the buried active site control substrate specificity in CYP1A P450 enzymes. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2015; 1850:696-707. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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17
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Kingsley LJ, Lill MA. Substrate tunnels in enzymes: structure-function relationships and computational methodology. Proteins 2015; 83:599-611. [PMID: 25663659 DOI: 10.1002/prot.24772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In enzymes, the active site is the location where incoming substrates are chemically converted to products. In some enzymes, this site is deeply buried within the core of the protein, and, in order to access the active site, substrates must pass through the body of the protein via a tunnel. In many systems, these tunnels act as filters and have been found to influence both substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism. Identifying and understanding how these tunnels exert such control has been of growing interest over the past several years because of implications in fields such as protein engineering and drug design. This growing interest has spurred the development of several computational methods to identify and analyze tunnels and how ligands migrate through these tunnels. The goal of this review is to outline how tunnels influence substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency in enzymes with buried active sites and to provide a brief summary of the computational tools used to identify and evaluate these tunnels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Kingsley
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
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18
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Arcon JP, Rosi P, Petruk AA, Marti MA, Estrin DA. Molecular Mechanism of Myoglobin Autoxidation: Insights from Computer Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2015; 119:1802-13. [DOI: 10.1021/jp5093948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. P. Arcon
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química
Física e INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento
de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y
Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón
2, C1428EHA, Ciudad
de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - P. Rosi
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química
Física e INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A. A. Petruk
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química
Física e INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. A. Marti
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química
Física e INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento
de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y
Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón
2, C1428EHA, Ciudad
de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D. A. Estrin
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química
Física e INQUIMAE-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Gora
- Loschmidt Laboratories,
Department
of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in
the Environment, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A13, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Brezovsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories,
Department
of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in
the Environment, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A13, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Damborsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories,
Department
of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in
the Environment, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A13, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- International Centre for Clinical
Research, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
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20
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Petruk AA, Vergara A, Estrin D, Merlino A. Molecular basis of the NO trans influence in quaternary T-state human hemoglobin: A computational study. FEBS Lett 2013; 587:2393-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Revised: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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21
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Spyrakis F, Lucas F, Bidon-Chanal A, Viappiani C, Guallar V, Luque FJ. Comparative analysis of inner cavities and ligand migration in non-symbiotic AHb1 and AHb2. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2013; 1834:1957-67. [PMID: 23583621 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2013.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Revised: 03/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This study reports a comparative analysis of the topological properties of inner cavities and the intrinsic dynamics of non-symbiotic hemoglobins AHb1 and AHb2 from Arabidopsis thaliana. The two proteins belong to the 3/3 globin fold and have a sequence identity of about 60%. However, it is widely assumed that they have distinct physiological roles. In order to investigate the structure-function relationships in these proteins, we have examined the bis-histidyl and ligand-bound hexacoordinated states by atomistic simulations using in silico structural models. The results allow us to identify two main pathways to the distal cavity in the bis-histidyl hexacoordinated proteins. Nevertheless, a larger accessibility to small gaseous molecules is found in AHb2. This effect can be attributed to three factors: the mutation Leu35(AHb1)→Phe32(AHb2), the enhanced flexibility of helix B, and the more favorable energetic profile for ligand migration to the distal cavity. The net effect of these factors would be to facilitate the access of ligands, thus compensating the preference for the fully hexacoordination of AHb2, in contrast to the equilibrium between hexa- and pentacoordinated species in AHb1. On the other hand, binding of the exogenous ligand introduces distinct structural changes in the two proteins. A well-defined tunnel is formed in AHb1, which might be relevant to accomplish the proposed NO detoxification reaction. In contrast, no similar tunnel is found in AHb2, which can be ascribed to the reduced flexibility of helix E imposed by the larger number of salt bridges compared to AHb1. This feature would thus support the storage and transport functions proposed for AHb2. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxygen Binding and Sensing Proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Spyrakis
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
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22
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Small ligand-globin interactions: reviewing lessons derived from computer simulation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2013; 1834:1722-38. [PMID: 23470499 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2013.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2012] [Revised: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In this work we review the application of classical and quantum-mechanical atomistic computer simulation tools to the investigation of small ligand interaction with globins. In the first part, studies of ligand migration, with its connection to kinetic association rate constants (kon), are presented. In the second part, we review studies for a variety of ligands such as O2, NO, CO, HS(-), F(-), and NO2(-) showing how the heme structure, proximal effects, and the interactions with the distal amino acids can modulate protein ligand binding. The review presents mainly results derived from our previous works on the subject, in the context of other theoretical and experimental studies performed by others. The variety and extent of the presented data yield a clear example of how computer simulation tools have, in the last decade, contributed to our deeper understanding of small ligand interactions with globins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxygen Binding and Sensing Proteins.
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23
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CAVER 3.0: a tool for the analysis of transport pathways in dynamic protein structures. PLoS Comput Biol 2012; 8:e1002708. [PMID: 23093919 PMCID: PMC3475669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 838] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2012] [Accepted: 08/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tunnels and channels facilitate the transport of small molecules, ions and water solvent in a large variety of proteins. Characteristics of individual transport pathways, including their geometry, physico-chemical properties and dynamics are instrumental for understanding of structure-function relationships of these proteins, for the design of new inhibitors and construction of improved biocatalysts. CAVER is a software tool widely used for the identification and characterization of transport pathways in static macromolecular structures. Herein we present a new version of CAVER enabling automatic analysis of tunnels and channels in large ensembles of protein conformations. CAVER 3.0 implements new algorithms for the calculation and clustering of pathways. A trajectory from a molecular dynamics simulation serves as the typical input, while detailed characteristics and summary statistics of the time evolution of individual pathways are provided in the outputs. To illustrate the capabilities of CAVER 3.0, the tool was applied for the analysis of molecular dynamics simulation of the microbial enzyme haloalkane dehalogenase DhaA. CAVER 3.0 safely identified and reliably estimated the importance of all previously published DhaA tunnels, including the tunnels closed in DhaA crystal structures. Obtained results clearly demonstrate that analysis of molecular dynamics simulation is essential for the estimation of pathway characteristics and elucidation of the structural basis of the tunnel gating. CAVER 3.0 paves the way for the study of important biochemical phenomena in the area of molecular transport, molecular recognition and enzymatic catalysis. The software is freely available as a multiplatform command-line application at http://www.caver.cz.
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24
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Sgrignani J, Magistrato A. Influence of the Membrane Lipophilic Environment on the Structure and on the Substrate Access/Egress Routes of the Human Aromatase Enzyme. A Computational Study. J Chem Inf Model 2012; 52:1595-606. [DOI: 10.1021/ci300151h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Sgrignani
- CNR-IOM-Democritos National Simulation Center c/o International Studies for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), via Bonomea 265, 34165 Trieste
(TS), Italy
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- CNR-IOM-Democritos National Simulation Center c/o International Studies for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), via Bonomea 265, 34165 Trieste
(TS), Italy
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25
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Brezovsky J, Chovancova E, Gora A, Pavelka A, Biedermannova L, Damborsky J. Software tools for identification, visualization and analysis of protein tunnels and channels. Biotechnol Adv 2012; 31:38-49. [PMID: 22349130 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2011] [Revised: 01/17/2012] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Protein structures contain highly complex systems of voids, making up specific features such as surface clefts or grooves, pockets, protrusions, cavities, pores or channels, and tunnels. Many of them are essential for the migration of solvents, ions and small molecules through proteins, and their binding to the functional sites. Analysis of these structural features is very important for understanding of structure-function relationships, for the design of potential inhibitors or proteins with improved functional properties. Here we critically review existing software tools specialized in rapid identification, visualization, analysis and design of protein tunnels and channels. The strengths and weaknesses of individual tools are reported together with examples of their applications for the analysis and engineering of various biological systems. This review can assist users with selecting a proper software tool for study of their biological problem as well as highlighting possible avenues for further development of existing tools. Development of novel descriptors representing not only geometry, but also electrostatics, hydrophobicity or dynamics, is needed for reliable identification of biologically relevant tunnels and channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Brezovsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A13, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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26
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Bettati S, Luque FJ, Viappiani C. Protein dynamics: experimental and computational approaches. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2011; 1814:913-915. [PMID: 21600317 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2011.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Bettati
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Parma, and Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Italy.
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