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Belghit H, Spivak M, Dauchez M, Baaden M, Jonquet-Prevoteau J. From complex data to clear insights: visualizing molecular dynamics trajectories. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2024; 4:1356659. [PMID: 38665177 PMCID: PMC11043564 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2024.1356659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in simulations, combined with technological developments in high-performance computing, have made it possible to produce a physically accurate dynamic representation of complex biological systems involving millions to billions of atoms over increasingly long simulation times. The analysis of these computed simulations is crucial, involving the interpretation of structural and dynamic data to gain insights into the underlying biological processes. However, this analysis becomes increasingly challenging due to the complexity of the generated systems with a large number of individual runs, ranging from hundreds to thousands of trajectories. This massive increase in raw simulation data creates additional processing and visualization challenges. Effective visualization techniques play a vital role in facilitating the analysis and interpretation of molecular dynamics simulations. In this paper, we focus mainly on the techniques and tools that can be used for visualization of molecular dynamics simulations, among which we highlight the few approaches used specifically for this purpose, discussing their advantages and limitations, and addressing the future challenges of molecular dynamics visualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayet Belghit
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, CNRS, MEDYC, Reims, France
| | - Mariano Spivak
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, Paris, France
| | - Manuel Dauchez
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, CNRS, MEDYC, Reims, France
| | - Marc Baaden
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, Paris, France
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2
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Investigation of glutathione as a natural antioxidant and multitarget inhibitor for Alzheimer’s disease: Insights from molecular simulations. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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3
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In Silico Prediction of the Binding, Folding, Insertion, and Overall Stability of Membrane-Active Peptides. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2315:161-182. [PMID: 34302676 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1468-6_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) are short-length peptides used for potential biomedical applications in diagnostic imaging of tissues, targeted drug delivery, gene delivery, and antimicrobials and antibiotics. The broad appeal of MAPs is that they are infinitely variable, relatively low cost, and biocompatible. However, experimentally characterizing the specific properties of a MAP or its many variants is a low-resolution and potentially time-consuming endeavor; molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have emerged as an invaluable tool in identifying the biophysical interactions that are fundamental to the function of MAPs. In this chapter, a step-by-step approach to discreetly model the binding, folding, and insertion of a membrane-active peptide to a model lipid bilayer using MD simulations is described. Detailed discussion is devoted to the critical aspects of running these types of simulations: prior knowledge of the system, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of molecular mechanics force fields, proper construction and equilibration of the system, realistically estimating both experimental and computational timescales, and leveraging analysis to make direct comparisons to experimental results as often as possible.
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4
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Wang KW, Hall CK. Characterising the throat diameter of through-pores in network structures using a percolation criterion. Mol Phys 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2019.1654140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kye Won Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Carol K. Hall
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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5
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An Algorithm for Computing Side Chain Conformational Variations of a Protein Tunnel/Channel. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23102459. [PMID: 30261587 PMCID: PMC6222877 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23102459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, a novel method to compute side chain conformational variations for a protein molecule tunnel (or channel) is proposed. From the conformational variations, we compute the flexibly deformed shapes of the initial tunnel, and present a way to compute the maximum size of the ligand that can pass through the deformed tunnel. By using the two types of graphs corresponding to amino acids and their side chain rotamers, the suggested algorithm classifies amino acids and rotamers which possibly have collisions. Based on the divide and conquer technique, local side chain conformations are computed first, and then a global conformation is generated by combining them. With the exception of certain cases, experimental results show that the algorithm finds up to 327,680 valid side chain conformations from 128~1233 conformation candidates within three seconds.
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6
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Refining Protein Penetration into the Lipid Bilayer Using Fluorescence Quenching and Molecular Dynamics Simulations: The Case of Diphtheria Toxin Translocation Domain. J Membr Biol 2018; 251:379-391. [PMID: 29550876 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-018-0030-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic disorder of the lipid bilayer presents a challenge for establishing structure-function relationships in membranous systems. The resulting structural heterogeneity is especially evident for peripheral and spontaneously inserting membrane proteins, which are not constrained by the well-defined transmembrane topology and exert their action in the context of intimate interaction with lipids. Here, we propose a concerted approach combining depth-dependent fluorescence quenching with Molecular Dynamics simulation to decipher dynamic interactions of membrane proteins with the lipid bilayers. We apply this approach to characterize membrane-mediated action of the diphtheria toxin translocation domain. First, we use a combination of the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize bilayer penetration of the NBD probe selectively attached to different sites of the protein into membranes containing lipid-attached nitroxyl quenching groups. The constructed quenching profiles are analyzed with the Distribution Analysis methodology allowing for accurate determination of transverse distribution of the probe. The results obtained for 12 NBD-labeled single-Cys mutants are consistent with the so-called Open-Channel topology model. The experimentally determined quenching profiles for labeling sites corresponding to L350, N373, and P378 were used as initial constraints for positioning TH8-9 hairpin into the lipid bilayer for Molecular Dynamics simulation. Finally, we used alchemical free energy calculations to characterize protonation of E362 in soluble translocation domain and membrane-inserted conformation of its TH8-9 fragment. Our results indicate that membrane partitioning of the neutral E362 is more favorable energetically (by ~ 6 kcal/mol), but causes stronger perturbation of the bilayer, than the charged E362.
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Simões T, Lopes D, Dias S, Fernandes F, Pereira J, Jorge J, Bajaj C, Gomes A. Geometric Detection Algorithms for Cavities on Protein Surfaces in Molecular Graphics: A Survey. COMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM : JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR COMPUTER GRAPHICS 2017; 36:643-683. [PMID: 29520122 PMCID: PMC5839519 DOI: 10.1111/cgf.13158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Detecting and analyzing protein cavities provides significant information about active sites for biological processes (e.g., protein-protein or protein-ligand binding) in molecular graphics and modeling. Using the three-dimensional structure of a given protein (i.e., atom types and their locations in 3D) as retrieved from a PDB (Protein Data Bank) file, it is now computationally viable to determine a description of these cavities. Such cavities correspond to pockets, clefts, invaginations, voids, tunnels, channels, and grooves on the surface of a given protein. In this work, we survey the literature on protein cavity computation and classify algorithmic approaches into three categories: evolution-based, energy-based, and geometry-based. Our survey focuses on geometric algorithms, whose taxonomy is extended to include not only sphere-, grid-, and tessellation-based methods, but also surface-based, hybrid geometric, consensus, and time-varying methods. Finally, we detail those techniques that have been customized for GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) computing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Simões
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Portugal
- Universidade da Beira Interior, Portugal
| | | | - Sérgio Dias
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Portugal
- Universidade da Beira Interior, Portugal
| | | | - João Pereira
- INESC-ID Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joaquim Jorge
- INESC-ID Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Abel Gomes
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Portugal
- Universidade da Beira Interior, Portugal
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Watanabe G, Nakajima D, Hiroshima A, Suzuki H, Yoneda S. Analysis of water channels by molecular dynamics simulation of heterotetrameric sarcosine oxidase. Biophys Physicobiol 2015; 12:131-7. [PMID: 27493862 PMCID: PMC4736832 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.12.0_131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
A precise 100-ns molecular dynamics simulation in aquo was performed for the heterotetrameric sarcosine oxidase bound with a substrate analogue, dimethylglycine. The spatial region including the protein was divided into small rectangular cells. The average number of the water molecules locating within each cell was calculated based on the simulation trajectory. The clusters of the cells filled with water molecules were used to determine the water channels. The narrowness of the channels, the average hydropathy indices of the residues of the channels, and the number of migration events of water molecules through the channels were consistent with the selective transport hypothesis whereby tunnel T3 is the pathway for the exit of the iminium intermediate of the enzyme reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go Watanabe
- School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Daisuke Nakajima
- School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Akinori Hiroshima
- School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Haruo Suzuki
- School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Shigetaka Yoneda
- School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
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9
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Conversion of a light-driven proton pump into a light-gated ion channel. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16450. [PMID: 26597707 PMCID: PMC4657025 DOI: 10.1038/srep16450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in microbial rhodopsins with ion pumping activity has been revitalized in the context of optogenetics, where light-driven ion pumps are used for cell hyperpolarization and voltage sensing. We identified an opsin-encoding gene (CsR) in the genome of the arctic alga Coccomyxa subellipsoidea C-169 that can produce large photocurrents in Xenopus oocytes. We used this property to analyze the function of individual residues in proton pumping. Modification of the highly conserved proton shuttling residue R83 or its interaction partner Y57 strongly reduced pumping power. Moreover, this mutation converted CsR at moderate electrochemical load into an operational proton channel with inward or outward rectification depending on the amino acid substitution. Together with molecular dynamics simulations, these data demonstrate that CsR-R83 and its interacting partner Y57 in conjunction with water molecules forms a proton shuttle that blocks passive proton flux during the dark-state but promotes proton movement uphill upon illumination.
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10
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de Aguiar C, Costa MGS, Verli H. Dynamics on human Toll-like receptor 4 complexation to MD-2: the coreceptor stabilizing function. Proteins 2015; 83:373-82. [PMID: 25488602 DOI: 10.1002/prot.24739] [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: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between human Toll-like receptor 4 (hTLR4) and its coreceptor, myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2), is important in Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide (LPS) recognition. In this process, MD-2 recognizes LPS and promotes the dimerization of the complex hTLR4-MD-2-LPS, triggering an intracellular immune signaling. In this study, we employed distinct computational methods to explore the dynamical properties of the hTLR4-MD-2 complex and investigated the implications of the coreceptor complexation to the structural biology of hTLR4. We characterized both global and local dynamics of free and MD-2 complexed hTLR4, in both (hTLR4-MD-2)1 and (hTLR4-MD-2)2 states. Both molecular dynamics and normal mode analysis reveled a stabilization of the terminal regions of hTLR4 upon complexation to MD-2. We are able to identify conserved important residues involved on the hTLR4-MD-2 interaction dynamics and disclose C-terminal motions that may be associated to the signaling process upon oligomerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla de Aguiar
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, CP 15005, Porto Alegre, 91500-970, RS, Brazil
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11
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Gee LB, Leontyev I, Stuchebrukhov A, Scott AD, Pelmenschikov V, Cramer SP. Docking and migration of carbon monoxide in nitrogenase: the case for gated pockets from infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamics. Biochemistry 2015; 54:3314-9. [PMID: 25919807 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Evidence of a CO docking site near the FeMo cofactor in nitrogenase has been obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-monitored low-temperature photolysis. We investigated the possible migration paths for CO from this docking site using molecular dynamics calculations. The simulations support the notion of a gas channel with multiple internal pockets from the active site to the protein exterior. Travel between pockets is gated by the motion of protein residues. Implications for the mechanism of nitrogenase reactions with CO and N2 are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leland B Gee
- †Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Igor Leontyev
- §InterX Inc., Berkeley, California 94710, United States
| | - Alexei Stuchebrukhov
- †Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Aubrey D Scott
- †Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | | | - Stephen P Cramer
- †Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States.,‡Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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12
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Masood TB, Sandhya S, Chandra N, Natarajan V. CHEXVIS: a tool for molecular channel extraction and visualization. BMC Bioinformatics 2015; 16:119. [PMID: 25888118 PMCID: PMC4411761 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-015-0545-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding channel structures that lead to active sites or traverse the molecule is important in the study of molecular functions such as ion, ligand, and small molecule transport. Efficient methods for extracting, storing, and analyzing protein channels are required to support such studies. Further, there is a need for an integrated framework that supports computation of the channels, interactive exploration of their structure, and detailed visual analysis of their properties. Results We describe a method for molecular channel extraction based on the alpha complex representation. The method computes geometrically feasible channels, stores both the volume occupied by the channel and its centerline in a unified representation, and reports significant channels. The representation also supports efficient computation of channel profiles that help understand channel properties. We describe methods for effective visualization of the channels and their profiles. These methods and the visual analysis framework are implemented in a software tool, ChExVis. We apply the method on a number of known channel containing proteins to extract pore features. Results from these experiments on several proteins show that ChExVis performance is comparable to, and in some cases, better than existing channel extraction techniques. Using several case studies, we demonstrate how ChExVis can be used to study channels, extract their properties and gain insights into molecular function. Conclusion ChExVis supports the visual exploration of multiple channels together with their geometric and physico-chemical properties thereby enabling the understanding of the basic biology of transport through protein channels. The ChExVis web-server is freely available at http://vgl.serc.iisc.ernet.in/chexvis/. The web-server is supported on all modern browsers with latest Java plug-in. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12859-015-0545-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talha Bin Masood
- Department of Computer Science and Automation, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
| | - Sankaran Sandhya
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
| | - Nagasuma Chandra
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
| | - Vijay Natarajan
- Department of Computer Science and Automation, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India. .,Supercomputer Education and Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
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Structural dynamics of the cell wall precursor lipid II in the presence and absence of the lantibiotic nisin. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2014; 1838:3061-8. [PMID: 25128154 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2014.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Representing a physiological "Achilles' heel", the cell wall precursor lipid II (LII) is a prime target for various classes of antibiotics. Over the years LII-binding agents have been recognized as promising candidates and templates in the search for new antibacterial compounds to complement or replace existing drugs. To elucidate the molecular structural basis underlying LII functional mechanism and to better understand if and how lantibiotic binding alters the molecular behavior of LII, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of phospholipid membrane-embedded LII in the absence and presence of the LII-binding lantibiotic nisin. In a series of 2×4 independent, unbiased 100ns MD simulations we sampled the conformational dynamics of nine LII as well as nine LII-nisin complexes embedded in an aqueous 150mM NaCl/POPC phospholipid membrane environment. We found that nisin binding to LII induces a reduction of LII mobility and flexibility, an outward shift of the LII pentapeptide, an inward movement of the LII disaccharide section, and an overall deeper insertion of the LII tail group into the membrane. The latter effect might indicate an initial step in adopting a stabilizing, scaffold-like structure in the process of nisin-induced membrane leakage. At the same time nisin conformation and LII interaction remain similar to the 1WCO LII-nisin NMR solution structure.
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Paramo T, East A, Garzón D, Ulmschneider MB, Bond PJ. Efficient Characterization of Protein Cavities within Molecular Simulation Trajectories: trj_cavity. J Chem Theory Comput 2014; 10:2151-64. [DOI: 10.1021/ct401098b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Paramo
- Unilever
Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra East
- Unilever
Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Diana Garzón
- Unilever
Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Martin B. Ulmschneider
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Peter J. Bond
- Unilever
Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Bioinformatics Institute (A*STAR), 30
Biopolis Str, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
- Department
of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science
Drive 4, 117543 Singapore
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15
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Molecular architecture and the structural basis for anion interaction in prestin and SLC26 transporters. Nat Commun 2014; 5:3622. [PMID: 24710176 PMCID: PMC3988826 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prestin (SLC26A5) is a member of the SLC26/SulP anion transporter family. Its unique quasi-piezoelectric mechanical activity generates fast cellular motility of cochlear outer hair cells, a key process underlying active amplification in the mammalian ear. Despite its established physiological role, it is essentially unknown how prestin can generate mechanical force, since structural information on SLC26/SulP proteins is lacking. Here we derive a structural model of prestin and related transporters by combining homology modelling, MD simulations and cysteine accessibility scanning. Prestin’s transmembrane core region is organized in a 7+7 inverted repeat architecture. The model suggests a central cavity as the substrate-binding site located midway of the anion permeation pathway, which is supported by experimental solute accessibility and mutational analysis. Anion binding to this site also controls the electromotile activity of prestin. The combined structural and functional data provide a framework for understanding electromotility and anion transport by SLC26 transporters. Prestin is an anion transporter-like protein in the mammalian inner ear that amplifies sound-induced vibration by voltage-driven structural rearrangements. Here, Gorbunov et al. show that this electromechanical activity is controlled by the binding of anions to a central cavity within the protein core.
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Abstract
Molecular surfaces provide a useful mean for analyzing interactions between biomolecules; such as identification and characterization of ligand binding sites to a host macromolecule. We present a novel technique, which extracts potential binding sites, represented by cavities, and characterize them by 3D graphs and by amino acids. The binding sites are extracted using an implicit function sampling and graph algorithms. We propose an advanced cavity exploration technique based on the graph parameters and associated amino acids. Additionally, we interactively visualize the graphs in the context of the molecular surface. We apply our method to the analysis of MD simulations of Proteinase 3, where we verify the previously described cavities and suggest a new potential cavity to be studied.
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17
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Abstract
Background The internal cavities of proteins are dynamic structures and their dynamics may be associated with conformational changes which are required for the functioning of the protein. In order to study the dynamics of these internal protein cavities, appropriate tools are required that allow rapid identification of the cavities as well as assessment of their time-dependent structures. Results In this paper, we present such a tool and give results that illustrate the applicability for the analysis of molecular dynamics trajectories. Our algorithm consists of a pre-processing step where the structure of the cavity is computed from the Voronoi diagram of the van der Waals spheres based on coordinate sets from the molecular dynamics trajectory. The pre-processing step is followed by an interactive stage, where the user can compute, select and visualize the dynamic cavities. Importantly, the tool we discuss here allows the user to analyze the time-dependent changes of the components of the cavity structure. An overview of the cavity dynamics is derived by rendering the dynamic cavities in a single image that gives the cavity surface colored according to its time-dependent dynamics. Conclusion The Voronoi-based approach used here enables the user to perform accurate computations of the geometry of the internal cavities in biomolecules. For the first time, it is possible to compute dynamic molecular paths that have a user-defined minimum constriction size. To illustrate the usefulness of the tool for understanding protein dynamics, we probe the dynamic structure of internal cavities in the bacteriorhodopsin proton pump.
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Sehnal D, Svobodová Vařeková R, Berka K, Pravda L, Navrátilová V, Banáš P, Ionescu CM, Otyepka M, Koča J. MOLE 2.0: advanced approach for analysis of biomacromolecular channels. J Cheminform 2013; 5:39. [PMID: 23953065 PMCID: PMC3765717 DOI: 10.1186/1758-2946-5-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Channels and pores in biomacromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids and their complexes) play significant biological roles, e.g., in molecular recognition and enzyme substrate specificity. RESULTS We present an advanced software tool entitled MOLE 2.0, which has been designed to analyze molecular channels and pores. Benchmark tests against other available software tools showed that MOLE 2.0 is by comparison quicker, more robust and more versatile. As a new feature, MOLE 2.0 estimates physicochemical properties of the identified channels, i.e., hydropathy, hydrophobicity, polarity, charge, and mutability. We also assessed the variability in physicochemical properties of eighty X-ray structures of two members of the cytochrome P450 superfamily. CONCLUSION Estimated physicochemical properties of the identified channels in the selected biomacromolecules corresponded well with the known functions of the respective channels. Thus, the predicted physicochemical properties may provide useful information about the potential functions of identified channels. The MOLE 2.0 software is available at http://mole.chemi.muni.cz.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sehnal
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University Brno, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno-Bohunice, Czech Republic.
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19
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Ruggerone P, Vargiu AV, Collu F, Fischer N, Kandt C. Molecular Dynamics Computer Simulations of Multidrug RND Efflux Pumps. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2013; 5:e201302008. [PMID: 24688701 PMCID: PMC3962194 DOI: 10.5936/csbj.201302008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Over-expression of multidrug efflux pumps of the Resistance Nodulation Division (RND) protein super family counts among the main causes for microbial resistance against pharmaceuticals. Understanding the molecular basis of this process is one of the major challenges of modern biomedical research, involving a broad range of experimental and computational techniques. Here we review the current state of RND transporter investigation employing molecular dynamics simulations providing conformational samples of transporter components to obtain insights into the functional mechanism underlying efflux pump-mediated antibiotics resistance in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Ruggerone
- Department of Physics, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria S.P. Monserrato-Sestu Km 0.700, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Cagliari, Italy ; CNR-IOM, Unità SLACS, S.P. Monserrato-Sestu Km 0.700, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Attilio V Vargiu
- Department of Physics, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria S.P. Monserrato-Sestu Km 0.700, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Cagliari, Italy ; CNR-IOM, Unità SLACS, S.P. Monserrato-Sestu Km 0.700, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Francesca Collu
- Departement fu r Chemie und Biochemie, Universita t Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Fischer
- Computational Structural Biology, Department of Life Science Informatics B-IT, Life & Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Dahlmannstr. 2, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Kandt
- Computational Structural Biology, Department of Life Science Informatics B-IT, Life & Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Dahlmannstr. 2, 53113 Bonn, Germany
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Schmidt TH, Kandt C. LAMBADA and InflateGRO2: Efficient Membrane Alignment and Insertion of Membrane Proteins for Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2012; 52:2657-69. [DOI: 10.1021/ci3000453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H. Schmidt
- Computational Structural Biology, Department of Life Science Informatics B-IT, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Dahlmannstr. 2, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Kandt
- Computational Structural Biology, Department of Life Science Informatics B-IT, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Dahlmannstr. 2, 53113 Bonn, Germany
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Foster TJ, MacKerell AD, Guvench O. Balancing target flexibility and target denaturation in computational fragment-based inhibitor discovery. J Comput Chem 2012; 33:1880-91. [PMID: 22641475 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.23026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2011] [Revised: 03/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Accounting for target flexibility and selecting "hot spots" most likely to be able to bind an inhibitor continue to be challenges in the field of structure-based drug design, especially in the case of protein-protein interactions. Computational fragment-based approaches using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are a promising emerging technology having the potential to address both of these challenges. However, the optimal MD conditions permitting sufficient target flexibility while also avoiding fragment-induced target denaturation remain ambiguous. Using one such technology (Site Identification by Ligand Competitive Saturation, SILCS), conditions were identified to either prevent denaturation or identify and exclude trajectories in which subtle but important denaturation was occurring. The target system used was the well-characterized protein cytokine IL-2, which is involved in a protein-protein interface and, in its unliganded crystallographic form, lacks surface pockets that can serve as small-molecule binding sites. Nonetheless, small-molecule inhibitors have previously been discovered that bind to two "cryptic" binding sites that emerge only in the presence of ligand binding, highlighting the important role of IL-2 flexibility. Using the above conditions, SILCS with hydrophobic fragments was able to identify both sites based on favorable fragment binding while avoiding IL-2 denaturation. An important additional finding was that acetonitrile, a water-miscible fragment, fails to identify either site yet can induce target denaturation, highlighting the importance of fragment choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa J Foster
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New England College of Pharmacy, Portland, Maine 04103, USA
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Berka K, Hanák O, Sehnal D, Banás P, Navrátilová V, Jaiswal D, Ionescu CM, Svobodová Vareková R, Koca J, Otyepka M. MOLEonline 2.0: interactive web-based analysis of biomacromolecular channels. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:W222-7. [PMID: 22553366 PMCID: PMC3394309 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular channels play important roles in many biological systems, e.g. enzymes, ribosomes and ion channels. This article introduces a web-based interactive MOLEonline 2.0 application for the analysis of access/egress paths to interior molecular voids. MOLEonline 2.0 enables platform-independent, easy-to-use and interactive analyses of (bio)macromolecular channels, tunnels and pores. Results are presented in a clear manner, making their interpretation easy. For each channel, MOLEonline displays a 3D graphical representation of the channel, its profile accompanied by a list of lining residues and also its basic physicochemical properties. The users can tune advanced parameters when performing a channel search to direct the search according to their needs. The MOLEonline 2.0 application is freely available via the Internet at http://ncbr.muni.cz/mole or http://mole.upol.cz.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Berka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, tr. 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Lee PH, Helms V. Identifying continuous pores in protein structures with PROPORES by computational repositioning of gating residues. Proteins 2011; 80:421-32. [PMID: 22095919 DOI: 10.1002/prot.23204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2011] [Revised: 09/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Proteins containing concavities such as pockets, cavities, and tunnels or pores perform important functions in ligand-induced signal transduction, enzymatic catalysis, and in facilitating the permeation of small molecules through membranes. Computational algorithms for identifying such shapes are therefore of great use for studying the mechanisms of these reactions. We developed the novel toolkit PROPORES for pore identification and applied our program to the systems aquaporin, tryptophan synthase, leucine transporter, and acetylcholinesterase. As a novel feature, the program checks whether access to occluded ligand binding pockets or blocked channels can be achieved by systematically rotating side chains of the gating residues. In this way, we obtain a more flexible view of the putative structural adaptability of protein structures. For the four systems mentioned, the new method was able to identify connections between pores that are separated in the X-ray structures or to connect internal pores with the protein surrounding. The software is available from http://gepard.bioinformatik.uni-saarland.de/software/propores/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Hsien Lee
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, D-66041 Saarbrücken, Germany
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Fischer N, Kandt C. Three ways in, one way out: water dynamics in the trans-membrane domains of the inner membrane translocase AcrB. Proteins 2011; 79:2871-85. [PMID: 21905112 DOI: 10.1002/prot.23122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2011] [Revised: 06/03/2011] [Accepted: 07/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Powered by proton-motive force, the inner membrane translocase AcrB is the engine of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump in Escherichia coli. As proton conduction in proteins occurs along hydrogen-bonded networks of polar residues and water molecules, knowledge of the protein-internal water distribution and water-interacting residues allows drawing conclusions to possible pathways of proton conduction. Here, we report a series of 6× 50 ns independent molecular dynamics simulations of asymmetric AcrB embedded in a phospholipid/water environment. Simulating each monomer in its proposed protonation state, we calculated for each trans-membrane domain the average water distribution, identified residues interacting with these waters and quantified each residue's frequency of water hydrogen bond contact. Combining this information we find three possible routes of proton transfer connecting a continuously hydrated region of known key residues in the TMD interior to bulk water by one cytoplasmic and up to three periplasm water channels in monomer B and A. We find that water access of the trans-membrane domains is regulated by four groups of residues in a combination of side chain re-orientations and shifts of trans-membrane helices. Our findings support a proton release event via Arg971 during the C intermediate or in the transition to A, and proton uptake occurring in the A or B state or during a so far unknown intermediate in between B and C where cytoplasmic water access is still possible. Our simulations suggest experimentally testable hypotheses, which have not been investigated so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Fischer
- Computational Structural Biology, Department of Life Science Informatics B-IT, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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