Accurate Binding Configuration Prediction of a G-Protein-Coupled Receptor to Its Antagonist Using Multicanonical Molecular Dynamics-Based Dynamic Docking

Familial Episodic Pain Syndrome: A Japanese Family Harboring the Novel Variant c.2431C>T (p.Leu811Phe) in SCN11A

Familial episodic pain syndrome (FEPS) is an autosomal-dominant inherited disorder characterized by paroxysmal pain episodes. FEPS appears in early childhood, gradually disappearing with age, and pain episodes can be triggered by fatigue, bad weather, and cold temperatures. Several gain-of-function variants have been reported for SCN9A, SCN10A, or SCN11A, which encode the voltage-gated sodium channel α subunits Nav1.7, Nav1.8, and Nav1.9, respectively. In this study, we conducted genetic analysis in a four-generation Japanese pedigree. The proband was a 7-year-old girl, and her brother, sister, mother, and grandmother were also experiencing or had experienced pain episodes and were considered to be affected. The father was unaffected. Sequencing of SCN9A, SCN10A, and SCN11A in the proband revealed a novel heterozygous variant of SCN11A: g.38894937G>A (c.2431C>T, p.Leu811Phe). This variant was confirmed in other affected members but not in the unaffected father. The affected residue, Leu811, is located within the DII/S6 helix of Nav1.9 and is important for signal transduction from the voltage-sensing domain and pore opening. On the other hand, the c.2432T>C (p.Leu811Pro) variant is known to cause congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP). Molecular dynamics simulations showed that p.Leu811Phe increased the structural stability of Nav1.9 and prevented the necessary conformational changes, resulting in changes in the dynamics required for function. By contrast, CIP-related p.Leu811Pro destabilized Nav1.9. Thus, we speculate that p.Leu811Phe may lead to current leakage, while p.Leu811Pro can increase the current through Nav1.9.

Binding Mechanism between Platelet Glycoprotein and Cyclic Peptide Elucidated by McMD-Based Dynamic Docking

The cyclic peptide OS1 (amino acid sequence: CTERMALHNLC), which has a disulfide bond between both termini cysteine residues, inhibits complex formation between the platelet glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) and the von Willebrand factor (vWF) by forming a complex with GPIbα. To study the binding mechanism between GPIbα and OS1 and, therefore, the inhibition mechanism of the protein-protein GPIbα-vWF complex, we have applied our multicanonical molecular dynamics (McMD)-based dynamic docking protocol starting from the unbound state of the peptide. Our simulations have reproduced the experimental complex structure, although the top-ranking structure was an intermediary one, where the peptide was bound in the same location as in the experimental structure; however, the β-switch of GPIbα attained a different conformation. Our analysis showed that subsequent refolding of the β-switch results in a more stable binding configuration, although the transition to the native configuration appears to take some time, during which OS1 could dissociate. Our results show that conformational changes in the β-switch are crucial for successful binding of OS1. Furthermore, we identified several allosteric binding sites of GPIbα that might also interfere with vWF binding, and optimization of the peptide to target these allosteric sites might lead to a more effective inhibitor, as these are not dependent on the β-switch conformation.

Binding Mechanism of Riboswitch to Natural Ligand Elucidated by McMD-Based Dynamic Docking Simulations

Flavin mononucleotide riboswitches are common among many pathogenic bacteria and are therefore considered to be an attractive target for antibiotics development. The riboswitch binds riboflavin (RBF, also known as vitamin B2), and although an experimental structure of their complex has been solved with the ligand bound deep inside the RNA molecule in a seemingly unreachable state, the binding mechanism between these molecules is not yet known. We have therefore used our Multicanonical Molecular Dynamics (McMD)-based dynamic docking protocol to analyze their binding mechanism by simulating the binding process between the riboswitch aptamer domain and the RBF, starting from the apo state of the riboswitch. Here, the refinement stage was crucial to identify the native binding configuration, as several other binding configurations were also found by McMD-based docking simulations. RBF initially binds the interface between P4 and P6 including U61 and G62, which forms a gateway where the ligand lingers until this gateway opens sufficiently to allow the ligand to pass through and slip into the hidden binding site including A48, A49, and A85.

Elucidation of binding mechanism, affinity, and complex structure between mWT1 tumor-associated antigen peptide and HLA-A*24:02

We have applied our advanced computational and experimental methodologies to investigate the complex structure and binding mechanism of a modified Wilms' Tumor 1 (mWT1) protein epitope to the understudied Asian-dominant allele HLA-A*24:02 (HLA-A24) in aqueous solution. We have applied our developed multicanonical molecular dynamics (McMD)-based dynamic docking method to analyze the binding pathway and mechanism, which we verified by comparing the highest probability structures from simulation with our experimentally solved x-ray crystal structure. Subsequent path sampling MD simulations elucidated the atomic details of the binding process and indicated that first an encounter complex is formed between the N-terminal's positive charge of the 9-residue mWT1 fragment peptide and a cluster of negative residues on the surface of HLA-A24, with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule preferring a predominantly closed conformation. The peptide first binds to this closed MHC conformation, forming an encounter complex, after which the binding site opens due to increased entropy of the binding site, allowing the peptide to bind to form the native complex structure. Further sequence and structure analyses also suggest that although the peptide loading complex would help with stabilizing the MHC molecule, the binding depends in a large part on the intrinsic affinity between the MHC molecule and the antigen peptide. Finally, our computational tools and analyses can be of great benefit to study the binding mechanism of different MHC types to their antigens, where it could also be useful in the development of higher affinity variant peptides and for personalized medicine.

Mutual induced-fit mechanism drives binding between intrinsically disordered Bim and cryptic binding site of Bcl-xL

The intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of Bim binds to the flexible cryptic site of Bcl-xL, a pro-survival protein involved in cancer progression that plays an important role in initiating apoptosis. However, their binding mechanism has not yet been elucidated. We have applied our dynamic docking protocol, which correctly reproduced both the IDR properties of Bim and the native bound configuration, as well as suggesting other stable/meta-stable binding configurations and revealed the binding pathway. Although the cryptic site of Bcl-xL is predominantly in a closed conformation, initial binding of Bim in an encounter configuration leads to mutual induced-fit binding, where both molecules adapt to each other; Bcl-xL transitions to an open state as Bim folds from a disordered to an α-helical conformation while the two molecules bind each other. Finally, our data provides new avenues to develop novel drugs by targeting newly discovered stable conformations of Bcl-xL.

Allosteric Regulation of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors: From Diversity of Molecular Mechanisms to Multiple Allosteric Sites and Their Ligands

Allosteric regulation is critical for the functioning of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their signaling pathways. Endogenous allosteric regulators of GPCRs are simple ions, various biomolecules, and protein components of GPCR signaling (G proteins and β-arrestins). The stability and functional activity of GPCR complexes is also due to multicenter allosteric interactions between protomers. The complexity of allosteric effects caused by numerous regulators differing in structure, availability, and mechanisms of action predetermines the multiplicity and different topology of allosteric sites in GPCRs. These sites can be localized in extracellular loops; inside the transmembrane tunnel and in its upper and lower vestibules; in cytoplasmic loops; and on the outer, membrane-contacting surface of the transmembrane domain. They are involved in the regulation of basal and orthosteric agonist-stimulated receptor activity, biased agonism, GPCR-complex formation, and endocytosis. They are targets for a large number of synthetic allosteric regulators and modulators, including those constructed using molecular docking. The review is devoted to the principles and mechanisms of GPCRs allosteric regulation, the multiplicity of allosteric sites and their topology, and the endogenous and synthetic allosteric regulators, including autoantibodies and pepducins. The allosteric regulation of chemokine receptors, proteinase-activated receptors, thyroid-stimulating and luteinizing hormone receptors, and beta-adrenergic receptors are described in more detail.

Advancing the field of computational drug design using multicanonical molecular dynamics-based dynamic docking

Multicanonical molecular dynamics (McMD)-based dynamic docking is a powerful tool to not only predict the native binding configuration between two flexible molecules, but it can also be used to accurately simulate the binding/unbinding pathway. Furthermore, it can also predict alternative binding sites, including allosteric ones, by employing an exhaustive sampling approach. Since McMD-based dynamic docking accurately samples binding/unbinding events, it can thus be used to determine the molecular mechanism of binding between two molecules. We developed the McMD-based dynamic docking methodology based on the powerful, but woefully underutilized McMD algorithm, combined with a toolset to perform the docking and to analyze the results. Here, we showcase three of our recent works, where we have applied McMD-based dynamic docking to advance the field of computational drug design. In the first case, we applied our method to perform an exhaustive search between Hsp90 and one of its inhibitors to successfully predict the native binding configuration in its binding site, as we refined our analysis methods. For our second case, we performed an exhaustive search of two medium-sized ligands and Bcl-xL, which has a cryptic binding site that differs greatly between the apo and holo structures. Finally, we performed a dynamic docking simulation between a membrane-embedded GPCR molecule and a high affinity ligand that binds deep within its receptor's pocket. These advanced simulations showcase the power that the McMD-based dynamic docking method has, and provide a glimpse of the potential our methodology has to unravel and solve the medical and biophysical issues in the modern world.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12551-022-01010-z.

Computer simulation of molecular recognition in biomolecular system: from in silico screening to generalized ensembles

Prediction of ligand-receptor complex structure is important in both the basic science and the industry such as drug discovery. We report various computation molecular docking methods: fundamental in silico (virtual) screening, ensemble docking, enhanced sampling (generalized ensemble) methods, and other methods to improve the accuracy of the complex structure. We explain not only the merits of these methods but also their limits of application and discuss some interaction terms which are not considered in the in silico methods. In silico screening and ensemble docking are useful when one focuses on obtaining the native complex structure (the most thermodynamically stable complex). Generalized ensemble method provides a free-energy landscape, which shows the distribution of the most stable complex structure and semi-stable ones in a conformational space. Also, barriers separating those stable structures are identified. A researcher should select one of the methods according to the research aim and depending on complexity of the molecular system to be studied.

Identification and structural analysis of a selective tropomyosin receptor kinase C (TRKC) inhibitor

Tropomyosin receptor kinases (TRKs) are a family of TRKA, TRKB and TRKC isoforms. It has been widely reported that TRKs are implicated in a variety of tumors with several Pan-TRK inhibitors currently being used or evaluated in clinical treatment. However, off-target adverse events frequently occur in the clinical use of Pan-TRK inhibitors, which result in poor patient compliance, even drug discontinuation. Although a subtype-selectivity TRK inhibitor may avert the potential off-target adverse events and can act as a more powerful tool compound in the biochemical studies on TRKs, the high sequence similarities of TRKs hinder the development of subtype-selectivity TRK inhibitors. For example, no selective TRKC inhibitor has been reported. Herein, a selective TRKC inhibitor (L13) was disclosed, with potent TRKC inhibitory activity and 107.5-/34.9-fold selectivity over TRKA/B (IC₅₀ TRKA/B/C = 1400 nM, 454 nM, 13 nM, respectively). Extensive molecular dynamics simulations illustrated that key interactions of L13 with the residues and diversely conserved water molecules in the ribose regions of different TRKs may be the structural basis of selectivity. This will provide inspiring insights into the development of subtype-selectivity TRK inhibitors. Moreover, L13 could serve as a tool compound to investigate the distinct biological functions of TRKC and a starting point for further research on drugs specifically targeting TRKC.

The Impact of the Secondary Binding Pocket on the Pharmacology of Class A GPCRs

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are considered important therapeutic targets due to their pathophysiological significance and pharmacological relevance. Class A receptors represent the largest group of GPCRs that gives the highest number of validated drug targets. Endogenous ligands bind to the orthosteric binding pocket (OBP) embedded in the intrahelical space of the receptor. During the last 10 years, however, it has been turned out that in many receptors there is secondary binding pocket (SBP) located in the extracellular vestibule that is much less conserved. In some cases, it serves as a stable allosteric site harbouring allosteric ligands that modulate the pharmacology of orthosteric binders. In other cases it is used by bitopic compounds occupying both the OBP and SBP. In these terms, SBP binding moieties might influence the pharmacology of the bitopic ligands. Together with others, our research group showed that SBP binders contribute significantly to the affinity, selectivity, functional activity, functional selectivity and binding kinetics of bitopic ligands. Based on these observations we developed a structure-based protocol for designing bitopic compounds with desired pharmacological profile.

N-Terminal-Driven Binding Mechanism of an Antigen Peptide to Human Leukocyte Antigen-A*2402 Elucidated by Multicanonical Molecular Dynamic-Based Dynamic Docking and Path Sampling Simulations

We have applied our advanced multicanonical molecular dynamics (McMD)-based dynamic docking methodology to investigate the binding mechanism of an HIV-1 Nef protein epitope to the Asian-dominant allele human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*2402. Even though pMHC complex formation [between a Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule, which is encoded by an HLA allele, and an antigen peptide] is one of the fundamental processes of the adaptive human immune response, its binding mechanism has not yet been well studied, partially due to the high allelic variation of HLAs in the population. We have used our developed McMD-based dynamic docking method and have successfully reproduced the native complex structure, which is located near the free energy global minimum. Subsequent path sampling MD simulations elucidated the atomic details of the binding process and indicated that the peptide binding is initially driven by the highly positively charged N-terminus of the peptide that is attracted to the various negatively charged residues on the MHC molecule's surface. Upon nearing the pocket, the second tyrosine residue of the peptide anchors the peptide by strongly binding to the B-site of the MHC molecule via hydrophobic driven interactions, resulting in a very strong bound complex structure. Our methodology can be effectively used to predict the bound complex structures between MHC molecules and their antigens to study their binding mechanism in close detail, which would help with the development of new vaccines against cancers, as well as viral infections such as HIV and COVID-19.