1
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Koca Fındık B, Jafari M, Song LF, Li Z, Aviyente V, Merz KM. Binding of Phosphate Species to Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ in Aqueous Solution. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:4298-4307. [PMID: 38718258 PMCID: PMC11137831 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Phosphate derivatives and their interaction with metal cations are involved in many important biological phenomena, so an accurate characterization of the phosphate-metal interaction is necessary to properly understand the role of phosphate-metal contacts in mediating biological function. Herein, we improved the standard 12-6 Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential via the usage of the 12-6-4 LJ model, which incorporates ion-induced dipole interactions. Via parameter scanning, we fine-tuned the 12-6-4 LJ polarizability values to obtain accurate absolute binding free energies for the phosphate anions H2PO4-, HPO42-, PO43- coordinating with Ca2+ and Mg2+. First, we modified the phosphate 12-6-4 LJ parameters to reproduce the solvation free energies of the series of phosphate anions using the thermodynamic integration (TI) method. Then, using the potential mean force (PMF) method, the polarizability of the metal-phosphate interaction was obtained. We show that the free energy profiles of phosphate ions coordinated to Ca2+ and Mg2+ generally show similar trends at longer metal-phosphate distances, while the absolute binding energy values increased with deprotonation. The resulting parameters demonstrate the flexibility of the 12-6-4 LJ-type nonbonded model and its usefulness in accurately describing cation-anion interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basak Koca Fındık
- Department
of Chemistry, Bogazici University, Bebek, Istanbul 34342, Turkey
| | - Majid Jafari
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Lin Frank Song
- Biochemical
and Biophysical Systems Group, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Zhen Li
- Department
of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Viktorya Aviyente
- Department
of Chemistry, Bogazici University, Bebek, Istanbul 34342, Turkey
| | - Kenneth M. Merz
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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2
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Parise A, Magistrato A. Assessing the mechanism of fast-cycling cancer-associated mutations of Rac1 small Rho GTPase. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4939. [PMID: 38501467 PMCID: PMC10949326 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4939] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Rho-GTPases proteins function as molecular switches alternating from an active to an inactive state upon Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding and hydrolysis to Guanosine diphosphate (GDP). Among them, Rac subfamily regulates cell dynamics, being overexpressed in distinct cancer types. Notably, these proteins are object of frequent cancer-associated mutations at Pro29 (P29S, P29L, and P29Q). To assess the impact of these mutations on Rac1 structure and function, we performed extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on wild-type (wt) and oncogenic isoforms of this protein in GDP- and GTP-bound states. Our results unprecedentedly elucidate that P29Q/S-induced structural and dynamical perturbations of Rac1 core domain weaken the binding of the catalytic site Mg2+ ion, and reduce the GDP residence time within protein, enhancing the GDP/GTP exchange rate and Rac1 activity. This broadens our knowledge of the role of cancer-associated mutations on small GTPases mechanism supplying valuable information for future drug discovery efforts targeting specific Rac1 isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Parise
- Consiglio Nazionale delle ricerche (CNR)‐IOM c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS)TriesteItaly
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- Consiglio Nazionale delle ricerche (CNR)‐IOM c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS)TriesteItaly
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3
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Ciardullo G, Parise A, Prejanò M, Marino T. Viral RNA Replication Suppression of SARS-CoV-2: Atomistic Insights into Inhibition Mechanisms of RdRp Machinery by ddhCTP. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1593-1604. [PMID: 38412057 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The nonstructural protein 12, known as RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), is essential for both replication and repair of the viral genome. The RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 has been used as a promising candidate for drug development since the inception of the COVID-19 spread. In this work, we performed an in silico investigation on the insertion of the naturally modified pyrimidine nucleobase ddhCTP into the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp active site, in a comparative analysis with the natural one (CTP). The modification in ddhCTP involves the removal of the 3'-hydroxyl group that prevents the addition of subsequent nucleotides into the nascent strand, acting as an RNA chain terminator inhibitor. Quantum mechanical investigations helped to shed light on the mechanistic source of RdRp activity on the selected nucleobases, and comprehensive all-atom simulations provided insights about the structural rearrangements occurring in the active-site region when inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) is formed. Subsequently, the intricate pathways for the release of PPi, the catalytic product of RdRp, were investigated using Umbrella Sampling simulations. The results are in line with the available experimental data and contribute to a more comprehensive point of view on such an important viral enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Ciardullo
- Dipartimento di Chimica E Tecnologie Chimiche, Laboratorio PROMOCS Cubo 14C, Università della Calabria, RENDE (CS) I-87036, Italy
| | - Angela Parise
- Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR)-IOM C/O International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Mario Prejanò
- Dipartimento di Chimica E Tecnologie Chimiche, Laboratorio PROMOCS Cubo 14C, Università della Calabria, RENDE (CS) I-87036, Italy
| | - Tiziana Marino
- Dipartimento di Chimica E Tecnologie Chimiche, Laboratorio PROMOCS Cubo 14C, Università della Calabria, RENDE (CS) I-87036, Italy
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4
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Rinaldi S, Moroni E, Rozza R, Magistrato A. Frontiers and Challenges of Computing ncRNAs Biogenesis, Function and Modulation. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:993-1018. [PMID: 38287883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), generated from nonprotein coding DNA sequences, constitute 98-99% of the human genome. Non-coding RNAs encompass diverse functional classes, including microRNAs, small interfering RNAs, PIWI-interacting RNAs, small nuclear RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs. With critical involvement in gene expression and regulation across various biological and physiopathological contexts, such as neuronal disorders, immune responses, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, non-coding RNAs are emerging as disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets. In this review, after providing an overview of non-coding RNAs' role in cell homeostasis, we illustrate the potential and the challenges of state-of-the-art computational methods exploited to study non-coding RNAs biogenesis, function, and modulation. This can be done by directly targeting them with small molecules or by altering their expression by targeting the cellular engines underlying their biosynthesis. Drawing from applications, also taken from our work, we showcase the significance and role of computer simulations in uncovering fundamental facets of ncRNA mechanisms and modulation. This information may set the basis to advance gene modulation tools and therapeutic strategies to address unmet medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Rinaldi
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR) - Institute of Chemistry of OrganoMetallic Compounds (ICCOM), c/o Area di Ricerca CNR di Firenze Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Moroni
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR) - Institute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies (SCITEC), via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Rozza
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR) - Institute of Material Foundry (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea, 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR) - Institute of Material Foundry (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea, 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
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5
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Agrò SN, Rozza R, Movilla S, Aupič J, Magistrato A. Molecular Dynamics Simulations Elucidate the Molecular Basis of Pre-mRNA Translocation by the Prp2 Spliceosomal Helicase. J Chem Inf Model 2023. [PMID: 37379492 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The spliceosome machinery catalyzes precursor-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing by undergoing at each splicing cycle assembly, activation, catalysis, and disassembly processes, thanks to the concerted action of specific RNA-dependent ATPases/helicases. Prp2, a member of the DExH-box ATPase/helicase family, harnesses the energy of ATP hydrolysis to translocate a single pre-mRNA strand in the 5' to 3' direction, thus promoting spliceosome remodeling to its catalytic-competent state. Here, we established the functional coupling between ATPase and helicase activities of Prp2. Namely, extensive multi-μs molecular dynamics simulations allowed us to unlock how, after pre-mRNA selection, ATP binding, hydrolysis, and dissociation induce a functional typewriter-like rotation of the Prp2 C-terminal domain. This movement, endorsed by an iterative swing of interactions established between specific Prp2 residues with the nucleobases at 5'- and 3'-ends of pre-mRNA, promotes pre-mRNA translocation. Notably, some of these Prp2 residues are conserved in the DExH-box family, suggesting that the translocation mechanism elucidated here may be applicable to all DExH-box helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sefora Naomi Agrò
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR)─Institute of Material (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea, 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Riccardo Rozza
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR)─Institute of Material (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea, 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Santiago Movilla
- BioComp Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
| | - Jana Aupič
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR)─Institute of Material (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea, 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR)─Institute of Material (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea, 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
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6
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Sinha S, Pindi C, Ahsan M, Arantes PR, Palermo G. Machines on Genes through the Computational Microscope. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:1945-1964. [PMID: 36947696 PMCID: PMC10104023 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Macromolecular machines acting on genes are at the core of life's fundamental processes, including DNA replication and repair, gene transcription and regulation, chromatin packaging, RNA splicing, and genome editing. Here, we report the increasing role of computational biophysics in characterizing the mechanisms of "machines on genes", focusing on innovative applications of computational methods and their integration with structural and biophysical experiments. We showcase how state-of-the-art computational methods, including classical and ab initio molecular dynamics to enhanced sampling techniques, and coarse-grained approaches are used for understanding and exploring gene machines for real-world applications. As this review unfolds, advanced computational methods describe the biophysical function that is unseen through experimental techniques, accomplishing the power of the "computational microscope", an expression coined by Klaus Schulten to highlight the extraordinary capability of computer simulations. Pushing the frontiers of computational biophysics toward a pragmatic representation of large multimegadalton biomolecular complexes is instrumental in bridging the gap between experimentally obtained macroscopic observables and the molecular principles playing at the microscopic level. This understanding will help harness molecular machines for medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological purposes.
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7
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Borišek J, Aupič J, Magistrato A. Establishing the catalytic and regulatory mechanism of
RNA
‐based machineries. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jure Borišek
- Theory Department National Institute of Chemistry Ljubljana Slovenia
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8
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Parise A, Ciardullo G, Prejanò M, Lande ADL, Marino T. On the Recognition of Natural Substrate CTP and Endogenous Inhibitor ddhCTP of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase: A Molecular Dynamics Study. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:4916-4927. [PMID: 36219674 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 outbreak that is affecting the entire planet. As the pandemic is still spreading worldwide, with multiple mutations of the virus, it is of interest and of help to employ computational methods for identifying potential inhibitors of the enzymes responsible for viral replication. Attractive antiviral nucleotide analogue RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) chain terminator inhibitors are investigated with this purpose. This study, based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, addresses the important aspects of the incorporation of an endogenously synthesized nucleoside triphosphate, ddhCTP, in comparison with the natural nucleobase cytidine triphosphate (CTP) in RdRp. The ddhCTP species is the product of the viperin antiviral protein as part of the innate immune response. The absence of the ribose 3'-OH in ddhCTP could have important implications in its inhibitory mechanism of RdRp. We built an in silico model of the RNA strand embedded in RdRp using experimental methods, starting from the cryo-electron microscopy structure and exploiting the information obtained by spectrometry on the RNA sequence. We determined that the model was stable during the MD simulation time. The obtained results provide deeper insights into the incorporation of nucleoside triphosphates, whose molecular mechanism by the RdRp active site still remains elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Parise
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy.,Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie Physique UMR8000, Orsay 91405, France
| | - Giada Ciardullo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Mario Prejanò
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Aurélien de la Lande
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie Physique UMR8000, Orsay 91405, France
| | - Tiziana Marino
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
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9
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Sun LZ, Qian JL, Cai P, Xu X. Mutual effects between single-stranded DNA conformation and Na +-Mg 2+ ion competition in mixed salt solutions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:20867-20881. [PMID: 36043348 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp02737b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The ion-dependence of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) conformational changes has attracted growing attention because of its biological and technological importance. Although single-species ion effects have been extensively explored, it is challenging to study the ssDNA conformational properties under mixed monovalent/divalent ion conditions due to the complications of ssDNA flexibility and ion-ion competition. In this study, we apply Langevin dynamics simulations to investigate mixed Na+/Mg2+ ion-dependent ssDNA conformations. The ssDNA structure is described using a coarse-grained model, in which the phosphate, base, and sugar of each nucleotide are represented by three different beads. A novel improvement in our simulation model is that mixed-salt-related electrostatic interactions are computed via combining Manning counterion condensation (MCC) theory with the Monte Carlo tightly bound ion (MCTBI) model. Based on this MCC-MCTBI combination, we report new empirical functions to describe the ion-concentration-dependent and ssDNA conformation/structure-dependent electrostatic effects. The calculation results relating to the ion binding properties and the simulation results relating to the ssDNA conformational properties are validated against experimental results. In addition, our simulation results suggest a quantitative relationship between the ssDNA conformation and Na+-Mg2+ competition; this in turn reveals their mutual impact in the ion atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Zhen Sun
- Department of Applied Physics, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China.
| | - Jun-Lin Qian
- Department of Applied Physics, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China.
| | - Pinggen Cai
- Department of Applied Physics, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China.
| | - Xiaojun Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, 213001, China
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10
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Sun LZ, Qian JL, Cai P, Hu HX, Xu X, Luo MB. Mg2+ effects on the single-stranded DNA conformations and nanopore translocation dynamics. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.124895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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11
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Manigrasso J, De Vivo M, Palermo G. Controlled Trafficking of Multiple and Diverse Cations Prompts Nucleic Acid Hydrolysis. ACS Catal 2021; 11:8786-8797. [PMID: 35145762 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c01825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent in crystallo reaction intermediates have detailed how nucleic acid hydrolysis occurs in the RNA ribonuclease H1 (RNase H1), a fundamental metalloenzyme involved in maintaining the human genome. At odds with the previous characterization, these in crystallo structures unexpectedly captured multiple metal ions (K+ and Mg2+) transiently bound in the vicinity of the two-metal-ion active site. Using multi-microsecond all-atom molecular dynamics and free-energy simulations, we investigated the functional implications of the dynamic exchange of multiple K+ and Mg2+ ions at the RNase H1 reaction center. We found that such ions are timely positioned at non-overlapping locations near the active site, at different stages of catalysis, being crucial for both reactants' alignment and leaving group departure. We also found that this cation trafficking is tightly regulated by variations of the solution's ionic strength and is aided by two conserved second-shell residues, E188 and K196, suggesting a mechanism for the cations' recruitment during catalysis. These results indicate that controlled trafficking of multi-cation dynamics, opportunely prompted by second-shell residues, is functionally essential to the complex enzymatic machinery of the RNase H1. These findings revise the current knowledge on the RNase H1 catalysis and open new catalytic possibilities for other similar metalloenzymes including, but not limited to, CRISPR-Cas9, group II intron ribozyme and the human spliceosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Manigrasso
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, 16163, Italy.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 52512, United States
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling & Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, 16163, Italy
| | - Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 52512, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 52512, United States
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12
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Gresh N, Perahia D. Multimolecular complexes of the phosphodiester anion with Zn(II) or Mg(II) and water molecules-Preliminary validations of a polarizable potential by ab initio quantum chemistry. J Comput Chem 2021; 42:1430-1446. [PMID: 34101861 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.26555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Dimethyl phosphate (DMP- ) is a model for the phosphodiester backbone of DNA, RNA, and phospholipids. It is central for the binding of divalent cations and water along the backbone of nucleic acids. Significant polarization and charge-transfer contributions and nonadditivity come into play in the multimolecular complexes organized around phosphate. Prior to large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) with advanced polarizable potentials, it is essential to evaluate how well the values and trends of intermolecular interaction energies (ΔE) from ab initio quantum chemistry (QC) and their individual contributions are reproduced in a diversity of such complexes. These differ by the starting binding modes of a divalent cation, Zn(II), namely direct, bi- or mono-dentate to anionic and/or ester oxygens, versus through-water binding. We present first the results from automated refinements of the individual contributions of the SIBFA potential with respect to their QC counterparts using a Zn(II) or a water probe. This is followed by validations on eight relaxed multimolecular complexes of DMP- with Zn(II) or Mg(II) and seven waters, then on sixteen complexes of DMP- with Zn(II) and eight waters in arrangements extracted from MD or energy-minimization on a droplet of sixty-four waters. This monitors the compared evolutions of SIBFA and QC ΔE and their individual contributions in the competing arrangements. Some waters, bridging Zn(II) and DMP- , were found to have exceptionally large dipole moments, of up to 3.8 Debye. The perspectives of extension to a flexible phosphodiester backbone are discussed in the context of the SIBFA potential for DNA and RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nohad Gresh
- Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, UMR 7616 CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - David Perahia
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Pharmacologie Appliquées, UMR 8113 CNRS, Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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13
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Spinello A, Borišek J, Pavlin M, Janoš P, Magistrato A. Computing Metal-Binding Proteins for Therapeutic Benefit. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:2034-2049. [PMID: 33740297 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Over one third of biomolecules rely on metal ions to exert their cellular functions. Metal ions can play a structural role by stabilizing the structure of biomolecules, a functional role by promoting a wide variety of biochemical reactions, and a regulatory role by acting as messengers upon binding to proteins regulating cellular metal-homeostasis. These diverse roles in biology ascribe critical implications to metal-binding proteins in the onset of many diseases. Hence, it is of utmost importance to exhaustively unlock the different mechanistic facets of metal-binding proteins and to harness this knowledge to rationally devise novel therapeutic strategies to prevent or cure pathological states associated with metal-dependent cellular dysfunctions. In this compendium, we illustrate how the use of a computational arsenal based on docking, classical, and quantum-classical molecular dynamics simulations can contribute to extricate the minutiae of the catalytic, transport, and inhibition mechanisms of metal-binding proteins at the atomic level. This knowledge represents a fertile ground and an essential prerequisite for selectively targeting metal-binding proteins with small-molecule inhibitors aiming to (i) abrogate deregulated metal-dependent (mis)functions or (ii) leverage metal-dyshomeostasis to selectively trigger harmful cells death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Spinello
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR)-, Institute of Materials (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Jure Borišek
- National Institute of Chemistry Institution Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matic Pavlin
- Laboratory of Microsensor Structures and Electronics Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana Tržaška cesta 25, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Pavel Janoš
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR)-, Institute of Materials (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR)-, Institute of Materials (IOM) c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
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14
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Xu J, Simonelli F, Li X, Spinello A, Laporte S, Torre V, Magistrato A. Molecular Mechanisms of the Blockage of Glioblastoma Motility. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:2967-2980. [PMID: 33861592 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal brain tumor. GBM has a remarkable degree of motility and is able to infiltrate the healthy brain. In order to perform a rationale-based drug-repositioning study, we have used known inhibitors of two small Rho GTPases, Rac1 and Cdc42, which are upregulated in GBM and are involved in the signaling processes underlying the orchestration of the cytoskeleton and cellular motility. The selected inhibitors (R-ketorolac and ML141 for Cdc42 and R-ketorolac and EHT 1864 for Rac1) have been successfully employed to reduce the infiltration propensity of GBM in live cell imaging studies. Complementarily, all-atom simulations have elucidated the molecular basis of their inhibition mechanism, identifying the binding sites targeted by the inhibitors and dissecting their impact on the small Rho GTPases' function. Our results demonstrate the potential of targeting the Rac1 and Cdc42 proteins with small molecules to contrast GBM infiltration growth and supply precious information for future drug discovery studies aiming to fight GBM and other infiltrative cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xu
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy.,Institute for Systems Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P. R. China
| | - Federica Simonelli
- National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM) c/o SISSA, Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Angelo Spinello
- National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM) c/o SISSA, Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Sara Laporte
- National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM) c/o SISSA, Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Vincent Torre
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM) c/o SISSA, Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
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15
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Grauffel C, Dudev T, Lim C. Metal Affinity/Selectivity of Monophosphate-Containing Signaling/Lipid Molecules. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:2444-2456. [PMID: 33818070 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c01007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Monophosphate, an essential component of nucleic acids, as well as cell membranes and signaling molecules, is often bound to metal cations. Despite the biological importance of monophosphate-containing cell-signaling or lipid molecules, their propensity to bind the two most abundant cellular dications, Mg2+ and Ca2+, in a particular mode (inner/outer shell, mono/bidentate) is not well understood. Whether they prefer binding to Mg2+ than to Ca2+ and if they can outcompete the carboxylates of excitatory Asp/Glu and inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters in binding to Mg2+/Ca2+ remain unclear. To address these questions, we modeled cyclic adenosine/guanosine monophosphate (cAMP/cGMP), nucleoside 2',3'-cyclic phosphate, phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PEA) and determined their most stable metal-binding modes, including those of Asp/Glu and GABA, as well as their selectivity for Mg2+/Ca2+ using density functional theory combined with the polarizable continuum model. The results obtained, which are consistent with the available experimental findings, reveal that the structurally and functionally diverse monophosphate-containing ligands studied prefer monodentate coordination of Mg2+ because of the greater strain encountered upon bidentate coordination, whereas the larger Ca2+ imposes less strain upon bidentate binding and has reduced/no preference for monodentate coordination. We further show that in a low-dielectric environment, negatively charged monophosphate-containing ligands favor the better charge-accepting dication, that is, Mg2+ rather than Ca2+. By promoting Mg2+ over Ca2+ binding, signaling monophosphates (cAMP/cGMP) do not entrap cellular Ca2+ and interfere with signal transduction processes employing Ca2+ as a second messenger. In regions with high glutamate cytoplasmic concentration, glutamate may sequester Mg2+ bound to isolated five-/six-membered ring phosphates, PI, or neutral PEA, but not anionic phospholipids constituting the inner leaflet of the cell membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Grauffel
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Todor Dudev
- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University, Sofia 1164, Bulgaria
| | - Carmay Lim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.,Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
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16
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Pirc K, Hodnik V, Snoj T, Lenarčič T, Caserman S, Podobnik M, Böhm H, Albert I, Kotar A, Plavec J, Borišek J, Damuzzo M, Magistrato A, Brus B, Sosič I, Gobec S, Nürnberger T, Anderluh G. Nep1-like proteins as a target for plant pathogen control. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009477. [PMID: 33857257 PMCID: PMC8078777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of efficient methods to control the major diseases of crops most important to agriculture leads to huge economic losses and seriously threatens global food security. Many of the most important microbial plant pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes, secrete necrosis- and ethylene-inducing peptide 1 (Nep1)-like proteins (NLPs), which critically contribute to the virulence and spread of the disease. NLPs are cytotoxic to eudicot plants, as they disturb the plant plasma membrane by binding to specific plant membrane sphingolipid receptors. Their pivotal role in plant infection and broad taxonomic distribution makes NLPs a promising target for the development of novel phytopharmaceutical compounds. To identify compounds that bind to NLPs from the oomycetes Pythium aphanidermatum and Phytophthora parasitica, a library of 587 small molecules, most of which are commercially unavailable, was screened by surface plasmon resonance. Importantly, compounds that exhibited the highest affinity to NLPs were also found to inhibit NLP-mediated necrosis in tobacco leaves and Phytophthora infestans growth on potato leaves. Saturation transfer difference-nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular modelling of the most promising compound, anthranilic acid derivative, confirmed stable binding to the NLP protein, which resulted in decreased necrotic activity and reduced ion leakage from tobacco leaves. We, therefore, confirmed that NLPs are an appealing target for the development of novel phytopharmaceutical agents and strategies, which aim to directly interfere with the function of these major microbial virulence factors. The compounds identified in this study represent lead structures for further optimization and antimicrobial product development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Pirc
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vesna Hodnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tina Snoj
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tea Lenarčič
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Simon Caserman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjetka Podobnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Hannah Böhm
- Center of Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Isabell Albert
- Center of Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anita Kotar
- Slovenian NMR Center, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janez Plavec
- Slovenian NMR Center, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jure Borišek
- Theory Department, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martina Damuzzo
- CNR-IOM-Democritos at International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- CNR-IOM-Democritos at International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Boris Brus
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Izidor Sosič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stanislav Gobec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Thorsten Nürnberger
- Center of Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Gregor Anderluh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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17
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Borišek J, Casalino L, Saltalamacchia A, Mays SG, Malcovati L, Magistrato A. Atomic-Level Mechanism of Pre-mRNA Splicing in Health and Disease. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:144-154. [PMID: 33317262 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Intron removal from premature-mRNA (pre-mRNA splicing) is an essential part of gene expression and regulation that is required for the production of mature, protein-coding mRNA. The spliceosome (SPL), a majestic machine composed of five small nuclear RNAs and hundreds of proteins, behaves as an eminent transcriptome tailor, efficiently performing splicing as a protein-directed metallo-ribozyme. To select and excise long and diverse intronic sequences with single-nucleotide precision, the SPL undergoes a continuous compositional and conformational remodeling, forming eight distinct complexes throughout each splicing cycle. Splicing fidelity is of paramount importance to preserve the integrity of the proteome. Mutations in splicing factors can severely compromise the accuracy of this machinery, leading to aberrant splicing and altered gene expression. Decades of biochemical and genetic studies have provided insights into the SPL's composition and function, but its complexity and plasticity have prevented an in-depth mechanistic understanding. Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy techniques have ushered in a new era for comprehending eukaryotic gene regulation, providing several near-atomic resolution structures of the SPL from yeast and humans. Nevertheless, these structures represent isolated snapshots of the splicing process and are insufficient to exhaustively assess the function of each SPL component and to unravel particular facets of the splicing mechanism in a dynamic environment.In this Account, building upon our contributions in this field, we discuss the role of biomolecular simulations in uncovering the mechanistic intricacies of eukaryotic splicing in health and disease. Specifically, we showcase previous applications to illustrate the role of atomic-level simulations in elucidating the function of specific proteins involved in the architectural reorganization of the SPL along the splicing cycle. Moreover, molecular dynamics applications have uniquely contributed to decrypting the channels of communication required for critical functional transitions of the SPL assemblies. They have also shed light on the role of carcinogenic mutations in the faithful selection of key intronic regions and the molecular mechanism of splicing modulators. Additionally, we emphasize the role of quantum-classical molecular dynamics in unraveling the chemical details of pre-mRNA cleavage in the SPL and in its evolutionary ancestors, group II intron ribozymes. We discuss methodological pitfalls of multiscale calculations currently used to dissect the splicing mechanism, presenting future challenges in this field. The results highlight how atomic-level simulations can enrich the interpretation of experimental results. We envision that the synergy between computational and experimental approaches will aid in developing innovative therapeutic strategies and revolutionary gene modulation tools to fight the over 200 human diseases associated with splicing misregulation, including cancer and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jure Borišek
- Theory Department, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana 1001, Slovenia
| | - Lorenzo Casalino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | | | | | - Luca Malcovati
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
- Department of Hematology, IRCCS S. Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
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18
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Palermo G, Spinello A, Saha A, Magistrato A. Frontiers of metal-coordinating drug design. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 16:497-511. [PMID: 33874825 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1851188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The occurrence of metal ions in biomolecules is required to exert vital cellular functions. Metal-containing biomolecules can be modulated by small-molecule inhibitors targeting their metal-moiety. As well, the discovery of cisplatin ushered the rational discovery of metal-containing-drugs. The use of both drug types exploiting metal-ligand interactions is well established to treat distinct pathologies. Therefore, characterizing and leveraging metal-coordinating drugs is a pivotal, yet challenging, part of medicinal chemistry.Area covered: Atomic-level simulations are increasingly employed to overcome the challenges met by traditional drug-discovery approaches and to complement wet-lab experiments in elucidating the mechanisms of drugs' action. Multiscale simulations, allow deciphering the mechanism of metal-binding inhibitors and metallo-containing-drugs, enabling a reliable description of metal-complexes in their biological environment. In this compendium, the authors review selected applications exploiting the metal-ligand interactions by focusing on understanding the mechanism and design of (i) inhibitors targeting iron and zinc-enzymes, and (ii) ruthenium and gold-based anticancer agents targeting the nucleosome and aquaporin protein, respectively.Expert opinion: The showcased applications exemplify the current role and the potential of atomic-level simulations and reveal how their synergic use with experiments can contribute to uncover fundamental mechanistic facets and exploit metal-ligand interactions in medicinal chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Chemistry, University of California Riverside, Riverside, United States
| | - Angelo Spinello
- National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Institute of Material (IOM) @ International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Aakash Saha
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, United States
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Institute of Material (IOM) @ International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
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19
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Mardirossian M, Sola R, Beckert B, Valencic E, Collis DWP, Borišek J, Armas F, Di Stasi A, Buchmann J, Syroegin EA, Polikanov YS, Magistrato A, Hilpert K, Wilson DN, Scocchi M. Peptide Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis with Broad Spectrum and SbmA-Independent Bactericidal Activity against Clinical Pathogens. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9590-9602. [PMID: 32787108 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) are promising lead compounds for developing new antimicrobials; however, their narrow spectrum of action is limiting. PrAMPs kill bacteria binding to their ribosomes and inhibiting protein synthesis. In this study, 133 derivatives of the PrAMP Bac7(1-16) were synthesized to identify the crucial residues for ribosome inactivation and antimicrobial activity. Then, five new Bac7(1-16) derivatives were conceived and characterized by antibacterial and membrane permeabilization assays, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics simulations. Some derivatives displayed broad spectrum activity, encompassing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Two peptides out of five acquired a weak membrane-perturbing activity while maintaining the ability to inhibit protein synthesis. These derivatives became independent of the SbmA transporter, commonly used by native PrAMPs, suggesting that they obtained a novel route to enter bacterial cells. PrAMP-derived compounds could become new-generation antimicrobials to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mardirossian
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34125 Trieste, Italy
| | - Riccardo Sola
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Bertrand Beckert
- Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Erica Valencic
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", 30137 Trieste, Italy
| | | | | | - Federica Armas
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Adriana Di Stasi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jan Buchmann
- Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Egor A Syroegin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Yury S Polikanov
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | | | - Kai Hilpert
- Institute of Infection and Immunology, St. George's, University of London, SW 17 0RE London, U.K
| | - Daniel N Wilson
- Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marco Scocchi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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20
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Saltalamacchia A, Casalino L, Borišek J, Batista VS, Rivalta I, Magistrato A. Decrypting the Information Exchange Pathways across the Spliceosome Machinery. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:8403-8411. [PMID: 32275149 PMCID: PMC7339022 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c02036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Intron splicing of a nascent mRNA transcript by spliceosome (SPL) is a hallmark of gene regulation in eukaryotes. SPL is a majestic molecular machine composed of an entangled network of proteins and RNAs that meticulously promotes intron splicing through the formation of eight intermediate complexes. Cross-communication among the critical distal proteins of the SPL assembly is pivotal for fast and accurate directing of the compositional and conformational readjustments necessary to achieve high splicing fidelity. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of an 800 000 atom model of SPL C complex from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and community network analysis enabled us to decrypt the complexity of this huge molecular machine, by identifying the key channels of information transfer across long distances separating key protein components. The reported study represents an unprecedented attempt in dissecting cross-communication pathways within one of the most complex machines of eukaryotic cells, supporting the critical role of Clf1 and Cwc2 splicing cofactors and specific domains of the Prp8 protein as signal conveyors for pre-mRNA maturation. Our findings provide fundamental advances into mechanistic aspects of SPL, providing a conceptual basis for controlling the SPL via small-molecule modulators able to tackle splicing-associated diseases by altering/obstructing information-exchange paths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Saltalamacchia
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Casalino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jure Borišek
- National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Victor S Batista
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Ivan Rivalta
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Univ Lyon, Ens de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5182, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Laboratoire de Chimie, F69342, Lyon, France
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto Officina dei Materiali, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34135 Trieste, Italy
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21
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Borišek J, Magistrato A. All-Atom Simulations Decrypt the Molecular Terms of RNA Catalysis in the Exon-Ligation Step of the Spliceosome. ACS Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c00390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jure Borišek
- National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- CNR-IOM-Democritos national Simulation Center c/o SISSA, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
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22
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Kognole AA, MacKerell AD. Mg 2+ Impacts the Twister Ribozyme through Push-Pull Stabilization of Nonsequential Phosphate Pairs. Biophys J 2020; 118:1424-1437. [PMID: 32053774 PMCID: PMC7091459 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules perform a variety of biological functions for which the correct three-dimensional structure is essential, including as ribozymes where they catalyze chemical reactions. Metal ions, especially Mg2+, neutralize these negatively charged nucleic acids and specifically stabilize RNA tertiary structures as well as impact the folding landscape of RNAs as they assume their tertiary structures. Specific binding sites of Mg2+ in folded conformations of RNA have been studied extensively; however, the full range of interactions of the ion with compact intermediates and unfolded states of RNA is challenging to investigate, and the atomic details of the mechanism by which the ion facilitates tertiary structure formation is not fully known. Here, umbrella sampling combined with oscillating chemical potential Grand Canonical Monte Carlo/molecular dynamics simulations are used to capture the energetics and atomic-level details of Mg2+-RNA interactions that occur along an unfolding pathway of the Twister ribozyme. The free energy profiles reveal stabilization of partially unfolded states by Mg2+, as observed in unfolding experiments, with this stabilization being due to increased sampling of simultaneous interactions of Mg2+ with two or more nonsequential phosphate groups. Notably, these results indicate a push-pull mechanism in which the Mg2+-RNA interactions actually lead to destabilization of specific nonsequential phosphate-phosphate interactions (i.e., pushed apart), whereas other interactions are stabilized (i.e., pulled together), a balance that stabilizes unfolded states and facilitates the folding of Twister, including the formation of hydrogen bonds associated with the tertiary structure. This study establishes a better understanding of how Mg2+-ion interactions contribute to RNA structural properties and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek A Kognole
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alexander D MacKerell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
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23
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Zou A, Lee S, Li J, Zhou R. Retained Stability of the RNA Structure in DNA Packaging Motor with a Single Mg2+ Ion Bound at the Double Mg-Clamp Structure. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:701-707. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b06428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aodong Zou
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- Institute of Quantitative Biology and Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Sangyun Lee
- Computational Biological Center, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
| | - Jingyuan Li
- Institute of Quantitative Biology and Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Ruhong Zhou
- Institute of Quantitative Biology and Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- Computational Biological Center, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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24
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Borišek J, Saltalamacchia A, Gallì A, Palermo G, Molteni E, Malcovati L, Magistrato A. Disclosing the Impact of Carcinogenic SF3b Mutations on Pre-mRNA Recognition Via All-Atom Simulations. Biomolecules 2019; 9:E633. [PMID: 31640290 PMCID: PMC6843770 DOI: 10.3390/biom9100633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The spliceosome accurately promotes precursor messenger-RNA splicing by recognizing specific noncoding intronic tracts including the branch point sequence (BPS) and the 3'-splice-site (3'SS). Mutations of Hsh155 (yeast)/SF3B1 (human), which is a protein of the SF3b factor involved in BPS recognition and induces altered BPS binding and 3'SS selection, lead to mis-spliced mRNA transcripts. Although these mutations recur in hematologic malignancies, the mechanism by which they change gene expression remains unclear. In this study, multi-microsecond-long molecular-dynamics simulations of eighth distinct ∼700,000 atom models of the spliceosome Bact complex, and gene sequencing of SF3B1, disclose that these carcinogenic isoforms destabilize intron binding and/or affect the functional dynamics of Hsh155/SF3B1 only when binding non-consensus BPSs, as opposed to the non-pathogenic variants newly annotated here. This pinpoints a cross-talk between the distal Hsh155 mutation and BPS recognition sites. Our outcomes unprecedentedly contribute to elucidating the principles of pre-mRNA recognition, which provides critical insights on the mechanism underlying constitutive/alternative/aberrant splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jure Borišek
- CNR-IOM-Democritos National Simulation Center c/o SISSA, 34136 Trieste, Italy.
- National Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | | | - Anna Gallì
- Department of Hematology, IRCCS S. Matteo Hospital Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside CA 92521, USA.
| | - Elisabetta Molteni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Luca Malcovati
- Department of Hematology, IRCCS S. Matteo Hospital Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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25
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Casalino L, Magistrato A. Unraveling the Molecular Mechanism of Pre-mRNA Splicing From Multi-Scale Simulations. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:62. [PMID: 31448284 PMCID: PMC6691188 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Casalino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche–Istituto Officina dei Materiali, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
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26
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Palermo G, Casalino L, Magistrato A, Andrew McCammon J. Understanding the mechanistic basis of non-coding RNA through molecular dynamics simulations. J Struct Biol 2019; 206:267-279. [PMID: 30880083 PMCID: PMC6637970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) has a key role in regulating gene expression, mediating fundamental processes and diseases via a variety of yet unknown mechanisms. Here, we review recent applications of conventional and enhanced Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations methods to address the mechanistic function of large biomolecular systems that are tightly involved in the ncRNA function and that are of key importance in life sciences. This compendium focuses of three biomolecular systems, namely the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing machinery, group II intron ribozyme and the ribonucleoprotein complex of the spliceosome, which edit and process ncRNA. We show how the application of a novel accelerated MD simulations method has been key in disclosing the conformational transitions underlying RNA binding in the CRISPR-Cas9 complex, suggesting a mechanism for RNA recruitment and clarifying the conformational changes required for attaining genome editing. As well, we discuss the use of mixed quantum-classical MD simulations in deciphering the catalytic mechanism of RNA splicing as operated by group II intron ribozyme, one of the largest ncRNA structures crystallized so far. Finally, we debate the future challenges and opportunities in the field, discussing the recent application of MD simulations for unraveling the functional biophysics of the spliceosome, a multi-mega Dalton complex of proteins and small nuclear RNAs that performs RNA splicing in humans. This showcase of applications highlights the current talent of MD simulations to dissect atomic-level details of complex biomolecular systems instrumental for the design of finely engineered genome editing machines. As well, this review aims at inspiring future investigations of several other ncRNA regulatory systems, such as micro and small interfering RNAs, which achieve their function and specificity using RNA-based recognition and targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, United States.
| | - Lorenzo Casalino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto Officina dei Materiali, Democritos National Simulation Center c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - J Andrew McCammon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
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27
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Ricci C, Chen JS, Miao Y, Jinek M, Doudna JA, McCammon JA, Palermo G. Deciphering Off-Target Effects in CRISPR-Cas9 through Accelerated Molecular Dynamics. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2019; 5:651-662. [PMID: 31041385 PMCID: PMC6487449 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 is the state-of-the-art technology for editing and manipulating nucleic acids. However, the occurrence of off-target mutations can limit its applicability. Here, all-atom enhanced molecular dynamics (MD) simulations-using Gaussian accelerated MD (GaMD)-are used to decipher the mechanism of off-target binding at the molecular level. GaMD reveals that base pair mismatches in the target DNA at distal sites with respect to the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) can induce an extended opening of the RNA:DNA heteroduplex, which leads to newly formed interactions between the unwound DNA and the L2 loop of the catalytic HNH domain. These conserved interactions constitute a "lock" effectively decreasing the conformational freedom of the HNH domain and hampering its activation for cleavage. Remarkably, depending on their positions at PAM distal sites, DNA mismatches responsible for off-target cleavages are unable to "lock" the HNH domain, thereby leading to the unselective cleavage of DNA sequences. In consistency with the available experimental data, the ability to "lock" the catalytic HNH domain in an inactive "conformational checkpoint" is shown to be a key determinant in the onset of off-target effects. This mechanistic rationale contributes in clarifying a long lasting open issue in the CRISPR-Cas9 function and poses the foundation for designing novel and more specific Cas9 variants, which could be obtained by magnifying the "locking" interactions between HNH and the target DNA in the presence of any incorrect off-target sequence, thus preventing undesired cleavages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarisse
G. Ricci
- Department
of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and National Biomedical
Computation Resource, University of California
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Janice S. Chen
- Department of Molecular
and Cell Biology, Department of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Innovative Genomics
Institute, and Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, University
of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Center
for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer A. Doudna
- Department of Molecular
and Cell Biology, Department of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Innovative Genomics
Institute, and Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, University
of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - J. Andrew McCammon
- Department
of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and National Biomedical
Computation Resource, University of California
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Giulia Palermo
- Department
of Bioengineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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28
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Can multiscale simulations unravel the function of metallo-enzymes to improve knowledge-based drug discovery? Future Med Chem 2019; 11:771-791. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2018-0495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Metallo-enzymes are a large class of biomolecules promoting specialized chemical reactions. Quantum-classical quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics, describing the metal site at quantum mechanics level, while accounting for the rest of system at molecular mechanics level, has an accessible time-scale limited by its computational cost. Hence, it must be integrated with classical molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling simulations to disentangle the functions of metallo-enzymes. In this review, we provide an overview of these computational methods and their capabilities. In particular, we will focus on some systems such as CYP19A1 a Fe-dependent enzyme involved in estrogen biosynthesis, and on Mg2+-dependent DNA/RNA processing enzymes/ribozymes and the spliceosome, a protein-directed ribozyme. This information may guide the discovery of drug-like molecules and genetic manipulation tools.
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Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 is a bacterial immune system with exciting applications for genome editing. In spite of extensive experimental characterization, the active site chemistry of the RuvC domain-which performs DNA cleavages-has remained elusive. Its knowledge is key for structure-based engineering aimed at improving DNA cleavages. Here, we deliver an in-depth characterization by using quantum-classical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and a Gaussian accelerated MD method, coupled with bioinformatics analysis. We disclose a two-metal aided architecture in the RuvC active site, which is poised to operate DNA cleavages, in analogy with other DNA/RNA processing enzymes. The conformational dynamics of the RuvC domain further reveals that an "arginine finger" stably contacts the scissile phosphate, with the function of stabilizing the active complex. Remarkably, the formation of a catalytically competent state of the RuvC domain is only observed upon the conformational activation of the other nuclease domain of CRISPR-Cas9-i.e., the HNH domain-such allowing concerted cleavages of double stranded DNA. This structure is in agreement with the available experimental data and remarkably differs from previous models based on classical mechanics, demonstrating also that only quantum mechanical simulations can accurately describe the metal-aided active site in CRISPR-Cas9. This fully catalytic structure-in which both the HNH and RuvC domains are prone to perform DNA cleavages-constitutes a stepping-stone for understanding DNA cleavage and specificity. It calls for novel experimental verifications and offers the structural foundations for engineering efforts aimed at improving the genome editing capability of CRISPR-Cas9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, Bourns College of Engineering , University of California Riverside , 900 University Avenue , Riverside , California 92521 , United States
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30
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Leonarski F, D'Ascenzo L, Auffinger P. Nucleobase carbonyl groups are poor Mg 2+ inner-sphere binders but excellent monovalent ion binders-a critical PDB survey. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2019; 25:173-192. [PMID: 30409785 PMCID: PMC6348993 DOI: 10.1261/rna.068437.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Precise knowledge of Mg2+ inner-sphere binding site properties is vital for understanding the structure and function of nucleic acid systems. Unfortunately, the PDB, which represents the main source of Mg2+ binding sites, contains a substantial number of assignment issues that blur our understanding of the functions of these ions. Here, following a previous study devoted to Mg2+ binding to nucleobase nitrogens, we surveyed nucleic acid X-ray structures from the PDB with resolutions ≤2.9 Å to classify the Mg2+ inner-sphere binding patterns to nucleotide carbonyl, ribose hydroxyl, cyclic ether, and phosphodiester oxygen atoms. From this classification, we derived a set of "prior-knowledge" nucleobase Mg2+ binding sites. We report that crystallographic examples of trustworthy nucleobase Mg2+ binding sites are fewer than expected since many of those are associated with misidentified Na+ or K+ We also emphasize that binding of Na+ and K+ to nucleic acids is much more frequent than anticipated. Overall, we provide evidence derived from X-ray structures that nucleobases are poor inner-sphere binders for Mg2+ but good binders for monovalent ions. Based on strict stereochemical criteria, we propose an extended set of guidelines designed to help in the assignment and validation of ions directly contacting nucleobase and ribose atoms. These guidelines should help in the interpretation of X-ray and cryo-EM solvent density maps. When borderline Mg2+ stereochemistry is observed, alternative placement of Na+, K+, or Ca2+ must be considered. We also critically examine the use of lanthanides (Yb3+, Tb3+) as Mg2+ substitutes in crystallography experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Leonarski
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, 5232, Switzerland
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, Strasbourg, 67084, France
| | - Luigi D'Ascenzo
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, Strasbourg, 67084, France
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Pascal Auffinger
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, Strasbourg, 67084, France
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31
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Friedman R. Simulations of Biomolecules in Electrolyte Solutions. ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/adts.201800163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ran Friedman
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical SciencesLinnæus UniversityKalmar SE‐391 82 Sweden
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32
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The Catalytic Mechanism of Steroidogenic Cytochromes P450 from All-Atom Simulations: Entwinement with Membrane Environment, Redox Partners, and Post-Transcriptional Regulation. Catalysts 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/catal9010081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytochromes P450 (CYP450s) promote the biosynthesis of steroid hormones with major impact on the onset of diseases such as breast and prostate cancers. By merging distinct functions into the same catalytic scaffold, steroidogenic CYP450s enhance complex chemical transformations with extreme efficiency and selectivity. Mammalian CYP450s and their redox partners are membrane-anchored proteins, dynamically associating to form functional machineries. Mounting evidence signifies that environmental factors are strictly intertwined with CYP450s catalysis. Atomic-level simulations have the potential to provide insights into the catalytic mechanism of steroidogenic CYP450s and on its regulation by environmental factors, furnishing information often inaccessible to experimental means. In this review, after an introduction of computational methods commonly employed to tackle these systems, we report the current knowledge on three steroidogenic CYP450s—CYP11A1, CYP17A1, and CYP19A1—endowed with multiple catalytic functions and critically involved in cancer onset. In particular, besides discussing their catalytic mechanisms, we highlight how the membrane environment contributes to (i) regulate ligand channeling through these enzymes, (ii) modulate their interactions with specific protein partners, (iii) mediate post-transcriptional regulation induced by phosphorylation. The results presented set the basis for developing novel therapeutic strategies aimed at fighting diseases originating from steroid metabolism dysfunction.
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33
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Dans PD, Gallego D, Balaceanu A, Darré L, Gómez H, Orozco M. Modeling, Simulations, and Bioinformatics at the Service of RNA Structure. Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2018.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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34
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Zuo Z, Liu J. Assessing the Performance of the Nonbonded Mg 2+ Models in a Two-Metal-Dependent Ribonuclease. J Chem Inf Model 2018; 59:399-408. [PMID: 30521334 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.8b00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Magnesium ions (Mg2+), abundant in living cells, are essential for biomolecular structure, dynamics, and function. The biological importance of Mg2+ has motivated continuous development and improvement of various Mg2+ models for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations during the last decades. There are four types of nonbonded Mg2+ models: the point charge models based on a 12-6 or 12-6-4 type Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential, and the multisite models based on a 12-6 or 12-6-4 LJ potential. Here, we systematically assessed the performance of these four types of nonbonded Mg2+ models (21 models in total) in terms of maintaining a challenging intermediate state configuration captured in the structure of a prototypical two-metal-ion RNase H complex with an RNA/DNA hybrid. Our data demonstrate that the 12-6-4 multisite models, which account for charge-induced dipole interactions, perform the best in reproducing all the unique coordination modes in this intermediate state and maintaining the correct carboxylate denticity. Our benchmark work provides a useful guideline for MD simulations and structural refinement of Mg2+-containing biomolecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Zuo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center , Fort Worth , Texas 76107 , United States
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center , Fort Worth , Texas 76107 , United States
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35
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Palermo G, Chen JS, Ricci CG, Rivalta I, Jinek M, Batista VS, Doudna JA, McCammon JA. Key role of the REC lobe during CRISPR-Cas9 activation by 'sensing', 'regulating', and 'locking' the catalytic HNH domain. Q Rev Biophys 2018; 51:e91. [PMID: 30555184 PMCID: PMC6292676 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583518000070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the conformational dynamics of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)-Cas9 is of the utmost importance for improving its genome editing capability. Here, molecular dynamics simulations performed using Anton-2 - a specialized supercomputer capturing micro-to-millisecond biophysical events in real time and at atomic-level resolution - reveal the activation process of the endonuclease Cas9 toward DNA cleavage. Over the unbiased simulation, we observe that the spontaneous approach of the catalytic domain HNH to the DNA cleavage site is accompanied by a remarkable structural remodeling of the recognition (REC) lobe, which exerts a key role for DNA cleavage. Specifically, the significant conformational changes and the collective conformational dynamics of the REC lobe indicate a mechanism by which the REC1-3 regions 'sense' nucleic acids, 'regulate' the HNH conformational transition, and ultimately 'lock' the HNH domain at the cleavage site, contributing to its catalytic competence. By integrating additional independent simulations and existing experimental data, we provide a solid validation of the activated HNH conformation, which had been so far poorly characterized, and we deliver a comprehensive understanding of the role of REC1-3 in the activation process. Considering the importance of the REC lobe in the specificity of Cas9, this study poses the basis for fully understanding how the REC components control the cleavage of off-target sequences, laying the foundation for future engineering efforts toward improved genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92507
| | - Janice S. Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Clarisse G. Ricci
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ivan Rivalta
- Université de Lyon, École Normale Supérieure (ENS) de Lyon, CNRS, Lyon 1, France
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Victor S. Batista
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - J. Andrew McCammon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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36
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Chiarelli LR, Mori M, Barlocco D, Beretta G, Gelain A, Pini E, Porcino M, Mori G, Stelitano G, Costantino L, Lapillo M, Bonanni D, Poli G, Tuccinardi T, Villa S, Meneghetti F. Discovery and development of novel salicylate synthase (MbtI) furanic inhibitors as antitubercular agents. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 155:754-763. [PMID: 29940465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We report on the virtual screening, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new furan derivatives targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis salicylate synthase (MbtI). A receptor-based virtual screening procedure was applied to screen the Enamine database, identifying two compounds, I and III, endowed with a good enzyme inhibitory activity. Considering the most active compound I as starting point for the development of novel MbtI inhibitors, we obtained new derivatives based on the furan scaffold. Among the SAR performed on this class, compound 1a emerged as the most potent MbtI inhibitor reported to date (Ki = 5.3 μM). Moreover, compound 1a showed a promising antimycobacterial activity (MIC99 = 156 μM), which is conceivably related to mycobactin biosynthesis inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent R Chiarelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Mori
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Daniela Barlocco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Giangiacomo Beretta
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Arianna Gelain
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Elena Pini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Marianna Porcino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Giorgia Mori
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Stelitano
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Luca Costantino
- Dipartimento Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41121, Modena, Italy
| | - Margherita Lapillo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide Bonanni
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Poli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università di Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Stefania Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy.
| | - Fiorella Meneghetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
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37
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All-atom simulations disentangle the functional dynamics underlying gene maturation in the intron lariat spliceosome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:6584-6589. [PMID: 29891649 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1802963115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The spliceosome (SPL) is a majestic macromolecular machinery composed of five small nuclear RNAs and hundreds of proteins. SPL removes noncoding introns from precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) and ligates coding exons, giving rise to functional mRNAs. Building on the first SPL structure solved at near-atomic-level resolution, here we elucidate the functional dynamics of the intron lariat spliceosome (ILS) complex through multi-microsecond-long molecular-dynamics simulations of ∼1,000,000 atoms models. The ILS essential dynamics unveils (i) the leading role of the Spp42 protein, which heads the gene maturation by tuning the motions of distinct SPL components, and (ii) the critical participation of the Cwf19 protein in displacing the intron lariat/U2 branch helix. These findings provide unprecedented details on the SPL functional dynamics, thus contributing to move a step forward toward a thorough understanding of eukaryotic pre-mRNA splicing.
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Šponer J, Bussi G, Krepl M, Banáš P, Bottaro S, Cunha RA, Gil-Ley A, Pinamonti G, Poblete S, Jurečka P, Walter NG, Otyepka M. RNA Structural Dynamics As Captured by Molecular Simulations: A Comprehensive Overview. Chem Rev 2018; 118:4177-4338. [PMID: 29297679 PMCID: PMC5920944 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With both catalytic and genetic functions, ribonucleic acid (RNA) is perhaps the most pluripotent chemical species in molecular biology, and its functions are intimately linked to its structure and dynamics. Computer simulations, and in particular atomistic molecular dynamics (MD), allow structural dynamics of biomolecular systems to be investigated with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. We here provide a comprehensive overview of the fast-developing field of MD simulations of RNA molecules. We begin with an in-depth, evaluatory coverage of the most fundamental methodological challenges that set the basis for the future development of the field, in particular, the current developments and inherent physical limitations of the atomistic force fields and the recent advances in a broad spectrum of enhanced sampling methods. We also survey the closely related field of coarse-grained modeling of RNA systems. After dealing with the methodological aspects, we provide an exhaustive overview of the available RNA simulation literature, ranging from studies of the smallest RNA oligonucleotides to investigations of the entire ribosome. Our review encompasses tetranucleotides, tetraloops, a number of small RNA motifs, A-helix RNA, kissing-loop complexes, the TAR RNA element, the decoding center and other important regions of the ribosome, as well as assorted others systems. Extended sections are devoted to RNA-ion interactions, ribozymes, riboswitches, and protein/RNA complexes. Our overview is written for as broad of an audience as possible, aiming to provide a much-needed interdisciplinary bridge between computation and experiment, together with a perspective on the future of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Kralovopolska 135 , Brno 612 65 , Czech Republic
| | - Giovanni Bussi
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Miroslav Krepl
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Kralovopolska 135 , Brno 612 65 , Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Palacky University Olomouc , 17. listopadu 12 , Olomouc 771 46 , Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Banáš
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Palacky University Olomouc , 17. listopadu 12 , Olomouc 771 46 , Czech Republic
| | - Sandro Bottaro
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen 2200 , Denmark
| | - Richard A Cunha
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Alejandro Gil-Ley
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Giovanni Pinamonti
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Simón Poblete
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Via Bonomea 265 , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Petr Jurečka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Palacky University Olomouc , 17. listopadu 12 , Olomouc 771 46 , Czech Republic
| | - Nils G Walter
- Single Molecule Analysis Group and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Department of Chemistry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , United States
| | - Michal Otyepka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Palacky University Olomouc , 17. listopadu 12 , Olomouc 771 46 , Czech Republic
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39
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Smith LG, Zhao J, Mathews DH, Turner DH. Physics-based all-atom modeling of RNA energetics and structure. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2018; 8. [PMID: 28815951 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The database of RNA sequences is exploding, but knowledge of energetics, structures, and dynamics lags behind. All-atom computational methods, such as molecular dynamics, hold promise for closing this gap. New algorithms and faster computers have accelerated progress in improving the reliability and accuracy of predictions. Currently, the methods can facilitate refinement of experimentally determined nuclear magnetic resonance and x-ray structures, but are 'unreliable' for predictions based only on sequence. Much remains to be discovered, however, about the many molecular interactions driving RNA folding and the best way to approximate them quantitatively. The large number of parameters required means that a wide variety of experimental results will be required to benchmark force fields and different approaches. As computational methods become more reliable and accessible, they will be used by an increasing number of biologists, much as x-ray crystallography has expanded. Thus, many fundamental physical principles underlying the computational methods are described. This review presents a summary of the current state of molecular dynamics as applied to RNA. It is designed to be helpful to students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty who are considering or starting computational studies of RNA. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1422. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1422.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis G Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jianbo Zhao
- Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - David H Mathews
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Douglas H Turner
- Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
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40
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La Penna G, Chelli R. Structural Insights into the Osteopontin-Aptamer Complex by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Front Chem 2018; 6:2. [PMID: 29441346 PMCID: PMC5797602 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteopontin is an intrinsically disordered protein involved in tissue remodeling. As a biomarker for pathological hypertrophy and fibrosis, the protein is targeted by an RNA aptamer. In this work, we model the interactions between osteopontin and its aptamer, including mono- (Na+) and divalent (Mg2+) cations. The molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the presence of divalent cations forces the N-terminus of osteopontin to bind the shell of divalent cations adsorbed over the surface of its RNA aptamer, the latter exposing a high negative charge density. The osteopontin plasticity as a function of the local concentration of Mg is discussed in the frame of the proposed strategies for osteopontin targeting as biomarker and in theranostic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni La Penna
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Florence, Italy
| | - Riccardo Chelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy
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41
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Yeager A, Humphries K, Farmer E, Cline G, Miller BR. Investigation of Nascent Base Pair and Polymerase Behavior in the Presence of Mismatches in DNA Polymerase I Using Molecular Dynamics. J Chem Inf Model 2018; 58:338-349. [PMID: 29280634 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.7b00516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Optimizing DNA polymerases for a broad range of tasks requires an understanding of the factors influencing polymerase fidelity, but many details of polymerase behavior remain unknown, especially in the presence of mismatched nascent base pairs. Using molecular dynamics, the large fragment of Bacillus stearothermophilus DNA polymerase I is simulated in the presence of all 16 possible standard nucleoside triphosphate-template (dNTP-dN) pairs, including four Watson-Crick pairs and 12 mismatches. The precatalytic steps of nucleotide addition from nucleotide insertion to immediately preceding catalysis are explored using three starting structures representing different stages of nucleotide addition. From these simulations, interactions between dNTPs and the DNA-protein complex formed by the polymerase are elucidated. Patterns of large-scale conformational shifts, classification of nucleotide pairs based on composition, and investigation of the roles of residues interacting with dNTPs are completed on 50+ μs of simulation. The role of molecular dynamics in studies of polymerase behavior is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Yeager
- Department of Chemistry, Truman State University , 100 E. Normal Ave, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, United States
| | - Kathryn Humphries
- Department of Chemistry, Truman State University , 100 E. Normal Ave, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, United States
| | - Ellen Farmer
- Department of Chemistry, Truman State University , 100 E. Normal Ave, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, United States
| | - Gene Cline
- Department of Chemistry, Truman State University , 100 E. Normal Ave, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, United States
| | - Bill R Miller
- Department of Chemistry, Truman State University , 100 E. Normal Ave, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, United States
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42
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Halder A, Roy R, Bhattacharyya D, Mitra A. Consequences of Mg2+ binding on the geometry and stability of RNA base pairs. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:21934-21948. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp03602k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Quantum chemical calculations reveal the role of magnesium in stabilizing the geometries of intrinsically unstable RNA base pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antarip Halder
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics (CCNSB)
- International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H)
- Hyderabad 500032
- India
| | - Rohit Roy
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics (CCNSB)
- International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H)
- Hyderabad 500032
- India
| | | | - Abhijit Mitra
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics (CCNSB)
- International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H)
- Hyderabad 500032
- India
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43
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Pokorná P, Krepl M, Kruse H, Šponer J. MD and QM/MM Study of the Quaternary HutP Homohexamer Complex with mRNA, l-Histidine Ligand, and Mg2+. J Chem Theory Comput 2017; 13:5658-5670. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.7b00598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pavlína Pokorná
- Institute
of Biophysics
of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská
135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Krepl
- Institute
of Biophysics
of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská
135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
- Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical
Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, 17. listopadu
12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Holger Kruse
- Institute
of Biophysics
of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská
135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute
of Biophysics
of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská
135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
- Regional
Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical
Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, 17. listopadu
12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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44
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Palermo G, Miao Y, Walker RC, Jinek M, McCammon JA. CRISPR-Cas9 conformational activation as elucidated from enhanced molecular simulations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:7260-7265. [PMID: 28652374 PMCID: PMC5514767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1707645114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 has become a facile genome editing technology, yet the structural and mechanistic features underlying its function are unclear. Here, we perform extensive molecular simulations in an enhanced sampling regime, using a Gaussian-accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) methodology, which probes displacements over hundreds of microseconds to milliseconds, to reveal the conformational dynamics of the endonuclease Cas9 during its activation toward catalysis. We disclose the conformational transition of Cas9 from its apo form to the RNA-bound form, suggesting a mechanism for RNA recruitment in which the domain relocations cause the formation of a positively charged cavity for nucleic acid binding. GaMD also reveals the conformation of a catalytically competent Cas9, which is prone for catalysis and whose experimental characterization is still limited. We show that, upon DNA binding, the conformational dynamics of the HNH domain triggers the formation of the active state, explaining how the HNH domain exerts a conformational control domain over DNA cleavage [Sternberg SH et al. (2015) Nature, 527, 110-113]. These results provide atomic-level information on the molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas9 that will inspire future experimental investigations aimed at fully clarifying the biophysics of this unique genome editing machinery and at developing new tools for nucleic acid manipulation based on CRISPR-Cas9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093;
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Ross C Walker
- San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - J Andrew McCammon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093;
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
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45
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Halder A, Roy R, Bhattacharyya D, Mitra A. How Does Mg 2+ Modulate the RNA Folding Mechanism: A Case Study of the G:C W:W Trans Basepair. Biophys J 2017; 113:277-289. [PMID: 28506525 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reverse Watson-Crick G:C basepairs (G:C W:W Trans) occur frequently in different functional RNAs. This is one of the few basepairs whose gas-phase-optimized isolated geometry is inconsistent with the corresponding experimental geometry. Several earlier studies indicate that through post-transcriptional modification, direct protonation, or coordination with Mg2+, accumulation of positive charge near N7 of guanine can stabilize the experimental geometry. Interestingly, recent studies reveal significant variation in the position of putatively bound Mg2+. This, in conjunction with recently raised doubts regarding some of the Mg2+ assignments near the imino nitrogen of guanine, is suggestive of the existence of multiple Mg2+ binding modes for this basepair. Our detailed investigation of Mg2+-bound G:C W:W Trans pairs occurring in high-resolution RNA crystal structures shows that they are found in 14 different contexts, eight of which display Mg2+ binding at the Hoogsteen edge of guanine. Further examination of occurrences in these eight contexts led to the characterization of three different Mg2+ binding modes: 1) direct binding via N7 coordination, 2) direct binding via O6 coordination, and 3) binding via hydrogen-bonding interaction with the first-shell water molecules. In the crystal structures, the latter two modes are associated with a buckled and propeller-twisted geometry of the basepair. Interestingly, respective optimized geometries of these different Mg2+ binding modes (optimized using six different DFT functionals) are consistent with their corresponding experimental geometries. Subsequent interaction energy calculations at the MP2 level, and decomposition of its components, suggest that for G:C W:W Trans , Mg2+ binding can fine tune the basepair geometries without compromising with their stability. Our results, therefore, underline the importance of the mode of binding of Mg2+ ions in shaping RNA structure, folding and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antarip Halder
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics (CCNSB), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H), Gachibowli, Hyderabad, India
| | - Rohit Roy
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics (CCNSB), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H), Gachibowli, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Abhijit Mitra
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics (CCNSB), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H), Gachibowli, Hyderabad, India.
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