1
|
Chowdhury AR, Sapkota D, Girodat D. Conformational changes of ribosomes during translation elongation resolved by molecular dynamics simulations. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 86:102804. [PMID: 38569462 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations have emerged as a powerful set of tools to unravel the intricate dynamics of ribosomes during protein synthesis. Recent advancements in this field have enabled simulations to delve deep into the conformational rearrangements of ribosomes and associated factors, providing invaluable insights into the intricacies of translation. Emphasis on simulations has recently been on translation elongation, such as tRNA selection, translocation, and ribosomal head-swivel motions. These studies have offered crucial structural interpretations of how genetic information is faithfully translated into proteins. This review outlines recent discoveries concerning ribosome conformational changes occurring during translation elongation, as elucidated through molecular dynamics simulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Rai Chowdhury
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA. https://twitter.com/atomcellplankl
| | - Divya Sapkota
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
| | - Dylan Girodat
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Girodat D, Wieden HJ, Blanchard SC, Sanbonmatsu KY. Geometric alignment of aminoacyl-tRNA relative to catalytic centers of the ribosome underpins accurate mRNA decoding. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5582. [PMID: 37696823 PMCID: PMC10495418 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40404-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate protein synthesis is determined by the two-subunit ribosome's capacity to selectively incorporate cognate aminoacyl-tRNA for each mRNA codon. The molecular basis of tRNA selection accuracy, and how fidelity can be affected by antibiotics, remains incompletely understood. Using molecular simulations, we find that cognate and near-cognate tRNAs delivered to the ribosome by Elongation Factor Tu (EF-Tu) can follow divergent pathways of motion into the ribosome during both initial selection and proofreading. Consequently, cognate aa-tRNAs follow pathways aligned with the catalytic GTPase and peptidyltransferase centers of the large subunit, while near-cognate aa-tRNAs follow pathways that are misaligned. These findings suggest that differences in mRNA codon-tRNA anticodon interactions within the small subunit decoding center, where codon-anticodon interactions occur, are geometrically amplified over distance, as a result of this site's physical separation from the large ribosomal subunit catalytic centers. These insights posit that the physical size of both tRNA and ribosome are key determinants of the tRNA selection fidelity mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Girodat
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
| | - Hans-Joachim Wieden
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Scott C Blanchard
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
| | - Karissa Y Sanbonmatsu
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
- New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang Y, Wang A, Mohanty U, Whitford PC. Precise Steric Features Control Aminoacyl-tRNA Accommodation on the Ribosome. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8447-8459. [PMID: 36251478 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Protein synthesis involves a complex series of large-scale conformational changes in the ribosome. While long-lived intermediate states of these processes can be characterized by experiments, computational methods can be used to identify the interactions that contribute to the rate-limiting free-energy barriers. To this end, we use a simplified energetic model to perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) accommodation on the ribosome. While numerous studies have probed the energetics of the early stages of accommodation, we focus on the final stage of accommodation, where the 3'-CCA tail of aa-tRNA enters the peptidyl transferase center (PTC). These simulations show how a distinct intermediate is induced by steric confinement of the tail, immediately before it completes accommodation. Multiple pathways for 3'-CCA tail accommodation can be quantitatively distinguished, where the tail enters the PTC by moving past a pocket enclosed by Helix 89, 90, and 92, or through an alternate route formed by Helix 93 and the P-site tRNA. C2573, located within Helix 90, is shown to provide the largest contribution to this late-accommodation steric barrier, such that sub-Å perturbations to this residue can alter the time scale of tail accommodation by nearly an order of magnitude. In terms of biological function, these calculations suggest how this late-stage sterically induced barrier may contribute to tRNA proofreading by the ribosome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts02467, United States
| | - Ailun Wang
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts02115, United States
| | - Udayan Mohanty
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts02467, United States
| | - Paul C Whitford
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts02115, United States.,Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Dana Research Center 111, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts02115, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang A, Levi M, Mohanty U, Whitford PC. Diffuse Ions Coordinate Dynamics in a Ribonucleoprotein Assembly. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:9510-9522. [PMID: 35593477 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c04082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Proper ionic concentrations are required for the functional dynamics of RNA and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) assemblies. While experimental and computational techniques have provided many insights into the properties of chelated ions, less is known about the energetic contributions of diffuse ions to large-scale conformational rearrangements. To address this, we present a model that is designed to quantify the influence of diffuse monovalent and divalent ions on the dynamics of biomolecular assemblies. This model employs all-atom (non-H) resolution and explicit ions, where effective potentials account for hydration effects. We first show that the model accurately predicts the number of excess Mg2+ ions for prototypical RNA systems, at a level comparable to modern coarse-grained models. We then apply the model to a complete ribosome and show how the balance between diffuse Mg2+ and K+ ions can control the dynamics of tRNA molecules during translation. The model predicts differential effects of diffuse ions on the free-energy barrier associated with tRNA entry and the energy of tRNA binding to the ribosome. Together, this analysis reveals the direct impact of diffuse ions on the dynamics of an RNP assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ailun Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Mariana Levi
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Dana Research Center 111, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Udayan Mohanty
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States
| | - Paul C Whitford
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.,Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Dana Research Center 111, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
de Oliveira AB, Contessoto VG, Hassan A, Byju S, Wang A, Wang Y, Dodero‐Rojas E, Mohanty U, Noel JK, Onuchic JN, Whitford PC. SMOG 2 and OpenSMOG: Extending the limits of structure-based models. Protein Sci 2022; 31:158-172. [PMID: 34655449 PMCID: PMC8740843 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Applying simulations with structure-based G o ¯ - like models has proven to be an effective strategy for investigating the factors that control biomolecular dynamics. The common element of these models is that some (or all) of the intra/inter-molecular interactions are explicitly defined to stabilize an experimentally determined structure. To facilitate the development and application of this broad class of models, we previously released the SMOG 2 software package. This suite allows one to easily customize and distribute structure-based (i.e., SMOG) models for any type of polymer-ligand system. The force fields generated by SMOG 2 may then be used to perform simulations in highly optimized MD packages, such as Gromacs, NAMD, LAMMPS, and OpenMM. Here, we describe extensions to the software and demonstrate the capabilities of the most recent version (SMOG v2.4.2). Changes include new tools that aid user-defined customization of force fields, as well as an interface with the OpenMM simulation libraries (OpenSMOG v1.1.0). The OpenSMOG module allows for arbitrary user-defined contact potentials and non-bonded potentials to be employed in SMOG models, without source-code modifications. To illustrate the utility of these advances, we present applications to systems with millions of atoms, long polymers and explicit ions, as well as models that include non-structure-based (e.g., AMBER-based) energetic terms. Examples include large-scale rearrangements of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, the HIV-1 capsid with explicit ions, and crystallographic lattices of ribosomes and proteins. In summary, SMOG 2 and OpenSMOG provide robust support for researchers who seek to develop and apply structure-based models to large and/or intricate biomolecular systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Asem Hassan
- Department of PhysicsNortheastern University, Dana Research CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Center for Theoretical Biological PhysicsNortheastern UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sandra Byju
- Department of PhysicsNortheastern University, Dana Research CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Center for Theoretical Biological PhysicsNortheastern UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Ailun Wang
- Center for Theoretical Biological PhysicsNortheastern UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of ChemistryBoston CollegeChestnut HillMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Udayan Mohanty
- Department of ChemistryBoston CollegeChestnut HillMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jeffrey K. Noel
- CrystallographyMax Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlinGermany
- Present address:
Electric Ant Lab, Science Park 106AmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Jose N. Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological PhysicsRice UniversityHoustonTexasUSA
- Department of Physics & AstronomyRice UniversityHoustonTexasUSA
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTexasUSA
- Department of BiosciencesRice UniversityHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Paul C. Whitford
- Department of PhysicsNortheastern University, Dana Research CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Center for Theoretical Biological PhysicsNortheastern UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Prusty S, Sarkar R, Chakraborty A, Roy S. Correlation in Domain Fluctuations Navigates Target Search of a Viral Peptide along RNA. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:12678-12689. [PMID: 34756044 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Biological macromolecules often exhibit correlations in fluctuations involving distinct domains. This study decodes their functional implications in RNA-protein recognition and target-specific binding. The target search of a peptide along RNA in a viral TAR-Tat complex is closely monitored using atomistic simulations, steered molecular dynamics simulations, free energy calculations, and a machine-learning-based clustering technique. An anticorrelated domain fluctuation is identified between the tetraloop and the bulge region in the apo form of TAR RNA that sets a hierarchy in the domain-specific fluctuations at each binding event and that directs the succeeding binding footsteps. Thus, at each binding footstep, the dynamic partner selects an RNA location for binding where it senses a higher fluctuation, which is conventionally reduced upon binding. This event stimulates an alternate domain fluctuation, which then dictates sequential binding footstep/s and thus the search progresses. Our cross-correlation maps show that the fluctuations relay from one domain to another specific domain until the anticorrelation between those interdomain fluctuations sustains. Artificial attenuation of that hierarchical domain fluctuation inhibits specific RNA binding. The binding is completed with the arrival of a few long-lived water molecules that mediate slightly distant RNA-protein sites and finally stabilize the overall complex. The study underscores the functional importance of naturally designed fluctuating RNA motifs (bulge, tetraloop) and their interplay in dictating the directionality of the search in a highly dynamic environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sangram Prusty
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Campus Road, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Raju Sarkar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Campus Road, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Amrita Chakraborty
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Campus Road, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Susmita Roy
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Campus Road, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
A steric gate controls P/E hybrid-state formation of tRNA on the ribosome. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5706. [PMID: 33177497 PMCID: PMC7658246 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19450-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ribosome is a biomolecular machine that undergoes multiple large-scale structural rearrangements during protein elongation. Here, we focus on a conformational rearrangement during translocation, known as P/E hybrid-state formation. Using a model that explicitly represents all non-hydrogen atoms, we simulated more than 120 spontaneous transitions, where the tRNA molecule is displaced between the P and E sites of the large subunit. In addition to predicting a free-energy landscape that is consistent with previous experimental observations, the simulations reveal how a six-residue gate-like region can limit P/E formation, where sub-angstrom structural perturbations lead to an order-of-magnitude change in kinetics. Thus, this precisely defined set of residues represents a novel target that may be used to control functional dynamics in bacterial ribosomes. This theoretical analysis establishes a direct relationship between ribosome structure and large-scale dynamics, and it suggests how next-generation experiments may precisely dissect the energetics of hybrid formation on the ribosome. The ribosome undergoes multiple large-scale structural rearrangements during protein elongation. Here the authors present an all-atom model of the ribosome to study the energetics of P/E hybrid-state formation, an early conformational rearrangement occurring during translocation.
Collapse
|
8
|
Girodat D, Blanchard SC, Wieden HJ, Sanbonmatsu KY. Elongation Factor Tu Switch I Element is a Gate for Aminoacyl-tRNA Selection. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:3064-3077. [PMID: 32061931 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Selection of correct aminoacyl (aa)-tRNA at the ribosomal A site is fundamental to maintaining translational fidelity. Aa-tRNA selection is a multistep process facilitated by the guanosine triphosphatase elongation factor (EF)-Tu. EF-Tu delivers aa-tRNA to the ribosomal A site and participates in tRNA selection. The structural mechanism of how EF-Tu is involved in proofreading remains to be fully resolved. Here, we provide evidence that switch I of EF-Tu facilitates EF-Tu's involvement during aa-tRNA selection. Using structure-based and explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations based on recent cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions, we studied the conformational change of EF-Tu from the guanosine triphosphate to guanine diphosphate conformation during aa-tRNA accommodation. Switch I of EF-Tu rapidly converts from an α-helix into a β-hairpin and moves to interact with the acceptor stem of the aa-tRNA. In doing so, switch I gates the movement of the aa-tRNA during accommodation through steric interactions with the acceptor stem. Pharmacological inhibition of the aa-tRNA accommodation pathway prevents the proper positioning of switch I with the aa-tRNA acceptor stem, suggesting that the observed interactions are specific for cognate aa-tRNA substrates, and thus capable of contributing to the fidelity mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Girodat
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Scott C Blanchard
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hans-Joachim Wieden
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Karissa Y Sanbonmatsu
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA; New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, 87544.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bandarkar P, Yang H, Henley RY, Wanunu M, Whitford PC. How Nanopore Translocation Experiments Can Measure RNA Unfolding. Biophys J 2020; 118:1612-1620. [PMID: 32075749 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrokinetic translocation of biomolecules through solid-state nanopores represents a label-free single-molecule technique that may be used to measure biomolecular structure and dynamics. Recent investigations have attempted to distinguish individual transfer RNA (tRNA) species based on the associated pore translocation times, ion-current noise, and blockage currents. By manufacturing sufficiently smaller pores, each tRNA is required to undergo a deformation to translocate. Accordingly, differences in nanopore translocation times and distributions may be used to infer the mechanical properties of individual tRNA molecules. To bridge our understanding of tRNA structural dynamics and nanopore measurements, we apply molecular dynamics simulations using a simplified "structure-based" energetic model. Calculating the free-energy landscape for distinct tRNA species implicates transient unfolding of the terminal RNA helix during nanopore translocation. This provides a structural and energetic framework for interpreting current experiments, which can aid the design of methods for identifying macromolecules using nanopores.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prasad Bandarkar
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert Y Henley
- Genomic Analysis Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Meni Wanunu
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Paul C Whitford
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Warias M, Grubmüller H, Bock LV. tRNA Dissociation from EF-Tu after GTP Hydrolysis: Primary Steps and Antibiotic Inhibition. Biophys J 2020; 118:151-161. [PMID: 31711607 PMCID: PMC6950810 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In each round of ribosomal translation, the translational GTPase elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) delivers a transfer RNA (tRNA) to the ribosome. After successful decoding, EF-Tu hydrolyzes GTP, which triggers a conformational change that ultimately results in the release of the tRNA from EF-Tu. To identify the primary steps of these conformational changes and how they are prevented by the antibiotic kirromycin, we employed all-atom explicit-solvent molecular dynamics simulations of the full ribosome-EF-Tu complex. Our results suggest that after GTP hydrolysis and Pi release, the loss of interactions between the nucleotide and the switch 1 loop of EF-Tu allows domain D1 of EF-Tu to rotate relative to domains D2 and D3 and leads to an increased flexibility of the switch 1 loop. This rotation induces a closing of the D1-D3 interface and an opening of the D1-D2 interface. We propose that the opening of the D1-D2 interface, which binds the CCA tail of the tRNA, weakens the crucial EF-Tu-tRNA interactions, which lowers tRNA binding affinity, representing the first step of tRNA release. Kirromycin binds within the D1-D3 interface, sterically blocking its closure, but does not prevent hydrolysis. The resulting increased flexibility of switch 1 explains why it is not resolved in kirromycin-bound structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malte Warias
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Helmut Grubmüller
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lars V Bock
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Oliveira AB, Yang H, Whitford PC, Leite VBP. Distinguishing Biomolecular Pathways and Metastable States. J Chem Theory Comput 2019; 15:6482-6490. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.9b00704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio B. Oliveira
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Paul C. Whitford
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Vitor B. P. Leite
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yang H, Bandarkar P, Horne R, Leite VBP, Chahine J, Whitford PC. Diffusion of tRNA inside the ribosome is position-dependent. J Chem Phys 2019; 151:085102. [PMID: 31470725 DOI: 10.1063/1.5113814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest to quantify the energy landscape that governs ribosome dynamics. However, in order to quantitatively integrate theoretical predictions and experimental measurements, it is essential that one has a detailed understanding of the associated diffusive properties. Here, all-atom explicit-solvent simulations (50 μs of aggregate sampling) predict that the diffusion coefficient of a tRNA molecule will depend on its position within the ribosome. Specifically, during aa-tRNA accommodation (i.e., the process by which tRNA enters the ribosome), the apparent diffusion coefficient decreases by approximately an order of magnitude. By comparing these to values obtained with an energetically "smooth" model, we show that the observed nonuniform behavior likely arises from electrostatic and solvation interactions between the tRNA and ribosome. These calculations also reveal the hierarchical character of ribosomal energetics, where steric interactions induce a large-scale free-energy barrier, and short-scale roughness determines the rate of diffusive movement across the landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huan Yang
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Dana Research Center 111, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Prasad Bandarkar
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Dana Research Center 111, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Ransom Horne
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Dana Research Center 111, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Vitor B P Leite
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), IBILCE, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Jorge Chahine
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), IBILCE, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Paul C Whitford
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Dana Research Center 111, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lind C, Esguerra M, Jespers W, Satpati P, Gutierrez-de-Terán H, Åqvist J. Free energy calculations of RNA interactions. Methods 2019; 162-163:85-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
|
14
|
Studying ribosome dynamics with simplified models. Methods 2019; 162-163:128-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
|
15
|
Levi M, Bandarkar P, Yang H, Wang A, Mohanty U, Noel JK, Whitford PC. Using SMOG 2 to Simulate Complex Biomolecular Assemblies. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2022:129-151. [PMID: 31396902 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9608-7_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Over the last 20 years, the application of structure-based (Gō-like) models has ranged from protein folding with coarse-grained models to all-atom representations of large-scale molecular assemblies. While there are many variants that may be employed, the common feature of these models is that some (or all) of the stabilizing energetic interactions are defined based on the knowledge of a particular experimentally obtained conformation. With the generality of this approach, there was a need for a versatile computational platform for designing and implementing this class of models. To this end, the SMOG 2 software package provides an easy-to-use interface, where the user has full control of the model parameters. This software allows the user to edit XML-formatted files in order to provide definitions of new structure-based models. SMOG 2 reads these "template" files and maps the interactions onto specific structures, which are provided in PDB format. The force field files produced by SMOG 2 may then be used to perform simulations with a variety of popular molecular dynamics suites. In this chapter, we describe some of the key features of the SMOG 2 package, while providing examples and strategies for applying these techniques to complex (often large-scale) molecular assemblies, such as the ribosome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Levi
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Huan Yang
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ailun Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Udayan Mohanty
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Noel
- Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Kristallographie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul C Whitford
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Yang H, Perrier J, Whitford PC. Disorder guides domain rearrangement in elongation factor Tu. Proteins 2018; 86:1037-1046. [DOI: 10.1002/prot.25575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Huan Yang
- Department of Physics Northeastern University Boston Massachusetts
| | - Jonathan Perrier
- Department of Physics Northeastern University Boston Massachusetts
| | - Paul C. Whitford
- Department of Physics Northeastern University Boston Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Simulations Reveal Multiple Intermediates in the Unzipping Mechanism of Neuronal SNARE Complex. Biophys J 2018; 115:1470-1480. [PMID: 30268539 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The assembling of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor protein complex is a fundamental step in neuronal exocytosis, and it has been extensively studied in the last two decades. Yet, many details of this process remain inaccessible with the current experimental space and time resolution. Here, we study the zipping mechanism of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex computationally by using a coarse-grained model. We explore the different pathways available and analyze their dependence on the computational model employed. We reveal and characterize multiple intermediate states, in agreement with previous experimental findings. We use our model to analyze the influence of single-residue mutations on the thermodynamics of the folding process.
Collapse
|
18
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|