Essential dynamics/factor analysis for the interpretation of molecular dynamics trajectories

Probing the global and local dynamics of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases using all-atom and coarse-grained simulations

Coarse-grained simulations have emerged as invaluable tools for studying conformational changes in biomolecules. To evaluate the effectiveness of computationally inexpensive coarse-grained models in studying global and local dynamics of large protein systems like aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, we have performed coarse-grained normal mode analysis, as well as principle component analysis on trajectories of all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations for three aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases—Escherichia coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase, Thermus thermophilus leucyl-tRNA synthetase, and Enterococcus faecium prolyl-tRNA synthetase. In the present study, comparison of predicted dynamics based on B-factor and overlap calculations revealed that coarse-grained methods are comparable to the all-atom simulations in depicting the intrinsic global dynamics of the three enzymes. However, the principal component analyses of the motions obtained from the all-atom molecular dynamics simulations provide a superior description of the local fluctuations of these enzymes. In particular, the all-atom model was able to capture the functionally relevant substrate-induced dynamical changes in prolyl-tRNA synthetase. The alteration in the coupled dynamics between the catalytically important proline-binding loop and its neighboring structural elements due to substrate binding has been characterized and reported for the first time. Taken together, the study portrays comparable and contrasting situations in studying the functional dynamics of large multi-domain aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases using coarse-grained and all-atom simulation methods.

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Role of coupled dynamics in the catalytic activity of prokaryotic-like prolyl-tRNA synthetases

Prolyl-tRNA synthetases (ProRSs) have been shown to activate both cognate and some noncognate amino acids and attach them to specific tRNA(Pro) substrates. For example, alanine, which is smaller than cognate proline, is misactivated by Escherichia coli ProRS. Mischarged Ala-tRNA(Pro) is hydrolyzed by an editing domain (INS) that is distinct from the activation domain. It was previously shown that deletion of the INS greatly reduced cognate proline activation efficiency. In this study, experimental and computational approaches were used to test the hypothesis that deletion of the INS alters the internal protein dynamics leading to reduced catalytic function. Kinetic studies with two ProRS variants, G217A and E218A, revealed decreased amino acid activation efficiency. Molecular dynamics studies showed motional coupling between the INS and protein segments containing the catalytically important proline-binding loop (PBL, residues 199-206). In particular, the complete deletion of INS, as well as mutation of G217 or E218 to alanine, exhibited significant effects on the motion of the PBL. The presence of coupled dynamics between neighboring protein segments was also observed through in silico mutations and essential dynamics analysis. Altogether, this study demonstrates that structural elements at the editing domain-activation domain interface participate in coupled motions that facilitate amino acid binding and catalysis by bacterial ProRSs, which may explain why truncated or defunct editing domains have been maintained in some systems, despite the lack of catalytic activity.

Interplay of flavin's redox states and protein dynamics: an insight from QM/MM simulations of dihydronicotinamide riboside quinone oxidoreductase 2

Dihydronicotinamide riboside quinone oxidoreductase 2 is known to catalyze a two-electron reduction of quinone to hydroquinone using its cofactor, flavin adenine dinucleotide. Using quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulations, we have computed the reorganization free energies of the electron and proton transfer processes of flavin in the free state as well as when it is bound in the active site of the enzyme. The calculated energetics for electron transfer processes demonstrate that the enzyme active site lowers the reorganization energy for the redox process as compared to the enzyme-free aqueous state. This is most apparent in the two electron reduction step, which eliminates the possibility of flavosemiquinone generation. In addition, essential dynamics study of the simulated motions revealed spectacular changes in the principal components of atomic fluctuations upon reduction of flavin. This alteration of active site dynamics provides an insight into the "ping-pong" kinetics exhibited by the enzyme upon a change in the redox state of the enzyme-bound flavin. A charge perturbation analysis provides further support that the observed change in dynamics is correlated with the change in energetics due to the altered electrostatic interactions between the flavin ring and the active site residues. This study shows that the effect of electrostatic preorganization goes beyond the chemical catalysis as it strongly impacts the postcatalytic intrinsic protein dynamics.

Dynamic conformational changes in munc18 prevent syntaxin binding

The Sec1/munc18 protein family is essential for vesicle fusion in eukaryotic cells via binding to SNARE proteins. Protein kinase C modulates these interactions by phosphorylating munc18a thereby reducing its affinity to one of the central SNARE members, syntaxin-1a. The established hypothesis is that the reduced affinity of the phosphorylated munc18a to syntaxin-1a is a result of local electrostatic repulsion between the two proteins, which interferes with their compatibility. The current study challenges this paradigm and offers a novel mechanistic explanation by revealing a syntaxin-non-binding conformation of munc18a that is induced by the phosphomimetic mutations. In the present study, using molecular dynamics simulations, we explored the dynamics of the wild-type munc18a versus phosphomimetic mutant munc18a. We focused on the structural changes that occur in the cavity between domains 3a and 1, which serves as the main syntaxin-binding site. The results of the simulations suggest that the free wild-type munc18a exhibits a dynamic equilibrium between several conformations differing in the size of its cavity (the main syntaxin-binding site). The flexibility of the cavity's size might facilitate the binding or unbinding of syntaxin. In silico insertion of phosphomimetic mutations into the munc18a structure induces the formation of a conformation where the syntaxin-binding area is rigid and blocked as a result of interactions between residues located on both sides of the cavity. Therefore, we suggest that the reduced affinity of the phosphomimetic mutant/phosphorylated munc18a is a result of the closed-cavity conformation, which makes syntaxin binding energetically and sterically unfavorable. The current study demonstrates the potential of phosphoryalation, an essential biological process, to serve as a driving force for dramatic conformational changes of proteins modulating their affinity to target proteins.

Protein phosphorylation plays a significant regulatory role in multi-component systems engaged in signal transduction or coordination of cellular processes, by activating or deactivating proteins. The potential of phosphorylation to induce substantial conformational changes in proteins, thereby changing their affinity to target proteins, has already been shown but the dynamics of the process is not fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated, by molecular dynamics simulations, the dynamic conformational changes in munc18a, a protein that is crucial for neurotransmitter release and interacts tightly with the SNARE syntaxin-1. We further investigated the conformational changes that occur in munc18a when it is phosphorylated, reducing its affinity to syntaxin-1a. The results of the simulations suggest that there is a conformational flexibility of the syntaxin-unbounded munc18a that allows changes in the shape of the syntaxin-1a binding cavity. In silico insertion of phosphomimetic mutations into munc18a led to a reduction in the flexibility and closure of the syntaxin-binding site. We suggest that the reduced affinity of phosphorylated munc18a to syntaxin-1a stems from the difficulty of syntaxin-1a to bind to the munc18a closed-cavity conformation, induced by the PKC phosphorylation of munc18a.

cAMP Modulation of the cytoplasmic domain in the HCN2 channel investigated by molecular simulations

The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN) cation channels are opened by membrane hyperpolarization, while their activation is modulated by the binding of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the cytoplasm. Here we investigate the molecular basis of cAMP channel modulation by performing molecular dynamics simulations of a segment comprising the C-linker and the cyclic nucleotide binding domain (CNBD) in the presence and absence of cAMP, based on the available crystal structure of HCN2 from mouse. In presence of cAMP, the protein undergoes an oscillation of the quaternary structure on the order of 10 ns, not observed in the apoprotein. In contrast, the absence of ligand causes conformational rearrangements within the CNBDs, driving these domains to a more flexible state, similar to that described in CNBDs of other proteins. This increased flexibility causes a rather disordered movement of the CNBDs, resulting in an inhibitory effect on the channel. We propose that the cAMP-triggered large-scale oscillation plays an important role for the channel's function, being coupled to a motion of the C-linker which, in turn, modulates the gating of the channel.

Loop conformation and dynamics of the Escherichia coli HPPK apo-enzyme and its binary complex with MgATP

Comparison of the crystallographic and NMR structures of 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase (HPPK) suggests that the enzyme may undergo significant conformational change upon binding to its first substrate, ATP. Two of the three surface loops (loop 2 and loop 3) accounting for most of the conformational differences appear to be confined by crystal contacts, raising questions about the putative large-scale induced-fit conformational change of HPPK and the functional roles of the conserved side-chain residues on the loops. To investigate the loop dynamics in crystal-free environment, we carried out molecular dynamics and locally enhanced sampling simulations of the apo-enzyme and the HPPK.MgATP complex. Our simulations showed that the crystallographic B-factors underestimated the loop dynamics considerably. We found that the open-conformation of loop 3 in the binary complex is accessible to the apo-enzyme and is the favored conformation in solution phase. These results revise our previous view of HPPK-substrate interactions and the associated functional mechanism of conformational change. The lessons learned here offer valuable structural insights into the workings of HPPK and should be useful for structure-based drug design.