1
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Pu Z, Wu Y, Zhu Z, Zhao H, Cui D. A new horizon for neuroscience: terahertz biotechnology in brain research. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:309-325. [PMID: 38819036 PMCID: PMC11317941 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-00872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Terahertz biotechnology has been increasingly applied in various biomedical fields and has especially shown great potential for application in brain sciences. In this article, we review the development of terahertz biotechnology and its applications in the field of neuropsychiatry. Available evidence indicates promising prospects for the use of terahertz spectroscopy and terahertz imaging techniques in the diagnosis of amyloid disease, cerebrovascular disease, glioma, psychiatric disease, traumatic brain injury, and myelin deficit. In vitro and animal experiments have also demonstrated the potential therapeutic value of terahertz technology in some neuropsychiatric diseases. Although the precise underlying mechanism of the interactions between terahertz electromagnetic waves and the biosystem is not yet fully understood, the research progress in this field shows great potential for biomedical noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic applications. However, the biosafety of terahertz radiation requires further exploration regarding its two-sided efficacy in practical applications. This review demonstrates that terahertz biotechnology has the potential to be a promising method in the field of neuropsychiatry based on its unique advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengping Pu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Kangci Hospital of Jiaxing, Tongxiang, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yu Wu
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongjie Zhu
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Donghong Cui
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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2
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Zhao X, Ding W, Wang H, Wang Y, Liu Y, Li Y, Liu C. Structural Insights and Influence of Terahertz Waves in Midinfrared Region on Kv1.2 Channel Selectivity Filter. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:9702-9713. [PMID: 38434859 PMCID: PMC10905694 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Potassium ion channels are the structural basis for excitation transmission, heartbeat, and other biological processes. The selectivity filter is a critical structural component of potassium ion channels, whose structure is crucial to realizing their function. As biomolecules vibrate and rotate at frequencies in the terahertz band, potassium ion channels are sensitive to terahertz waves. Therefore, it is worthwhile to investigate how the terahertz wave influences the selectivity filter of the potassium channels. In this study, we investigate the structure of the selectivity filter of Kv1.2 potassium ion channels using molecular dynamics simulations. The effect of an electric field on the channel has been examined at four different resonant frequencies of the carbonyl group in SF: 36.75 37.06, 37.68, and 38.2 THz. As indicated by the results, 376GLY appears to be the critical residue in the selectivity filter of the Kv1.2 channel. Its dihedral angle torsion is detrimental to the channel structural stability and the transmembrane movement of potassium ions. 36.75 THz is the resonance frequency of the carbonyl group of 376GLY. Among all four frequencies explored, the applied terahertz electric field of this frequency has the most significant impact on the channel structure, negatively impacting the channel stability and reducing the ion permeability by 20.2% compared to the absence of fields. In this study, we simulate that terahertz waves in the mid-infrared frequency region can significantly alter the structure and function of potassium ion channels and that the effects of terahertz waves differ greatly based on frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Zhao
- Key Laboratory
for Physical
Electronics and Devices of the Ministry of Education, School of Electronic
and Information Engineering, Xi’an
Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Wen Ding
- Key Laboratory
for Physical
Electronics and Devices of the Ministry of Education, School of Electronic
and Information Engineering, Xi’an
Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Hongguang Wang
- Key Laboratory
for Physical
Electronics and Devices of the Ministry of Education, School of Electronic
and Information Engineering, Xi’an
Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Yize Wang
- Key Laboratory
for Physical
Electronics and Devices of the Ministry of Education, School of Electronic
and Information Engineering, Xi’an
Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Yanjiang Liu
- Key Laboratory
for Physical
Electronics and Devices of the Ministry of Education, School of Electronic
and Information Engineering, Xi’an
Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Yongdong Li
- Key Laboratory
for Physical
Electronics and Devices of the Ministry of Education, School of Electronic
and Information Engineering, Xi’an
Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Chunliang Liu
- Key Laboratory
for Physical
Electronics and Devices of the Ministry of Education, School of Electronic
and Information Engineering, Xi’an
Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China
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3
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Gadanec LK, Swiderski J, Apostolopoulos V, Kelaidonis K, Vidali VP, Canko A, Moore GJ, Matsoukas JM, Zulli A. Existence of Quantum Pharmacology in Sartans: Evidence in Isolated Rabbit Iliac Arteries. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17559. [PMID: 38139391 PMCID: PMC10744031 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantum pharmacology introduces theoretical models to describe the possibility of ultra-high dilutions to produce biological effects, which may help to explain the placebo effect observed in hypertensive clinical trials. To determine this within physiology and to evaluate novel ARBs, we tested the ability of known angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (candesartan and telmisartan) used to treat hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, as well as novel ARBs (benzimidazole-N-biphenyl tetrazole (ACC519T), benzimidazole-bis-N,N'-biphenyl tetrazole (ACC519T(2)) and 4-butyl-N,N0-bis[[20-2Htetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl)imidazolium bromide (BV6(K+)2), and nirmatrelvir (the active ingredient in Paxlovid) to modulate vascular contraction in iliac rings from healthy male New Zealand White rabbits in responses to various vasopressors (angiotensin A, angiotensin II and phenylephrine). Additionally, the hemodynamic effect of ACC519T and telmisartan on mean arterial pressure in conscious rabbits was determined, while the ex vivo ability of BV6(K+)2 to activate angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) was also investigated. We show that commercially available and novel ARBs can modulate contraction responses at ultra-high dilutions to different vasopressors. ACC519T produced a dose-dependent reduction in rabbit mean arterial pressure while BV6(K+)2 significantly increased ACE2 metabolism. The ability of ARBs to inhibit contraction responses even at ultra-low concentrations provides evidence of the existence of quantum pharmacology. Furthermore, the ability of ACC519T and BV6(K+)2 to modulate blood pressure and ACE2 activity, respectively, indicates their therapeutic potential against hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kate Gadanec
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (J.S.); (V.A.)
| | - Jordan Swiderski
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (J.S.); (V.A.)
| | - Vasso Apostolopoulos
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (J.S.); (V.A.)
- Immunology Program, Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Melbourne, VIC 3021, Australia
| | | | - Veroniki P. Vidali
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Ag. Paraskevi, 153 41 Athens, Greece; (V.P.V.); (A.C.)
| | - Aleksander Canko
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Ag. Paraskevi, 153 41 Athens, Greece; (V.P.V.); (A.C.)
| | - Graham J. Moore
- Pepmetics Inc., 772 Murphy Place, Victoria, BC V6Y 3H4, Canada;
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - John M. Matsoukas
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (J.S.); (V.A.)
- NewDrug PC, Patras Science Park, 26 504 Patras, Greece;
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece
| | - Anthony Zulli
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (J.S.); (V.A.)
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Novoderezhkin VI, Rokitskaya TI, Kotova EA, Antonenko YN. Synchronization of opening and closing of two gramicidin A channels pulled together by a linker: possible relevance to channel clustering. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:3752-3757. [PMID: 36644888 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp04884a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The linear 15-mer peptide gramicidin A (gA) produced by Bacillus brevis is known to form the simplest natural ion channel in lipid membranes representing a head-to-head transmembrane dimer. Its incorporation into a planar lipid bilayer manifests itself in regular electrical current transitions. If two gA subunits are tightly connected by a water-soluble, flexible linker of a certain length, the current transitions become heterogeneous: in a part of them, the amplitude is almost twofold higher than that of a single channel, thereby demonstrating the synchronous opening of two single channels. The lifetime, i.e. the open-state duration, of this dual channel is by several orders of magnitude longer than that of the single channel. Here, we used the ideas of the theory of excitons to hypothesize about the mechanism of synchronous opening and closing of two adjacent channels. Two independent (uncoupled) single channels can be described by two independent conformational coordinates q1 and q2, while two closely located channels can exhibit collective behavior, if the coupling between them produces mixing of the individual states (q1,0) and (0,q2). We suppose that a similar phenomenon can occur not only with synthetic derivatives of gA, but also with such natural channel-forming peptide antibiotics and toxins as alamethicin and syringomycin. In particular, channel clustering observed with these peptides may be also associated with formation of collective conductance states, resulting from mixing of their monomeric states, which allows us to explain the fact that clusters of these channels transmit ions and nonelectrolytes of the same size as the original single channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir I Novoderezhkin
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Tatyana I Rokitskaya
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Elena A Kotova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Yuri N Antonenko
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
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5
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Inoue M, Osada T, Hisada H, Koide T, Fukami T, Roy A, Carriere J. Quantitative Monitoring of Cocrystal Polymorphisms in Model Tablets Using Transmission Low-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy. J Pharm Sci 2023; 112:225-229. [PMID: 36126759 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cocrystallization is a technique for improving the physical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients. However, cocrystals can transform into more stable polymorphs as well as dissociate to original materials. Therefore, an analytical technique is required to determine the polymorphic transformation quickly and accurately in tablets. The purpose of this study is to develop a method to monitor cocrystal polymorphs in model tablets using transmission low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. The tablets, consisting of only metastable polymorphs of caffeine-glutaric acid cocrystals, were stored under various relative humidity levels. The composition of the cocrystal polymorphs were calculated from a calibration curve relating the actual composition to the predicted values calculated by partial least squares regression processing of low-frequency Raman spectra. The metastable form gradually converted to a stable form, and polymorphic phase transformation occurred with increasing relative humidity. Ninety-six percent of the metastable form converted into a stable form stored at 25 °C after 3 h at 95% RH. In conclusion, transmission low-frequency Raman spectroscopy can be used to quantitatively monitor cocrystal polymorphs. This technique is one of the candidate techniques to quantifiably evaluate the physico-chemical stability of cocrystal polymorphs in tablets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoki Inoue
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan.
| | - Takumi Osada
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hisada
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Koide
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26, Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
| | - Toshiro Fukami
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan
| | - Anjan Roy
- Coherent Inc., 850 East, Duarte Road, Monrovia, California 91016, United States
| | - James Carriere
- Coherent Inc., 850 East, Duarte Road, Monrovia, California 91016, United States
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6
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Woods KN. New insights into the microscopic interactions associated with the physical mechanism of action of highly diluted biologics. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13774. [PMID: 34215838 PMCID: PMC8253741 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93326-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In this investigation, we report the effect on the microscopic dynamics and interactions of the cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and antibodies to IFN-γ (anti-IFN-γ) and to the interferon gamma receptor 1 (anti-IFNGR1) prepared in exceptionally dilute solutions of initial proteins. Using both THz spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations we have uncovered that the high dilution method of sample preparation results in the reorganization of the sample surface residue dynamics at the solvent-protein interface that leads to both structural and kinetic heterogeneous dynamics that ultimately create interactions that enhance the binding probability of the antigen binding site. Our results indicate that the modified interfacial dynamics of anti-IFN-γ and anti-IFGNR1 that we probe experimentally are directly associated with alterations in the complementarity regions of the distinct antibodies that designate both antigen-antibody affinity and recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina N Woods
- Lehrstuhl für BioMolekulare Optik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80538, Munich, Germany.
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7
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Aguilera-Durán G, Romo-Mancillas A. Behavior of Chemokine Receptor 6 (CXCR6) in Complex with CXCL16 Soluble form Chemokine by Molecular Dynamic Simulations: General Protein‒Ligand Interaction Model and 3D-QSAR Studies of Synthetic Antagonists. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11040346. [PMID: 33920834 PMCID: PMC8071165 DOI: 10.3390/life11040346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The CXCR6‒CXCL16 axis is involved in several pathological processes, and its overexpression has been detected in different types of cancer, such as prostate, breast, ovary, and lung cancer, along with schwannomas, in which it promotes invasion and metastasis. Moreover, this axis is involved in atherosclerosis, type 1 diabetes, primary immune thrombocytopenia, vitiligo, and other autoimmune diseases, in which it is responsible for the infiltration of different immune system cells. The 3D structure of CXCR6 and CXCL16 has not been experimentally resolved; therefore, homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations could be useful for the study of this signaling axis. In this work, a homology model of CXCR6 and a soluble form of CXCL16 (CXCR6‒CXCL16s) are reported to study the interactions between CXCR6 and CXCL16s through coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations. CG-MD simulations showed the two activation steps of CXCR6 through a decrease in the distance between the chemokine and the transmembrane region (TM) of CXCR6 and transmembrane rotational changes and polar interactions between transmembrane segments. The polar interactions between TM3, TM5, and TM6 are fundamental to functional conformation and the meta-active state of CXCR6. The interactions between D77-R280 and T243-TM7 could be related to the functional conformation of CXCR6; alternatively, the interaction between Q195-Q244 and N248 could be related to an inactive state due to the loss of this interaction, and an arginine cage broken in the presence of CXCL16s allows the meta-active state of CXCR6. A general protein‒ligand interaction supports the relevance of TM3‒TM5‒TM6 interactions, presenting three relevant pharmacophoric features: HAc (H-bond acceptor), HDn (H-bond donator), and Hph (hydrophobic), distributed around the space between extracellular loops (ECLs) and TMs. The HDn feature is close to TM3 and TM6; likewise, the HAc and Hph features are close to ECL1 and ECL2 and could block the rotation and interactions between TM3‒TM6 and the interactions of CXCL16s with the ECLs. Tridimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSAR) models show that the positive steric (VdW) and electrostatic fields coincide with the steric and positive electrostatic region of the exo-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane scaffold in the best pIC50 ligands. This substructure is close to the E274 residue and therefore relevant to the activity of CXCR6. These data could help with the design of new molecules that inhibit chemokine binding or antagonize the receptor based on the activation mechanism of CXCR6 and provoke a decrease in chemotaxis caused by the CXCR6‒CXCL16 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanny Aguilera-Durán
- Posgrado en Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Querétaro 76010, Mexico;
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
| | - Antonio Romo-Mancillas
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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8
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Ma N, Nivedha AK, Vaidehi N. Allosteric communication regulates ligand-specific GPCR activity. FEBS J 2021; 288:2502-2512. [PMID: 33738925 PMCID: PMC9805801 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound proteins that are ubiquitously expressed in many cell types and take part in mediating multiple signaling pathways. GPCRs are dynamic proteins and exist in an equilibrium between an ensemble of conformational states such as inactive and fully active states. This dynamic nature of GPCRs is one of the factors that confers their basal activity even in the absence of any ligand-mediated activation. Ligands selectively bind and stabilize a subset of the conformations from the ensemble leading to a shift in the equilibrium toward the inactive or the active state depending on the nature of the ligand. This ligand-selective effect is achieved through allosteric communication between the ligand binding site and G protein or β-arrestin coupling site. Similarly, the G protein coupling to the receptor exerts the allosteric effect on the ligand binding region leading to increased binding affinity for agonists and decreased affinity for antagonists or inverse agonists. In this review, we enumerate the current state of our understanding of the mechanism of allosteric communication in GPCRs with a specific focus on the critical role of computational methods in delineating the residues involved in allosteric communication. Analyzing allosteric communication mechanism using molecular dynamics simulations has revealed (a) a structurally conserved mechanism of allosteric communication that regulates the G protein coupling, (b) a rational structure-based approach to designing selective ligands, and (c) an approach to designing allosteric GPCR mutants that are either ligand and G protein or β-arrestin selective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ma
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Anita K. Nivedha
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Nagarajan Vaidehi
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
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9
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Aguilera-Durán G, Romo-Mancillas A. Computational Study of C-X-C Chemokine Receptor (CXCR)3 Binding with Its Natural Agonists Chemokine (C-X-C Motif) Ligand (CXCL)9, 10 and 11 and with Synthetic Antagonists: Insights of Receptor Activation towards Drug Design for Vitiligo. Molecules 2020; 25:E4413. [PMID: 32992956 PMCID: PMC7582348 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitiligo is a hypopigmentary skin pathology resulting from the death of melanocytes due to the activity of CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes and overexpression of chemokines. These include CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 and its receptor CXCR3, both in peripheral cells of the immune system and in the skin of patients diagnosed with vitiligo. The three-dimensional structure of CXCR3 and CXCL9 has not been reported experimentally; thus, homology modeling and molecular dynamics could be useful for the study of this chemotaxis-promoter axis. In this work, a homology model of CXCR3 and CXCL9 and the structure of the CXCR3/Gαi/0βγ complex with post-translational modifications of CXCR3 are reported for the study of the interaction of chemokines with CXCR3 through all-atom (AA-MD) and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations. AA-MD and CG-MD simulations showed the first activation step of the CXCR3 receptor with all chemokines and the second activation step in the CXCR3-CXCL10 complex through a decrease in the distance between the chemokine and the transmembrane region of CXCR3 and the separation of the βγ complex from the α subunit in the G-protein. Additionally, a general protein-ligand interaction model was calculated, based on known antagonists binding to CXCR3. These results contribute to understanding the activation mechanism of CXCR3 and the design of new molecules that inhibit chemokine binding or antagonize the receptor, provoking a decrease of chemotaxis caused by the CXCR3/chemokines axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanny Aguilera-Durán
- Posgrado en Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Querétaro 76010, Mexico;
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
| | - Antonio Romo-Mancillas
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
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10
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Molecular state evaluation of active pharmaceutical ingredients in adhesive patches for transdermal drug delivery. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2020.101800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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11
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Woods KN, Pfeffer J. Conformational perturbation, allosteric modulation of cellular signaling pathways, and disease in P23H rhodopsin. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2657. [PMID: 32060349 PMCID: PMC7021821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59583-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this investigation we use THz spectroscopy and MD simulation to study the functional dynamics and conformational stability of P23H rhodopsin. The P23H mutation of rod opsin is the most common cause of human binding autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP), but the precise mechanism by which this mutation leads to photoreceptor cell degeneration has not yet been elucidated. Our measurements confirm conformational instability in the global modes of the receptor and an active-state that uncouples the torsional dynamics of the retinal with protein functional modes, indicating inefficient signaling in P23H and a drastically altered mechanism of activation when contrasted with the wild-type receptor. Further, our MD simulations indicate that P23H rhodopsin is not functional as a monomer but rather, due to the instability of the mutant receptor, preferentially adopts a specific homodimerization motif. The preferred homodimer configuration induces structural changes in the receptor tertiary structure that reduces the affinity of the receptor for the retinal and significantly modifies the interactions of the Meta-II signaling state. We conjecture that the formation of the specific dimerization motif of P23H rhodopsin represents a cellular-wide signaling perturbation that is directly tied with the mechanism of P23H disease pathogenesis. Our results also support a direct role for rhodopsin P23H dimerization in photoreceptor rod death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina N Woods
- Lehrstuhl für BioMolekulare Optik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80538, München, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Pfeffer
- Technical University of Munich, Bavarian School of Public Policy, 80333, München, Germany
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12
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Polarization Dependence of Low-Frequency Vibrations from Multiple Faces in an Organic Single Crystal. CRYSTALS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst9080425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent developments in optical filters have enabled the facile use of Raman spectroscopy for detection of low frequency (LF) vibrational modes. LF-Raman spectroscopy offers fast and sensitive characterization of LF vibrations, and enables the measurement of single microcrystals and detection of defects. It is useful for probing intermolecular interactions in crystals, which are lower in energy, such as hydrogen bonds, shear modes, and breathing modes. Crystal excitation from multiple faces allows learning the orientation of intermolecular interactions, as polarization dependence varies with the polarizability of the interactions along the planes. Elucidating the orientations of the intermolecular interactions in organic crystals is essential for guiding the reactions or adsorption to a specific crystal face. In this study, we investigated the dependence of the LF-Raman signal intensity on the orientation of an organic single microcrystal of L-alanine. Three incident beam directions provided the orientations of the intermolecular interactions by analyzing the corresponding LF-Raman spectra. The signal intensity correlated well with the proximity between the incident beam’s direction and the orientations of the intermolecular interactions. Excellent compatibility was found between the spectra and simulated orientations based on structural information.
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13
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Mitchell J, Balem F, Tirupula K, Man D, Dhiman HK, Yanamala N, Ollesch J, Planas-Iglesias J, Jennings BJ, Gerwert K, Iannaccone A, Klein-Seetharaman J. Comparison of the molecular properties of retinitis pigmentosa P23H and N15S amino acid replacements in rhodopsin. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214639. [PMID: 31100078 PMCID: PMC6524802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the RHO gene encoding for the visual pigment protein, rhodopsin, are among the most common cause of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). Previous studies of ADRP mutations in different domains of rhodopsin have indicated that changes that lead to more instability in rhodopsin structure are responsible for more severe disease in patients. Here, we further test this hypothesis by comparing side-by-side and therefore quantitatively two RHO mutations, N15S and P23H, both located in the N-terminal intradiscal domain. The in vitro biochemical properties of these two rhodopsin proteins, expressed in stably transfected tetracycline-inducible HEK293S cells, their UV-visible absorption, their Fourier transform infrared, circular dichroism and Metarhodopsin II fluorescence spectroscopy properties were characterized. As compared to the severely impaired P23H molecular function, N15S is only slightly defective in structure and stability. We propose that the molecular basis for these structural differences lies in the greater distance of the N15 residue as compared to P23 with respect to the predicted rhodopsin folding core. As described previously for WT rhodopsin, addition of the cytoplasmic allosteric modulator chlorin e6 stabilizes especially the P23H protein, suggesting that chlorin e6 may be generally beneficial in the rescue of those ADRP rhodopsin proteins whose stability is affected by amino acid replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Mitchell
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Fernanda Balem
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kalyan Tirupula
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - David Man
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Harpreet Kaur Dhiman
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Naveena Yanamala
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Julian Ollesch
- Department of Biophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Joan Planas-Iglesias
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara J Jennings
- Retinal Degeneration & Ophthalmic Genetics Service & Lions Visual Function Diagnostic Lab, Hamilton Eye Institute, Dept. Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Klaus Gerwert
- Department of Biophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Alessandro Iannaccone
- Retinal Degeneration & Ophthalmic Genetics Service & Lions Visual Function Diagnostic Lab, Hamilton Eye Institute, Dept. Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Judith Klein-Seetharaman
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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14
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Liang Z, Verkhivker GM, Hu G. Integration of network models and evolutionary analysis into high-throughput modeling of protein dynamics and allosteric regulation: theory, tools and applications. Brief Bioinform 2019; 21:815-835. [DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbz029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Proteins are dynamical entities that undergo a plethora of conformational changes, accomplishing their biological functions. Molecular dynamics simulation and normal mode analysis methods have become the gold standard for studying protein dynamics, analyzing molecular mechanism and allosteric regulation of biological systems. The enormous amount of the ensemble-based experimental and computational data on protein structure and dynamics has presented a major challenge for the high-throughput modeling of protein regulation and molecular mechanisms. In parallel, bioinformatics and systems biology approaches including genomic analysis, coevolution and network-based modeling have provided an array of powerful tools that complemented and enriched biophysical insights by enabling high-throughput analysis of biological data and dissection of global molecular signatures underlying mechanisms of protein function and interactions in the cellular environment. These developments have provided a powerful interdisciplinary framework for quantifying the relationships between protein dynamics and allosteric regulation, allowing for high-throughput modeling and engineering of molecular mechanisms. Here, we review fundamental advances in protein dynamics, network theory and coevolutionary analysis that have provided foundation for rapidly growing computational tools for modeling of allosteric regulation. We discuss recent developments in these interdisciplinary areas bridging computational biophysics and network biology, focusing on promising applications in allosteric regulations, including the investigation of allosteric communication pathways, protein–DNA/RNA interactions and disease mutations in genomic medicine. We conclude by formulating and discussing future directions and potential challenges facing quantitative computational investigations of allosteric regulatory mechanisms in protein systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjie Liang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Gennady M Verkhivker
- Department of Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Guang Hu
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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15
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Inoue M, Hisada H, Koide T, Fukami T, Roy A, Carriere J, Heyler R. Transmission Low-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy for Quantification of Crystalline Polymorphs in Pharmaceutical Tablets. Anal Chem 2019; 91:1997-2003. [PMID: 30606009 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to quantify polymorphs of active pharmaceutical ingredients in pharmaceutical tablets using a novel transmission low-frequency Raman spectroscopy method. We developed a novel transmission geometry for low-frequency Raman spectroscopy and compared quantitative ability in transmission mode versus backscattering mode using chemometrics. We prepared two series of tablets, (1) containing different weight-based contents of carbamazepine form III and (2) including different ratios of carbamazepine polymorphs (forms I/III). From the relationship between the contents of carbamazepine form III and partial least-squares (PLS) predictions in the tablets, correlation coefficients in transmission mode ( R2 = 0.98) were found to be higher than in backscattering mode ( R2 = 0.97). The root-mean-square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) of the transmission mode was 3.9 compared to 4.9 for the backscattering mode. The tablets containing a mixture of carbamazepine (I/III) polymorphs were measured by transmission low-frequency Raman spectroscopy, and it was found that the spectral shape changed according to the ratio of polymorphs: the relationship between the actual content and the prediction showed high correlation. These findings indicate that transmission low-frequency Raman spectroscopy possesses the potential to complement existing analytical methods for the quantification of polymorphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoki Inoue
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics , Meiji Pharmaceutical University , 2-522-1, Noshio , Kiyose , Tokyo 204-8588 , Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hisada
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics , Meiji Pharmaceutical University , 2-522-1, Noshio , Kiyose , Tokyo 204-8588 , Japan
| | - Tatsuo Koide
- Division of Drugs , National Institute of Health Sciences , 3-25-26, Tonomachi , Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki , Kanagawa 210-9501 , Japan
| | - Toshiro Fukami
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics , Meiji Pharmaceutical University , 2-522-1, Noshio , Kiyose , Tokyo 204-8588 , Japan
| | - Anjan Roy
- Ondax Incorporated , 850 East Duarte Road , Monrovia , California 91016 , United States
| | - James Carriere
- Ondax Incorporated , 850 East Duarte Road , Monrovia , California 91016 , United States
| | - Randy Heyler
- Ondax Incorporated , 850 East Duarte Road , Monrovia , California 91016 , United States
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16
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Peng Y, Alexov E, Basu S. Structural Perspective on Revealing and Altering Molecular Functions of Genetic Variants Linked with Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030548. [PMID: 30696058 PMCID: PMC6386852 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural information of biological macromolecules is crucial and necessary to deliver predictions about the effects of mutations-whether polymorphic or deleterious (i.e., disease causing), wherein, thermodynamic parameters, namely, folding and binding free energies potentially serve as effective biomarkers. It may be emphasized that the effect of a mutation depends on various factors, including the type of protein (globular, membrane or intrinsically disordered protein) and the structural context in which it occurs. Such information may positively aid drug-design. Furthermore, due to the intrinsic plasticity of proteins, even mutations involving radical change of the structural and physico⁻chemical properties of the amino acids (native vs. mutant) can still have minimal effects on protein thermodynamics. However, if a mutation causes significant perturbation by either folding or binding free energies, it is quite likely to be deleterious. Mitigating such effects is a promising alternative to the traditional approaches of designing inhibitors. This can be done by structure-based in silico screening of small molecules for which binding to the dysfunctional protein restores its wild type thermodynamics. In this review we emphasize the effects of mutations on two important biophysical properties, stability and binding affinity, and how structures can be used for structure-based drug design to mitigate the effects of disease-causing variants on the above biophysical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhui Peng
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
| | - Emil Alexov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
| | - Sankar Basu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
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17
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Cheng C, Zhu Z, Li S, Ren G, Zhang J, Cong H, Peng Y, Han J, Chang C, Zhao H. Broadband terahertz recognizing conformational characteristics of a significant neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid. RSC Adv 2019; 9:20240-20247. [PMID: 35514707 PMCID: PMC9065752 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra02971k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, its conformational behavior is critical for selective biological functions and the process of signal transmission. Although this neuroactive molecule has been extensively studied, its vibrational properties related to the conformation and intermolecular interactions in the terahertz (THz) band have not been identified experimentally yet. In this study, we applied a broadband THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system from 0.5 to 18 THz to characterize a unique THz fingerprint of GABA. The density functional theory calculation results agree well with the THz experimental spectrum. The study shows that the vibrational modes of GABA at 1.15 and 1.39 THz originate from distinct collective vibrations. The absorptions at the higher THz frequencies also carry part of collective vibrations, but more reflect the specific and local vibrational information, including the skeleton deformation and the rocking of the functional groups, which are closely associated with the conformation and flexibility of GABA. This study may help to understand the conformational transitions of neurotransmitter molecules and the resonant response to THz waves. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, its conformational behavior is critical for selective biological functions and the process of signal transmission.![]()
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18
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Nemtsov I, Mastai Y, Tischler YR, Aviv H. Chiral Purity of Crystals Using Low-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy. Chemphyschem 2018; 19:3116-3121. [PMID: 30178918 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201800739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The pharmaceutical industry is in need of new techniques to identify the chirality of solids due to regulatory and safety concerns regarding the biological activity of enantiomers. In this study, we present for the first time the application of low-frequency Raman spectroscopy as a new and sensitive method for analyzing the chiral purity of crystals. Using this method, we were able to identify small amounts, as low as 1 % w/w, of an enantiomer in racemic crystals. To demonstrate the capabilities of the method, we used a model system based on chiral crystals of enantiopure, racemic crystals and their mixtures in various ratios. We found that the low-frequency Raman spectra of racemic and enantiopure crystals are significantly different, reflecting the different hydrogen bond networks. Moreover, a comparison of the sensitivity of enantiomeric excess in chiral crystals to that of circular dichroism and X-ray diffraction measurements showed that low-frequency Raman attains high sensitivity comparable to chiral optical methods used for solutions. Overall, our proposed approach of using Raman spectroscopy for determining enantiomeric excess in crystals is simple, fast, and offers a high degree of chiral sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Nemtsov
- Department of Chemistry and Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Yitzhak Mastai
- Department of Chemistry and Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Yaakov R Tischler
- Department of Chemistry and Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Hagit Aviv
- Department of Chemistry and Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
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19
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Rauh O, Hansen UP, Scheub DD, Thiel G, Schroeder I. Site-specific ion occupation in the selectivity filter causes voltage-dependent gating in a viral K + channel. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10406. [PMID: 29991721 PMCID: PMC6039446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28751-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many potassium channels show voltage-dependent gating without a dedicated voltage sensor domain. This is not fully understood yet, but often explained by voltage-induced changes of ion occupation in the five distinct K+ binding sites in the selectivity filter. To better understand this mechanism of filter gating we measured the single-channel current and the rate constant of sub-millisecond channel closure of the viral K+ channel KcvNTS for a wide range of voltages and symmetric and asymmetric K+ concentrations in planar lipid membranes. A model-based analysis employed a global fit of all experimental data, i.e., using a common set of parameters for current and channel closure under all conditions. Three different established models of ion permeation and various relationships between ion occupation and gating were tested. Only one of the models described the data adequately. It revealed that the most extracellular binding site (S0) in the selectivity filter functions as the voltage sensor for the rate constant of channel closure. The ion occupation outside of S0 modulates its dependence on K+ concentration. The analysis uncovers an important role of changes in protein flexibility in mediating the effect from the sensor to the gate.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Rauh
- Plant Membrane Biophysics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - U P Hansen
- Department of Structural Biology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - D D Scheub
- Plant Membrane Biophysics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - G Thiel
- Plant Membrane Biophysics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - I Schroeder
- Plant Membrane Biophysics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
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20
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Woods KN, Pfeffer J, Klein-Seetharaman J. Chlorophyll-Derivative Modulation of Rhodopsin Signaling Properties through Evolutionarily Conserved Interaction Pathways. Front Mol Biosci 2017; 4:85. [PMID: 29312953 PMCID: PMC5733091 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2017.00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal is the light-absorbing chromophore that is responsible for the activation of visual pigments and light-driven ion pumps. Evolutionary changes in the intermolecular interactions of the retinal with specific amino acids allow for adaptation of the spectral characteristics, referred to as spectral tuning. However, it has been proposed that a specific species of dragon fish has bypassed the adaptive evolutionary process of spectral tuning and replaced it with a single evolutionary event: photosensitization of rhodopsin by chlorophyll derivatives. Here, by using a combination of experimental measurements and computational modeling to probe retinal-receptor interactions in rhodopsin, we show how the binding of the chlorophyll derivative, chlorin-e6 (Ce6) in the intracellular domain (ICD) of the receptor allosterically excites G-protein coupled receptor class A (GPCR-A) conserved long-range correlated fluctuations that connect distant parts of the receptor. These long-range correlated motions are associated with regulating the dynamics and intermolecular interactions of specific amino acids in the retinal ligand-binding pocket that have been associated with shifts in the absorbance peak maximum (λmax) and hence, spectral sensitivity of the visual system. Moreover, the binding of Ce6 affects the overall global properties of the receptor. Specifically, we find that Ce6-induced dynamics alter the thermal stability of rhodopsin by adjusting hydrogen-bonding interactions near the receptor active-site that consequently also influences the intrinsic conformational equilibrium of the receptor. Due to the conservation of the ICD residues amongst different receptors in this class and the fact that all GPCR-A receptors share a common mechanism of activation, it is possible that the allosteric associations excited in rhodopsin with Ce6 binding are a common feature in all class A GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina N. Woods
- Lehrstuhl für BioMolekulare Optik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
- *Correspondence: Kristina N. Woods
| | - Jürgen Pfeffer
- Bavarian School of Public Policy, Technical University of Munich, München, Germany
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21
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Conti Nibali V, Morra G, Havenith M, Colombo G. Role of Terahertz (THz) Fluctuations in the Allosteric Properties of the PDZ Domains. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:10200-10208. [PMID: 28991478 PMCID: PMC6421520 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b06590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
![]()
With
the aim of investigating the relationship between the fast
fluctuations of proteins and their allosteric behavior, we perform
molecular dynamics simulations of two model PDZ domains with differential
allosteric responses. We focus on protein dynamics in the THz regime
(0.1–3 THz) as opposed to lower frequencies. By characterizing
the dynamic modulation of the protein backbone induced by ligand binding
in terms of single residue and pairwise distance fluctuations, we
identify a response nucleus modulated by the ligand that is visible
only at THz frequencies. The residues of this nucleus undergo a significant
stiffening and an increase in mutual coordination upon binding. Additionally,
we find that the dynamic modulation is significantly more intense
for the side chains, where it is also redistributed to distal regions
not immediately in contact with the ligand allowing us to better define
the response nucleus at THz frequencies. The overlap between the known
allosterically responding residues of the investigated PDZ domains
and the modulated region highlighted here suggests that fast THz dynamics
could play a role in allosteric mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Morra
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR , Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College , New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Martina Havenith
- Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie II, Ruhr Universität , 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Giorgio Colombo
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR , Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia , V.le Taramelli 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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22
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Aviv H, Nemtsov I, Mastai Y, Tischler YR. Characterization of Crystal Chirality in Amino Acids Using Low-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem A 2017; 121:7882-7888. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b07033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hagit Aviv
- Department of Chemistry and
Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Irena Nemtsov
- Department of Chemistry and
Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Yitzhak Mastai
- Department of Chemistry and
Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Yaakov R. Tischler
- Department of Chemistry and
Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
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23
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Kamiya M, Hayashi S. Photoactivation Intermediates of a G-Protein Coupled Receptor Rhodopsin Investigated by a Hybrid Molecular Simulation. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:3842-3852. [PMID: 28240904 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b13050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rhodopsin is a G-protein coupled receptor functioning as a photoreceptor for vision through photoactivation of a covalently bound ligand of a retinal protonated Schiff base chromophore. Despite the availability of structural information on the inactivated and activated forms of the receptor, the transition processes initiated by the photoabsorption have not been well understood. Here we theoretically examined the photoactivation processes by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) free energy geometry optimizations which enabled accurate geometry determination of the ligand molecule in ample statistical conformational samples of the protein. Structures of the intermediate states of the activation process, blue-shifted intermediate and Lumi, as well as the dark state first generated by MD simulations and then refined by the QM/MM free energy geometry optimizations were characterized by large displacement of the β-ionone ring of retinal along with change in the hydrogen bond of the protonated Schiff base. The ab initio calculations of vibrational and electronic spectroscopic properties of those states well reproduced the experimental observations and successfully identified the molecular origins underlying the spectroscopic features. The structural evolution in the formation of the intermediates provides a molecular insight into the efficient activation processes of the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoshi Kamiya
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University , Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Shigehiko Hayashi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University , Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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24
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Yang X. Conformational dynamics play important roles upon the function of N-acetylglutamate kinase. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:3485-3492. [PMID: 28341883 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8237-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
N-acetylglutamate kinase (NAGK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of N-acetylglutamate. In many bacteria, NAGK catalysis is the rate controlling step in the L-arginine biosynthesis pathway from glutamate to L-arginine and is allosterically inhibited by L-arginine. Many data show that conformational dynamics of NAGKs are essential for their function. The demonstration of the conformational mechanism provides a potential way to improve the yield of arginine. Due to the lack of NAGK catalysis step in arginine synthesis route of mammals, the elucidation of the dynamic mechanism can also provide a way to design a new antivirus drug. This paper reviews how the dynamics affect the activity of NAGKs and are controlled by the effectors. X-ray crystallography and modeling data have shown that in NAGKs, the structural elements required for inhibitor and substrate binding, catalysis and product release, are highly mobile. It is possible to eliminate the inhibition of the arginine and/or block the synthesis of arginine by disturbing the flexibility of the NAGKs. Amino acid kinase family is thought to share some common dynamic features; the flexible structural elements of NAGKs have been identified, but the details of the dynamics and the signal transfer pathways are yet to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Enzyme Engineering, School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China. .,Guangdong Research Center of Industrial Enzyme and Green Manufacturing Technology, School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China.
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