1
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Feng T, Zheng H, Zhang Z, Fan P, Yang X. Mechanism and therapeutic targets of the involvement of a novel lysosomal proton channel TMEM175 in Parkinson's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 100:102373. [PMID: 38960046 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102373] [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: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD), recognized as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the aging population, presents a significant challenge due to the current lack of effective treatment methods to mitigate its progression. Many pathogenesis of PD are related to lysosomal dysfunction. Moreover, extensive genetic studies have shown a significant correlation between the lysosomal membrane protein TMEM175 and the risk of developing PD. Building on this discovery, TMEM175 has been identified as a novel potassium ion channel. Intriguingly, further investigations have found that potassium ion channels gradually close and transform into hydrion "excretion" channels in the microenvironment of lysosomes. This finding was further substantiated by studies on TMEM175 knockout mice, which exhibited pronounced motor dysfunction in pole climbing and suspension tests, alongside a notable reduction in dopamine neurons within the substantia nigra compacta. Despite these advancements, the current research landscape is not without its controversies. In light of this, the present review endeavors to methodically examine and consolidate a vast array of recent literature on TMEM175. This comprehensive analysis spans from the foundational research on the structure and function of TMEM175 to expansive population genetics studies and mechanism research utilizing cellular and animal models.A thorough understanding of the structure and function of TMEM175, coupled with insights into the intricate mechanisms underpinning lysosomal dysfunction in PD dopaminergic neurons, is imperative. Such knowledge is crucial for pinpointing precise intervention targets, thereby paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies that could potentially alter the neurodegenerative trajectory of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Feng
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830063, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disease Research, Urumqi 830063,China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Nervous System Diseases, Urumqi 830063, China; Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | | | - Zhan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830063, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disease Research, Urumqi 830063,China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Nervous System Diseases, Urumqi 830063, China
| | - Peidong Fan
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830063, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disease Research, Urumqi 830063,China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Nervous System Diseases, Urumqi 830063, China
| | - Xinling Yang
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830063, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disease Research, Urumqi 830063,China; Xinjiang Clinical Research Center for Nervous System Diseases, Urumqi 830063, China; Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830017, China.
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2
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Trofimov YA, Krylov NA, Minakov AS, Nadezhdin KD, Neuberger A, Sobolevsky AI, Efremov RG. Dynamic molecular portraits of ion-conducting pores characterize functional states of TRPV channels. Commun Chem 2024; 7:119. [PMID: 38824263 PMCID: PMC11144267 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01198-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Structural biology is solving an ever-increasing number of snapshots of ion channel conformational ensembles. Deciphering ion channel mechanisms, however, requires understanding the ensemble dynamics beyond the static structures. Here, we present a molecular modeling-based approach characterizing the ion channel structural intermediates, or their "dynamic molecular portraits", by assessing water and ion conductivity along with the detailed evaluation of pore hydrophobicity and residue packing. We illustrate the power of this approach by analyzing structures of few vanilloid-subfamily transient receptor potential (TRPV) channels. Based on the pore architecture, there are three major states that are common for TRPVs, which we call α-closed, π-closed, and π-open. We show that the pore hydrophobicity and residue packing for the open state is most favorable for the pore conductance. On the contrary, the α-closed state is the most hydrophobic and always non-conducting. Our approach can also be used for structural and functional classification of ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yury A Trofimov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay A Krylov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Kirill D Nadezhdin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arthur Neuberger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander I Sobolevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roman G Efremov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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3
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Liu J, Wang Y, Gao B, Zhang K, Li H, Ren J, Huo F, Zhao B, Zhang L, Zhang S, He H. Ionic Liquid Gating Induces Anomalous Permeation through Membrane Channel Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:13588-13597. [PMID: 38695646 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Membrane channel proteins (MCPs) play key roles in matter transport through cell membranes and act as major targets for vaccines and drugs. For emerging ionic liquid (IL) drugs, a rational understanding of how ILs affect the structure and transport function of MCP is crucial to their design. In this work, GPU-accelerated microsecond-long molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the modulating mechanism of ILs on MCP. Interestingly, ILs prefer to insert into the lipid bilayer and channel of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) but adsorb on the entrance of voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav). Molecular trajectory and free energy analysis reflect that ILs have a minimal impact on the structure of MCPs but significantly influence MCP functions. It demonstrates that ILs can decrease the overall energy barrier for water through AQP2 by 1.88 kcal/mol, whereas that for Na+ through Nav is increased by 1.70 kcal/mol. Consequently, the permeation rates of water and Na+ can be enhanced and reduced by at least 1 order of magnitude, respectively. Furthermore, an abnormal IL gating mechanism was proposed by combining the hydrophobic nature of MCP and confined water/ion coordination effects. More importantly, we performed experiments to confirm the influence of ILs on AQP2 in human cells and found that treatment with ILs significantly accelerated the changes in cell volume in response to altered external osmotic pressure. Overall, these quantitative results will not only deepen the understanding of IL-cell interactions but may also shed light on the rational design of drugs and disease diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanlei Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Longzihu New Energy Laboratory, Zhengzhou Institute of Emerging Industrial Technology, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Bo Gao
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium Systems, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic R&A Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium Systems, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jing Ren
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Feng Huo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Longzihu New Energy Laboratory, Zhengzhou Institute of Emerging Industrial Technology, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Baofeng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic R&A Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Lihua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic R&A Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Suojiang Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Longzihu New Energy Laboratory, Zhengzhou Institute of Emerging Industrial Technology, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Hongyan He
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Longzihu New Energy Laboratory, Zhengzhou Institute of Emerging Industrial Technology, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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4
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Rout M, Mishra S, Panda S, Dehury B, Pati S. Lipid and cholesterols modulate the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 viral ion channel ORF3a and its pathogenic variants. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127986. [PMID: 37944718 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127986] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein, ORF3a is a putative ion channel which immensely contributes to viral pathogenicity by modulating host immune responses and virus-host interactions. Relatively high expression of ORF3a in diseased individuals and implication with inflammasome activation, apoptosis and autophagy inhibition, ratifies as an effective target for developing vaccines and therapeutics. Herein, we present the elusive dynamics of ORF3a-dimeric state using all-atoms molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at μ-seconds scale in a heterogeneous lipid-mimetic system in multiple replicates. Additionally, we also explore the effect of non-synonymous pathogenic mutations on ORF3a ion channel activity and viral pathogenicity in different SARS-CoV-2 variants using various structure-based protein stability (ΔΔG) tools and computational saturation mutagenesis. Our study ascertains the role of phosphatidylcholines and cholesterol in modulating the structure of ORF3a, which perturbs the size and flexibility of the polar cavity that allows permeation of large cations. Discrete trend in ion channel pore radius and area per lipid arises the premise that presence of lipids might also affect the overall conformation of ORF3a. MD structural-ensembles, in some replicates rationalize the crucial role of TM2 in maintaining the native structure of ORF3a. We also infer that loss of structural stability primarily grounds for pathogenicity in more than half of the pathogenic variants of ORF3a. Overall, the effect of mutation on alteration of ion permeability of ORF3a, proposed in this study brings mechanistic insights into variant consequences on viral membrane proteins of SARS-CoV-2, which can be utilized for the development of novel therapeutics to treat COVID-19 and other coronavirus diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhusmita Rout
- Bioinformatics Division, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
| | - Sarbani Mishra
- Bioinformatics Division, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
| | - Sunita Panda
- Mycology Division, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
| | - Budheswar Dehury
- Bioinformatics Division, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India.
| | - Sanghamitra Pati
- Bioinformatics Division, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India.
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5
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Phan LX, Owji AP, Yang T, Crain J, Sansom MSP, Tucker SJ. Electronic Polarizability Tunes the Function of the Human Bestrophin 1 Cl - Channel. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567055. [PMID: 38014257 PMCID: PMC10680768 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms of anion permeation within ion channels and nanopores remain poorly understood. Recent cryo-electron microscopy structures of the human bestrophin 1 chloride channel (hBest1) provide an opportunity to evaluate ion interactions predicted by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations against experimental observations. We implement the fully polarizable forcefield AMOEBA in MD simulations of open and partially-open states of the hBest1. The AMOEBA forcefield models multipole moments up to the quadrupole; therefore, it captures induced dipole and anion- π interactions. By including polarization we demonstrate the key role that aromatic residues play in ion permeation and the functional advantages of pore asymmetry within the highly conserved hydrophobic neck of the pore. We establish that these only arise when electronic polarization is included in the molecular models. We also show that Cl - permeation in this region can be achieved through hydrophobic solvation concomitant with partial ion dehydration, which is compensated for by the formation of contacts with the edge of the phenylalanine ring. Furthermore, we demonstrate how polarizable simulations can help determine the identity of ion-like densities within high-resolution cryo-EM structures. Crucially, neglecting polarization in simulation of these systems results in the localization of Cl - at positions that do not correspond with their experimentally resolved location. Overall, our results demonstrate the importance of including electronic polarization in realistic and physically accurate models of biological systems. Statement of Significance Ion channels are nanoscale protein pores that enable the selective passage of charged ions across cell membranes. Understanding the underlying mechanisms for selective anion permeation through such pores remains a challenge. To simulate their behavior efficiently in silico , fixed charge models are typically employed. However, this approach is insufficient for the study of anions. Here, we use simulations with explicit treatment of electrostatics to investigate the interactions of chloride ions in the human bestrophin 1 channel. We find that electronic polarization tunes the state of the channel and affects the interactions of chloride ions thereby revealing a mechanism for permeation. Furthermore, these simulations can be used to resolve experimental ambiguity in ion-like densities from cryo-EM structures.
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6
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Giacomello A. What keeps nanopores boiling. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:110902. [PMID: 37724724 DOI: 10.1063/5.0167530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The liquid-to-vapor transition can occur under unexpected conditions in nanopores, opening the door to fundamental questions and new technologies. The physics of boiling in confinement is progressively introduced, starting from classical nucleation theory, passing through nanoscale effects, and terminating with the material and external parameters that affect the boiling conditions. The relevance of boiling in specific nanoconfined systems is discussed, focusing on heterogeneous lyophobic systems, chromatographic columns, and ion channels. The current level of control of boiling in nanopores enabled by microporous materials such as metal organic frameworks and biological nanopores paves the way to thrilling theoretical challenges and to new technological opportunities in the fields of energy, neuromorphic computing, and sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Giacomello
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00184 Rome, Italy
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7
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Tang T, Jian B, Liu Z. Transmembrane Protein 175, a Lysosomal Ion Channel Related to Parkinson's Disease. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050802. [PMID: 37238672 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles with an acidic lumen and are traditionally characterized as a recycling center in cells. Lysosomal ion channels are integral membrane proteins that form pores in lysosomal membranes and allow the influx and efflux of essential ions. Transmembrane protein 175 (TMEM175) is a unique lysosomal potassium channel that shares little sequence similarity with other potassium channels. It is found in bacteria, archaea, and animals. The prokaryotic TMEM175 consists of one six-transmembrane domain that adopts a tetrameric architecture, while the mammalian TMEM175 is comprised of two six-transmembrane domains that function as a dimer in lysosomal membranes. Previous studies have demonstrated that the lysosomal K+ conductance mediated by TMEM175 is critical for setting membrane potential, maintaining pH stability, and regulating lysosome-autophagosome fusion. AKT and B-cell lymphoma 2 regulate TMEM175's channel activity through direct binding. Two recent studies reported that the human TMEM175 is also a proton-selective channel under normal lysosomal pH (4.5-5.5) as the K+ permeation dramatically decreased at low pH while the H+ current through TMEM175 greatly increased. Genome-wide association studies and functional studies in mouse models have established that TMEM175 is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, which sparks more research interests in this lysosomal channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuoxian Tang
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Boshuo Jian
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Zhenjiang Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
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8
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Zhang L, Liu F, Wang J, Lin H, Han Q. Bioinspired nanobubble water channel membranes for ultrafast osmosis desalination. J Memb Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
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9
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Trofimov YA, Minakov AS, Krylov NA, Efremov RG. Structural Mechanism of Ionic Conductivity of the TRPV1 Channel. DOKL BIOCHEM BIOPHYS 2023; 508:1-5. [PMID: 36653581 PMCID: PMC10042956 DOI: 10.1134/s1607672922600245] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The so-called "hydrophobic gating" is widely discussed as a putative mechanism to control water and ion conduction via ion channels. This effect can occur in narrow areas of the channels pore lined by non-polar residues. In the closed state of the channel, such regions may spontaneously transit to a dehydrated state to block water and ions transport without full pore occlusion. In the open state, the hydrophobic gate is wide enough to provide sustainable hydration and conduction. Apparently, the transport through the open hydrophobic gate may by facilitated by some polar residues that assist polar/charged substances to overcome the energy barrier created by nonpolar environment. In this work, we investigated the behavior of Na+ ions and their hydration shells in the open pore of the rat TRPV1 ion channel by molecular dynamics simulations. We show that polar protein groups coordinate water molecules in such a way as to restore the hydration shell of ions in the hydrophobic gate that ensures ion transport through the gate in a fully hydrated state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu A Trofimov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. .,National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Moscow, Russia.
| | | | - N A Krylov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - R G Efremov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
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10
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Nanobubble-governed membrane with nanofluidic channels for efficient molecule/ion sieving. J Memb Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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11
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Zeng ZW, Linsdell P, Pomès R. Molecular dynamics study of Cl - permeation through cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:51. [PMID: 36694009 PMCID: PMC9873711 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04621-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The recent elucidation of atomistic structures of Cl- channel CFTR provides opportunities for understanding the molecular basis of cystic fibrosis. Despite having been activated through phosphorylation and provided with ATP ligands, several near-atomistic cryo-EM structures of CFTR are in a closed state, as inferred from the lack of a continuous passage through a hydrophobic bottleneck region located in the extracellular portion of the pore. Here, we present repeated, microsecond-long molecular dynamics simulations of human CFTR solvated in a lipid bilayer and aqueous NaCl. At equilibrium, Cl- ions enter the channel through a lateral intracellular portal and bind to two distinct cationic sites inside the channel pore but do not traverse the narrow, de-wetted bottleneck. Simulations conducted in the presence of a strong hyperpolarizing electric field led to spontaneous Cl- translocation events through the bottleneck region of the channel, suggesting that the protein relaxed to a functionally open state. Conformational changes of small magnitude involving transmembrane helices 1 and 6 preceded ion permeation through diverging exit routes at the extracellular end of the pore. The pore bottleneck undergoes wetting prior to Cl- translocation, suggesting that it acts as a hydrophobic gate. Although permeating Cl- ions remain mostly hydrated, partial dehydration occurs at the binding sites and in the bottleneck. The observed Cl- pathway is largely consistent with the loci of mutations that alter channel conductance, anion binding, and ion selectivity, supporting the model of the open state of CFTR obtained in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Wei Zeng
- Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Paul Linsdell
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 1X5, Canada
| | - Régis Pomès
- Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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12
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Nawafleh S, Qaswal AB, Alali O, Zayed FM, Al-Azzam AM, Al-Kharouf K, Ali MB, Albliwi MA, Al-Hamarsheh R, Iswaid M, Albanna A, Enjadat A, Al-Adwan MAO, Dibbeh K, Shareah EAA, Hamdan A, Suleiman A. Quantum Mechanical Aspects in the Pathophysiology of Neuropathic Pain. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050658. [PMID: 35625044 PMCID: PMC9140023 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a challenging complaint for patients and clinicians since there are no effective agents available to get satisfactory outcomes even though the pharmacological agents target reasonable pathophysiological mechanisms. This may indicate that other aspects in these mechanisms should be unveiled to comprehend the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain and thus find more effective treatments. Therefore, in the present study, several mechanisms are chosen to be reconsidered in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain from a quantum mechanical perspective. The mathematical model of the ions quantum tunneling model is used to provide quantum aspects in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. Three major pathophysiological mechanisms are revisited in the context of the quantum tunneling model. These include: (1) the depolarized membrane potential of neurons; (2) the cross-talk or the ephaptic coupling between the neurons; and (3) the spontaneous neuronal activity and the emergence of ectopic action potentials. We will show mathematically that the quantum tunneling model can predict the occurrence of neuronal membrane depolarization attributed to the quantum tunneling current of sodium ions. Moreover, the probability of inducing an ectopic action potential in the axons of neurons will be calculated and will be shown to be significant and influential. These ectopic action potentials are generated due to the formation of quantum synapses which are assumed to be the mechanism behind the ephaptic transmission. Furthermore, the spontaneous neuronal activity and the emergence of ectopic action potentials independently from any adjacent stimulated neurons are predicted to occur according to the quantum tunneling model. All these quantum mechanical aspects contribute to the overall hyperexcitability of the neurons and to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Additionally, providing a new perspective in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain may improve our understanding of how the neuropathic pain is generated and maintained and may offer new effective agents that can improve the overall clinical outcomes of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sager Nawafleh
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13115, Jordan;
| | - Abdallah Barjas Qaswal
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.M.Z.); (M.B.A.); (M.A.A.); (R.A.-H.); (M.I.); (A.A.); (M.A.O.A.-A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Obada Alali
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Alabdali Clemenceau Hospital, Amman 11190, Jordan;
| | - Fuad Mohammed Zayed
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.M.Z.); (M.B.A.); (M.A.A.); (R.A.-H.); (M.I.); (A.A.); (M.A.O.A.-A.)
| | | | - Khaled Al-Kharouf
- Southampton Orthopedics: Centre for Arthroplasty and Revision Surgery, University Hospital Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK;
| | - Mo’ath Bani Ali
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.M.Z.); (M.B.A.); (M.A.A.); (R.A.-H.); (M.I.); (A.A.); (M.A.O.A.-A.)
| | - Moath Ahmad Albliwi
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.M.Z.); (M.B.A.); (M.A.A.); (R.A.-H.); (M.I.); (A.A.); (M.A.O.A.-A.)
| | - Rawan Al-Hamarsheh
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.M.Z.); (M.B.A.); (M.A.A.); (R.A.-H.); (M.I.); (A.A.); (M.A.O.A.-A.)
| | - Mohammad Iswaid
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.M.Z.); (M.B.A.); (M.A.A.); (R.A.-H.); (M.I.); (A.A.); (M.A.O.A.-A.)
| | - Ahmad Albanna
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.M.Z.); (M.B.A.); (M.A.A.); (R.A.-H.); (M.I.); (A.A.); (M.A.O.A.-A.)
| | - Ahmad Enjadat
- Department of Internship Program, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan;
| | - Mohammad Abu Orabi Al-Adwan
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (F.M.Z.); (M.B.A.); (M.A.A.); (R.A.-H.); (M.I.); (A.A.); (M.A.O.A.-A.)
| | - Khaled Dibbeh
- Leicester University Hospitals, P.O. Box 7853, Leicester LE1 9WW, UK;
| | - Ez-Aldeen Abu Shareah
- Accident and Emergency Department, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Hamstel Road, Harlow CM20 1QX, UK;
| | - Anas Hamdan
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Istishari Hospital, Amman 11184, Jordan;
| | - Aiman Suleiman
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
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13
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Phan LX, Lynch CI, Crain J, Sansom MS, Tucker SJ. Influence of effective polarization on ion and water interactions within a biomimetic nanopore. Biophys J 2022; 121:2014-2026. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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14
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Yelshanskaya MV, Patel DS, Kottke CM, Kurnikova MG, Sobolevsky AI. Opening of glutamate receptor channel to subconductance levels. Nature 2022; 605:172-178. [PMID: 35444281 PMCID: PMC9068512 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04637-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) are tetrameric ligand-gated ion channels that open their pores in response to binding of the agonist glutamate1-3. An ionic current through a single iGluR channel shows up to four discrete conductance levels (O1-O4)4-6. Higher conductance levels have been associated with an increased number of agonist molecules bound to four individual ligand-binding domains (LBDs)6-10. Here we determine structures of a synaptic complex of AMPA-subtype iGluR and the auxiliary subunit γ2 in non-desensitizing conditions with various occupancy of the LBDs by glutamate. We show that glutamate binds to LBDs of subunits B and D only after it is already bound to at least the same number of LBDs that belong to subunits A and C. Our structures combined with single-channel recordings, molecular dynamics simulations and machine-learning analysis suggest that channel opening requires agonist binding to at least two LBDs. Conversely, agonist binding to all four LBDs does not guarantee maximal channel conductance and favours subconductance states O1 and O2, with O3 and O4 being rare and not captured structurally. The lack of subunit independence and low efficiency coupling of glutamate binding to channel opening underlie the gating of synaptic complexes to submaximal conductance levels, which provide a potential for upregulation of synaptic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Yelshanskaya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dhilon S Patel
- Chemistry Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Maria G Kurnikova
- Chemistry Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Alexander I Sobolevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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15
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The Quantum Tunneling of Ions Model Can Explain the Pathophysiology of Tinnitus. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12040426. [PMID: 35447958 PMCID: PMC9025927 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12040426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tinnitus is a well-known pathological entity in clinical practice. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms behind tinnitus seem to be elusive and cannot provide a comprehensive understanding of its pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. Hence, in the present study, we explore the mathematical model of ions’ quantum tunneling to propose an original pathophysiological mechanism for the sensation of tinnitus. The present model focuses on two major aspects: The first aspect is the ability of ions, including sodium, potassium, and calcium, to depolarize the membrane potential of inner hair cells and the neurons of the auditory pathway. This membrane depolarization is induced via the quantum tunneling of ions through closed voltage-gated channels. The state of membrane depolarization can be a state of hyper-excitability or hypo-excitability, depending on the degree of depolarization. Both of these states aid in understanding the pathophysiology of tinnitus. The second aspect is the quantum tunneling signals between the demyelinated neurons of the auditory pathway. These signals are mediated via the quantum tunneling of potassium ions, which exit to the extracellular fluid during an action potential event. These quantum signals can be viewed as a “quantum synapse” between neurons. The formation of quantum synapses results in hyper-excitability among the demyelinated neurons of the auditory pathway. Both of these aspects augment and amplify the electrical signals in the auditory pathway and result in a loss of the spatiotemporal fidelity of sound signals going to the brain centers. The brain interprets this hyper-excitability and loss of spatiotemporal fidelity as tinnitus. Herein, we show mathematically that the quantum tunneling of ions can depolarize the membrane potential of the inner hair cells and neurons of the auditory pathway. Moreover, we calculate the probability of action potential induction in the neurons of the auditory pathway generated by the quantum tunneling signals of potassium ions.
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16
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Choudhury K, Kasimova MA, McComas S, Howard RJ, Delemotte L. An open state of a voltage-gated sodium channel involving a π-helix and conserved pore-facing asparagine. Biophys J 2022; 121:11-22. [PMID: 34890580 PMCID: PMC8758419 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels play critical roles in propagating action potentials and otherwise manipulating ionic gradients in excitable cells. These channels open in response to membrane depolarization, selectively permeating sodium ions until rapidly inactivating. Structural characterization of the gating cycle in this channel family has proved challenging, particularly due to the transient nature of the open state. A structure from the bacterium Magnetococcus marinus Nav (NavMs) was initially proposed to be open, based on its pore diameter and voltage-sensor conformation. However, the functional annotation of this model, and the structural details of the open state, remain disputed. In this work, we used molecular modeling and simulations to test possible open-state models of NavMs. The full-length experimental structure, termed here the α-model, was consistently dehydrated at the activation gate, indicating an inability to conduct ions. Based on a spontaneous transition observed in extended simulations, and sequence/structure comparison to other Nav channels, we built an alternative π-model featuring a helix transition and the rotation of a conserved asparagine residue into the activation gate. Pore hydration, ion permeation, and state-dependent drug binding in this model were consistent with an open functional state. This work thus offers both a functional annotation of the full-length NavMs structure and a detailed model for a stable Nav open state, with potential conservation in diverse ion-channel families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koushik Choudhury
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
| | - Marina A. Kasimova
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
| | - Sarah McComas
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rebecca J. Howard
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lucie Delemotte
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden,Corresponding author
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17
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Lynch CI, Klesse G, Rao S, Tucker SJ, Sansom MSP. Water Nanoconfined in a Hydrophobic Pore: Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Transmembrane Protein 175 and the Influence of Water Models. ACS NANO 2021; 15:19098-19108. [PMID: 34784172 PMCID: PMC7612143 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c06443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Water molecules within biological ion channels are in a nanoconfined environment and therefore exhibit behaviors which differ from that of bulk water. Here, we investigate the phenomenon of hydrophobic gating, the process by which a nanopore may spontaneously dewet to form a "vapor lock" if the pore is sufficiently hydrophobic and/or narrow. This occurs without steric occlusion of the pore. Using molecular dynamics simulations with both rigid fixed-charge and polarizable (AMOEBA) force fields, we investigate this wetting/dewetting behavior in the transmembrane protein 175 ion channel. We examine how a range of rigid fixed-charge and polarizable water models affect wetting/dewetting in both the wild-type structure and in mutants chosen to cover a range of nanopore radii and pore-lining hydrophobicities. Crucially, we find that the rigid fixed-charge water models lead to similar wetting/dewetting behaviors, but that the polarizable water model resulted in an increased wettability of the hydrophobic gating region of the pore. This has significant implications for molecular simulations of nanoconfined water, as it implies that polarizability may need to be included if we are to gain detailed mechanistic insights into wetting/dewetting processes. These findings are of importance for the design of functionalized biomimetic nanopores (e.g., sensing or desalination) as well as for furthering our understanding of the mechanistic processes underlying biological ion channel function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte I. Lynch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK, OX1 3QU
| | - Gianni Klesse
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK, OX1 3PU
| | - Shanlin Rao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK, OX1 3QU
| | - Stephen J. Tucker
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK, OX1 3PU
| | - Mark S. P. Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK, OX1 3QU
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18
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Cai R, Tang J, Chen XZ. Ion permeation controlled by hydrophobic residues and proton binding in the proton-activated chloride channel. iScience 2021; 24:103395. [PMID: 34825147 PMCID: PMC8605177 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently identified proton-activated chloride channel (PAC) contains two transmembrane helices (S1–S2) and is involved in lysosome function, hypoxia adaption, stroke, and carcinogenesis. Although a PAC structure was recently resolved, its gating and activation mechanisms remained largely unknown. By the two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology in Xenopus oocytes, we found that the hydrophobicity of site 304 at fenestrations, but not that of neighbor sites, is important for maintaining PAC at a closed state at pH 7.5. When activated at acidic pH, PAC activity significantly increased with the hydrophilicity of site 307 within S2, but not with that of neighbor sites, suggesting that 307 acts as an activation gate. We identified six conserved protonatable residues critical for proton-induced activation, consistent with structural studies. Our study depicted a scheme in which proton binding induces conformational changes from the W304-controlled closed state at fenestrations to an activated state controlled by activation gate I307 in helix S2. The hydrophobicity of site 304 is critical for maintaining PAC at a closed state The function of activated PAC is modulated by the hydrophilicity of site 307 Six protonatable amino acids are involved in proton-induced PAC activation H+ binding seem to change PAC from W304-controlled closed to I307-gated open state
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Cai
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Jingfeng Tang
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430086, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Xing-Zhen Chen
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
- Corresponding author
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19
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Chang HY, Wu KY, Chen WC, Weng JT, Chen CY, Raj A, Hamaguchi HO, Chuang WT, Wang X, Wang CL. Water-Induced Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Discotic Molecules for Adaptive Artificial Water Channels. ACS NANO 2021; 15:14885-14890. [PMID: 34410689 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Inspired by the induced-fit mechanism in nature, we developed the process of water-induced self-assembly (WISA) to make water an active substrate that regulates the self-assembly and function of amphiphilic discotic molecules (ADMs). The ADM is an isotropic liquid that self-assembles only when in contact with water. Characterization results indicate that water fits into the hydrophilic core of the ADMs and induces the formation of a hexagonal columnar phase (Colh), where each column contains a hydrated artificial water channel (AWC). The hydrated AWCs are adaptive rather than static; the dynamic incorporation/removal of water results in the reversible assembly/disassembly of the adaptive AWCs (aAWCs). Furthermore, its dynamic characteristics can enable water to act as an orientation-directional guest molecule that controls the growth direction of the aAWCs. Well-aligned aAWC arrays that showed the ability of water transport were obtained via a "directional WISA" method. In WISA, water thus governs the supramolecular chemistry and function of synthetic molecules as it does with natural materials. By making water an active component in adaptive chemistry and enabling host molecules to dynamically interact with water, this adaptive aquatic material may motivate the development of synthetic molecules further toward biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsi-Yen Chang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Yi Wu
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, 101 Hsin-Ann Road, Hsinchu, 30076, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chun Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Ting Weng
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Yi Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
| | - Ankit Raj
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
| | - Hiro-O Hamaguchi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Tsung Chuang
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, 101 Hsin-Ann Road, Hsinchu, 30076, Taiwan
| | - Xiaosong Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Chien-Lung Wang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
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20
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Blanco-González A, Calvelo M, Garrido PF, Amorín M, Granja JR, Piñeiro Á, Garcia-Fandino R. Transmembrane Self-Assembled Cyclic Peptide Nanotubes Based on α-Residues and Cyclic δ-Amino Acids: A Computational Study. Front Chem 2021; 9:704160. [PMID: 34386480 PMCID: PMC8353252 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.704160] [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: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembling cyclic peptide nanotubes have been shown to function as synthetic, integral transmembrane channels. The combination of natural and nonnatural aminoacids in the sequence of cyclic peptides enables the control not only of their outer surface but also of the inner cavity behavior and properties, affecting, for instance, their permeability to different molecules including water and ions. Here, a thorough computational study on a new class of self-assembling peptide motifs, in which δ-aminocycloalkanecarboxylic acids are alternated with natural α-amino acids, is presented. The presence of synthetic δ-residues creates hydrophobic regions in these α,δ-SCPNs, which makes them especially attractive for their potential implementation in the design of new drug or diagnostic agent carrier systems. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the behavior of water molecules, different ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, and Ca2+), and their correspondent counter Cl- anions is extensively investigated in the nanoconfined environment. The structure and dynamics are mutually combined in a diving immersion inside these transmembrane channels to discover a fascinating submarine nanoworld where star-shaped water channels guide the passage of cations and anions therethrough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Blanco-González
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultade de Física, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Martín Calvelo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Pablo F. Garrido
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultade de Física, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Manuel Amorín
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan R. Granja
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ángel Piñeiro
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultade de Física, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rebeca Garcia-Fandino
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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21
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Tyerman SD, McGaughey SA, Qiu J, Yool AJ, Byrt CS. Adaptable and Multifunctional Ion-Conducting Aquaporins. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 72:703-736. [PMID: 33577345 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-081720-013608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Aquaporins function as water and neutral solute channels, signaling hubs, disease virulence factors, and metabolon components. We consider plant aquaporins that transport ions compared to some animal counterparts. These are candidates for important, as yet unidentified, cation and anion channels in plasma, tonoplast, and symbiotic membranes. For those individual isoforms that transport ions, water, and gases, the permeability spans 12 orders of magnitude. This requires tight regulation of selectivity via protein interactions and posttranslational modifications. A phosphorylation-dependent switch between ion and water permeation in AtPIP2;1 might be explained by coupling between the gates of the four monomer water channels and the central pore of the tetramer. We consider the potential for coupling between ion and water fluxes that could form the basis of an electroosmotic transducer. A grand challenge in understanding the roles of ion transporting aquaporins is their multifunctional modes that are dependent on location, stress, time, and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D Tyerman
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia; ,
| | - Samantha A McGaughey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia; ,
| | - Jiaen Qiu
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia; ,
| | - Andrea J Yool
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia;
| | - Caitlin S Byrt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia; ,
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22
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Yamini G, Kanchi S, Kalu N, Momben Abolfath S, Leppla SH, Ayappa KG, Maiti PK, Nestorovich EM. Hydrophobic Gating and 1/ f Noise of the Anthrax Toxin Channel. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:5466-5478. [PMID: 34015215 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
"Pink" or 1/f noise is a natural phenomenon omnipresent in physics, economics, astrophysics, biology, and even music and languages. In electrophysiology, the stochastic activity of a number of biological ion channels and artificial nanopores could be characterized by current noise with a 1/f power spectral density. In the anthrax toxin channel (PA63), it appears as fast voltage-independent current interruptions between conducting and nonconducting states. This behavior hampers potential development of PA63 as an ion-channel biosensor. On the bright side, the PA63 flickering represents a mesmerizing phenomenon to investigate. Notably, similar 1/f fluctuations are observed in the channel-forming components of clostridial binary C2 and iota toxins, which share functional and structural similarities with the anthrax toxin channel. Similar to PA63, they are evolved to translocate the enzymatic components of the toxins into the cytosol. Here, using high-resolution single-channel lipid bilayer experiments and all-atom molecular dynamic simulations, we suggest that the 1/f noise in PA63 occurs as a result of "hydrophobic gating" at the ϕ-clamp region, the phenomenon earlier observed in several water-filled channels "fastened" inside by the hydrophobic belts. The ϕ-clamp is a narrow "hydrophobic ring" in the PA63 lumen formed by seven or eight phenylalanine residues at position 427, conserved in the C2 and iota toxin channels, which catalyzes protein translocation. Notably, the 1/f noise remains undetected in the F427A PA63 mutant. This finding can elucidate the functional purpose of 1/f noise and its possible role in the transport of the enzymatic components of binary toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goli Yamini
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, Washington D.C., 20064, United States
| | - Subbarao Kanchi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India.,Centre for Condensed Matter Theory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Nnanya Kalu
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, Washington D.C., 20064, United States
| | - Sanaz Momben Abolfath
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, Washington D.C., 20064, United States
| | - Stephen H Leppla
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - K Ganapathy Ayappa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Prabal K Maiti
- Centre for Condensed Matter Theory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Ekaterina M Nestorovich
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, Washington D.C., 20064, United States
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23
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Zhang X, Zhang Y, Tang S, Ma S, Shen Y, Chen Y, Tong Q, Li Y, Yang J. Hydrophobic Gate of Mechanosensitive Channel of Large Conductance in Lipid Bilayers Revealed by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:2477-2490. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c07487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xuning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhang
- National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Siyang Tang
- Children’s Hospital and Department of Biophysics, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Shaojie Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
| | - Yang Shen
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
| | - Yanke Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qiong Tong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yuezhou Li
- Children’s Hospital and Department of Biophysics, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P. R. China
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24
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Rao S, Klesse G, Lynch CI, Tucker SJ, Sansom MSP. Molecular Simulations of Hydrophobic Gating of Pentameric Ligand Gated Ion Channels: Insights into Water and Ions. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:981-994. [PMID: 33439645 PMCID: PMC7869105 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c09285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Ion channels are proteins which form gated nanopores in biological membranes. Many channels exhibit hydrophobic gating, whereby functional closure of a pore occurs by local dewetting. The pentameric ligand gated ion channels (pLGICs) provide a biologically important example of hydrophobic gating. Molecular simulation studies comparing additive vs polarizable models indicate predictions of hydrophobic gating are robust to the model employed. However, polarizable models suggest favorable interactions of hydrophobic pore-lining regions with chloride ions, of relevance to both synthetic carriers and channel proteins. Electrowetting of a closed pLGIC hydrophobic gate requires too high a voltage to occur physiologically but may inform designs for switchable nanopores. Global analysis of ∼200 channels yields a simple heuristic for structure-based prediction of (closed) hydrophobic gates. Simulation-based analysis is shown to provide an aid to interpretation of functional states of new channel structures. These studies indicate the importance of understanding the behavior of water and ions within the nanoconfined environment presented by ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanlin Rao
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, U.K.
| | - Gianni Klesse
- Clarendon
Laboratory, Department of Physics, University
of Oxford, Oxford, U.K.
| | | | - Stephen J. Tucker
- Clarendon
Laboratory, Department of Physics, University
of Oxford, Oxford, U.K.
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25
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Abstract
Here, we investigate the role of a dilute hydrophobic gas on the phase behavior of water confined in hydrophobic nanopores. Molecular dynamics showed that gas atoms are hydrophobically attracted within the pores, where even a single particle is able to induce spontaneous drying of the whole pore. The drying process is rationalized in terms of its free-energy landscape, revealing that the penetration of a gas atom is able to suppress the drying free-energy barriers of hydrophobic pores. Results provide insights into the role of gases on the wettability of nanopores and evidence of a possibile physical mechanism for the action of volatile anesthetics on some kinds of ion channels. Results also indicate a novel, bioinspired strategy for controlling bubble formation in nanopores for sensing and energy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Camisasca
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Tinti
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Giacomello
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
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26
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Lynch C, Rao S, Sansom MSP. Water in Nanopores and Biological Channels: A Molecular Simulation Perspective. Chem Rev 2020; 120:10298-10335. [PMID: 32841020 PMCID: PMC7517714 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
This Review explores the dynamic behavior of water within nanopores and biological channels in lipid bilayer membranes. We focus on molecular simulation studies, alongside selected structural and other experimental investigations. Structures of biological nanopores and channels are reviewed, emphasizing those high-resolution crystal structures, which reveal water molecules within the transmembrane pores, which can be used to aid the interpretation of simulation studies. Different levels of molecular simulations of water within nanopores are described, with a focus on molecular dynamics (MD). In particular, models of water for MD simulations are discussed in detail to provide an evaluation of their use in simulations of water in nanopores. Simulation studies of the behavior of water in idealized models of nanopores have revealed aspects of the organization and dynamics of nanoconfined water, including wetting/dewetting in narrow hydrophobic nanopores. A survey of simulation studies in a range of nonbiological nanopores is presented, including carbon nanotubes, synthetic nanopores, model peptide nanopores, track-etched nanopores in polymer membranes, and hydroxylated and functionalized nanoporous silica. These reveal a complex relationship between pore size/geometry, the nature of the pore lining, and rates of water transport. Wider nanopores with hydrophobic linings favor water flow whereas narrower hydrophobic pores may show dewetting. Simulation studies over the past decade of the behavior of water in a range of biological nanopores are described, including porins and β-barrel protein nanopores, aquaporins and related polar solute pores, and a number of different classes of ion channels. Water is shown to play a key role in proton transport in biological channels and in hydrophobic gating of ion channels. An overall picture emerges, whereby the behavior of water in a nanopore may be predicted as a function of its hydrophobicity and radius. This informs our understanding of the functions of diverse channel structures and will aid the design of novel nanopores. Thus, our current level of understanding allows for the design of a nanopore which promotes wetting over dewetting or vice versa. However, to design a novel nanopore, which enables fast, selective, and gated flow of water de novo would remain challenging, suggesting a need for further detailed simulations alongside experimental evaluation of more complex nanopore systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte
I. Lynch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, U.K.
| | - Shanlin Rao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, U.K.
| | - Mark S. P. Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, U.K.
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27
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Li C, Yue Z, Espinoza-Fonseca LM, Voth GA. Multiscale Simulation Reveals Passive Proton Transport Through SERCA on the Microsecond Timescale. Biophys J 2020; 119:1033-1040. [PMID: 32814059 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) transports two Ca2+ ions from the cytoplasm to the reticulum lumen at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. In addition to transporting Ca2+, SERCA facilitates bidirectional proton transport across the sarcoplasmic reticulum to maintain the charge balance of the transport sites and to balance the charge deficit generated by the exchange of Ca2+. Previous studies have shown the existence of a transient water-filled pore in SERCA that connects the Ca2+ binding sites with the lumen, but the capacity of this pathway to sustain passive proton transport has remained unknown. In this study, we used the multiscale reactive molecular dynamics method and free energy sampling to quantify the free energy profile and timescale of the proton transport across this pathway while also explicitly accounting for the dynamically coupled hydration changes of the pore. We find that proton transport from the central binding site to the lumen has a microsecond timescale, revealing a novel passive cytoplasm-to-lumen proton flow beside the well-known inverse proton countertransport occurring in active Ca2+ transport. We propose that this proton transport mechanism is operational and serves as a functional conduit for passive proton transport across the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghan Li
- Department of Chemistry, Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry, James Franck Institute, and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Zhi Yue
- Department of Chemistry, Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry, James Franck Institute, and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - L Michel Espinoza-Fonseca
- Center for Arrhythmia Research, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Gregory A Voth
- Department of Chemistry, Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry, James Franck Institute, and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
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28
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Milenkovic S, Bodrenko IV, Lagostena L, Gradogna A, Serra G, Bosin A, Carpaneto A, Ceccarelli M. The mechanism and energetics of a ligand-controlled hydrophobic gate in a mammalian two pore channel. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:15664-15674. [PMID: 32618303 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp00805b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In the last decade two-pore intracellular channels (TPCs) attracted the interest of researchers, still some key questions remain open. Their importance for vacuolar (plants) and endo-lysosomal (animals) function highlights them as a very attractive system to study, both theoretically and experimentally. Indicated as key players in the trafficking of the cell, today they are considered a new potential target for avoiding virus infections, including those from coronaviruses. A particular boost for theoretical examinations has been made with recent high-resolution X-ray and cryo-EM structures. These findings have opened the way for efficient and precise computational studies at the atomistic level. Here we report a set of multiscale-calculations performed on the mTPC1, a ligand- and voltage-gated sodium selective channel. The molecular dynamics and enhanced molecular dynamics simulations were used for a thorough analysis of the mammalian TPC1 behaviour in the presence and absence of the ligand molecule, with a special accent on the supposed bottleneck, the hydrophobic gate. Moreover, from the reconstructed free energy obtained from enhanced simulations, we have calculated the macroscopic conductance of sodium ions through the mTPC1, which we compared with measured single-channel conductance values. The hydrophobic gate works as a steric barrier and the key parameters are its flexibility and the dimension of the sodium first hydration shell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Milenkovic
- Department of Physics and IOM/CNR, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
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29
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Brunner JD, Jakob RP, Schulze T, Neldner Y, Moroni A, Thiel G, Maier T, Schenck S. Structural basis for ion selectivity in TMEM175 K + channels. eLife 2020; 9:e53683. [PMID: 32267231 PMCID: PMC7176437 DOI: 10.7554/elife.53683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The TMEM175 family constitutes recently discovered K+channels that are important for autophagosome turnover and lysosomal pH regulation and are associated with the early onset of Parkinson Disease. TMEM175 channels lack a P-loop selectivity filter, a hallmark of all known K+ channels, raising the question how selectivity is achieved. Here, we report the X-ray structure of a closed bacterial TMEM175 channel in complex with a nanobody fusion-protein disclosing bound K+ ions. Our analysis revealed that a highly conserved layer of threonine residues in the pore conveys a basal K+ selectivity. An additional layer comprising two serines in human TMEM175 increases selectivity further and renders this channel sensitive to 4-aminopyridine and Zn2+. Our findings suggest that large hydrophobic side chains occlude the pore, forming a physical gate, and that channel opening by iris-like motions simultaneously relocates the gate and exposes the otherwise concealed selectivity filter to the pore lumen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine D Brunner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
- Department Biozentrum, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer InstitutVilligenSwitzerland
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIBBrusselsBelgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Roman P Jakob
- Department Biozentrum, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Tobias Schulze
- Membrane Biophysics, Technical University of DarmstadtDarmstadtGermany
| | - Yvonne Neldner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Anna Moroni
- Department of Biosciences, University of MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Gerhard Thiel
- Membrane Biophysics, Technical University of DarmstadtDarmstadtGermany
| | - Timm Maier
- Department Biozentrum, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Stephan Schenck
- Department of Biochemistry, University of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer InstitutVilligenSwitzerland
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIBBrusselsBelgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
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30
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Liu Y, Vashisth H. Conformational dynamics and interfacial interactions of peptide-appended pillar[5]arene water channels in biomimetic membranes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:22711-22721. [PMID: 31454001 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp04408f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Peptide appended pillar[5]arene (PAP) is an artificial water channel resembling biological water channel proteins, which has shown a significant potential for designing bioinspired water purification systems. Given that PAP channels need to be incorporated at a high density in membrane matrices, it is critical to examine the role of channel-channel and channel-membrane interactions in governing the structural and functional characteristics of channels. To resolve the atomic-scale details of these interactions, we have carried out atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of multiple PAP channels inserted in a lipid or a block-copolymer (BCP) membrane matrix. Classical MD simulations on a sub-microsecond timescale showed clustering of channels only in the lipid membrane, but enhanced sampling MD simulations showed thermodynamically-favorable dimerized states of channels in both lipid and BCP membranes. The dimerized configurations of channels, with an extensive buried surface area, were stabilized via interactions between the aromatic groups in the peptide arms of neighboring channels. The conformational metrics characterizing the orientational and structural changes in channels revealed a higher flexibility in the lipid membrane as opposed to the BCP membrane although hydrogen bonds between the channel and the membrane molecules were not a major contributor to the stability of channels in the BCP membrane. We also found that the channels undergo wetting/dewetting transitions in both lipid and BCP membranes with a marginally higher probability of undergoing a dewetting transition in the BCP membrane. Collectively, these results highlight the role of channel dynamics in governing channel-channel and channel-membrane interfacial interactions, and provide atomic-scale insights needed to design stable and functional biomimetic membranes for efficient separations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Hampshire, 33 Academic Way, Durham, NH 03824, USA.
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31
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Jinn S, Blauwendraat C, Toolan D, Gretzula CA, Drolet RE, Smith S, Nalls MA, Marcus J, Singleton AB, Stone DJ. Functionalization of the TMEM175 p.M393T variant as a risk factor for Parkinson disease. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:3244-3254. [PMID: 31261387 PMCID: PMC6859430 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Parkinson disease (PD) have identified a signal at chromosome 4p16.3; however, the causal variant has not been established for this locus. Deep investigation of the region resulted in one identified variant, the rs34311866 missense SNP (p.M393T) in TMEM175, which is 20 orders of magnitude more significant than any other SNP in the region. Because TMEM175 is a lysosomal gene that has been shown to influence α-synuclein phosphorylation and autophagy, the p.M393T variant is an attractive candidate, and we have examined its effect on TMEM175 protein and PD-related biology. After knocking down each of the genes located under the GWAS peak via multiple shRNAs, only TMEM175 was found to consistently influence accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein (p-α-syn). Examination of the p.M393T variant showed effects on TMEM175 function that were intermediate between the wild-type (WT) and knockout phenotypes, with reduced regulation of lysosomal pH in response to starvation and minor changes in clearance of autophagy substrates, reduced lysosomal localization, and increased accumulation of p-α-syn. Finally, overexpression of WT TMEM175 protein reduced p-α-syn, while overexpression of the p.M393T variant resulted in no change in α-synuclein phosphorylation. These results suggest that the main signal in the chromosome 4p16.3 PD risk locus is driven by the TMEM175 p.M393T variant. Modulation of TMEM175 may impact α-synuclein biology and therefore may be a rational therapeutic strategy for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jinn
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Cornelis Blauwendraat
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dawn Toolan
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | | | | | - Sean Smith
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Mike A Nalls
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Data Tecnica International, Glen Echo, MD, USA
| | | | - Andrew B Singleton
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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32
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Bernardi M, Ghaani MR, English NJ. Ionic conductivity along transmembrane-electropores in human aquaporin 4: calcium effects from non-equilibrium molecular dynamics. Mol Phys 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2019.1665725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Bernardi
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Mohammad Reza Ghaani
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Niall J. English
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
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33
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Bernsteiner H, Zangerl-Plessl EM, Chen X, Stary-Weinzinger A. Conduction through a narrow inward-rectifier K + channel pore. J Gen Physiol 2019; 151:1231-1246. [PMID: 31511304 PMCID: PMC6785732 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201912359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
G-protein–gated inwardly rectifying potassium channels are important mediators of inhibitory neurotransmission. Based on microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations, Bernsteiner et al. propose novel gating details that may enable K+ flux via a direct knock-on mechanism. Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels play a key role in controlling membrane potentials in excitable and unexcitable cells, thereby regulating a plethora of physiological processes. G-protein–gated Kir channels control heart rate and neuronal excitability via small hyperpolarizing outward K+ currents near the resting membrane potential. Despite recent breakthroughs in x-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, the gating and conduction mechanisms of these channels are poorly understood. MD simulations have provided unprecedented details concerning the gating and conduction mechanisms of voltage-gated K+ and Na+ channels. Here, we use multi-microsecond–timescale MD simulations based on the crystal structures of GIRK2 (Kir3.2) bound to phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate to provide detailed insights into the channel’s gating dynamics, including insights into the behavior of the G-loop gate. The simulations also elucidate the elementary steps that underlie the movement of K+ ions through an inward-rectifier K+ channel under an applied electric field. Our simulations suggest that K+ permeation might occur via direct knock-on, similar to the mechanism recently shown for Kv channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Bernsteiner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Xingyu Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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34
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Trofimov YA, Krylov NA, Efremov RG. Confined Dynamics of Water in Transmembrane Pore of TRPV1 Ion Channel. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174285. [PMID: 31480555 PMCID: PMC6747475 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Solvation effects play a key role in chemical and biological processes. The microscopic properties of water near molecular surfaces are radically different from those in the bulk. Furthermore, the behavior of water in confined volumes of a nanometer scale, including transmembrane pores of ion channels, is especially nontrivial. Knowledge at the molecular level of structural and dynamic parameters of water in such systems is necessary to understand the mechanisms of ion channels functioning. In this work, the results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of water in the pore and selectivity filter domains of TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid type 1) membrane channel are considered. These domains represent nanoscale volumes with strongly amphiphilic walls, where physical behavior of water radically differs from that of free hydration (e.g., at protein interfaces) or in the bulk. Inside the pore and filter domains, water reveals a very heterogeneous spatial distribution and unusual dynamics: It forms compact areas localized near polar groups of particular residues. Residence time of water molecules in such areas is at least 1.5 to 3 times larger than that observed for similar groups at the protein surface. Presumably, these water “blobs” play an important role in the functional activity of TRPV1. In particular, they take part in hydration of the hydrophobic TRPV1 pore by localizing up to six waters near the so-called “lower gate” of the channel and reducing by this way the free energy barrier for ion and water transport. Although the channel is formed by four identical protein subunits, which are symmetrically packed in the initial experimental 3D structure, in the course of MD simulations, hydration of the same amino acid residues of individual subunits may differ significantly. This greatly affects the microscopic picture of the distribution of water in the channel and, potentially, the mechanism of its functioning. Therefore, reconstruction of the full picture of TRPV1 channel solvation requires thorough atomistic simulations and analysis. It is important that the naturally occurring porous volumes, like ion-conducting protein domains, reveal much more sophisticated and fine-tuned regulation of solvation than, e.g., artificially designed carbon nanotubes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yury A Trofimov
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya ul. 20, 101000 Moscow, Russia
- National Research Nuclear University Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, Kashirskoe Shosse, 31, 115409 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay A Krylov
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya ul. 20, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman G Efremov
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya ul. 20, 101000 Moscow, Russia.
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, 141701 Moscow, Russia.
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35
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Hydrophobic gasket mutation produces gating pore currents in closed human voltage-gated proton channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:18951-18961. [PMID: 31462498 PMCID: PMC6754559 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1905462116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A large family of membrane proteins, voltage-gated ion channels, regulate a vast array of physiological functions in essentially all life forms. How these molecules sense membrane potential and respond by creating ionic conduction is incompletely understood. The voltage sensors of these channels contain a “hydrophobic gasket,” a ring of hydrophobic amino acids near the center of the membrane, separating internal and external aqueous solutions. Although voltage-gated proton channels, HV1, resemble voltage-sensing domains of other channels, they differ fundamentally. On depolarization, HV1 conducts protons, whereas other voltage sensors open a physically distinct pore. We identify Val109, Phe150, Val177, and Val178 as the hHV1 hydrophobic gasket. Replacement with less hydrophobic amino acids accelerated channel opening and caused proton-selective leak through closed channels. The hydrophobic gasket (HG), a ring of hydrophobic amino acids in the voltage-sensing domain of most voltage-gated ion channels, forms a constriction between internal and external aqueous vestibules. Cationic Arg or Lys side chains lining the S4 helix move through this “gating pore” when the channel opens. S4 movement may occur during gating of the human voltage-gated proton channel, hHV1, but proton current flows through the same pore in open channels. Here, we replaced putative HG residues with less hydrophobic residues or acidic Asp. Substitution of individuals, pairs, or all 3 HG positions did not impair proton selectivity. Evidently, the HG does not act as a secondary selectivity filter. However, 2 unexpected functions of the HG in HV1 were discovered. Mutating HG residues independently accelerated channel opening and compromised the closed state. Mutants exhibited open–closed gating, but strikingly, at negative voltages where “normal” gating produces a nonconducting closed state, the channel leaked protons. Closed-channel proton current was smaller than open-channel current and was inhibited by 10 μM Zn2+. Extreme hyperpolarization produced a deeper closed state through a weakly voltage-dependent transition. We functionally identify the HG as Val109, Phe150, Val177, and Val178, which play a critical and exclusive role in preventing H+ influx through closed channels. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed enhanced mobility of Arg208 in mutants exhibiting H+ leak. Mutation of HG residues produces gating pore currents reminiscent of several channelopathies.
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36
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Zheng W, Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. A hydrophobic gate in the inner pore helix is the major determinant of inactivation in mechanosensitive Piezo channels. eLife 2019; 8:44003. [PMID: 30628892 PMCID: PMC6349400 DOI: 10.7554/elife.44003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Piezo1 and Piezo2 belong to a family of mechanically-activated ion channels implicated in a wide range of physiological processes. Mechanical stimulation triggers Piezo channels to open, but their characteristic fast inactivation process results in rapid closure. Several disease-causing mutations in Piezo1 alter the rate of inactivation, highlighting the importance of inactivation to the normal function of this channel. However, despite the structural identification of two physical constrictions within the closed pore, the mechanism of inactivation remains unknown. Here we identify a functionally conserved inactivation gate in the pore-lining inner helix of mouse Piezo1 and Piezo2 that is distinct from the two constrictions. We show that this gate controls the majority of Piezo1 inactivation via a hydrophobic mechanism and that one of the physical constrictions acts as a secondary gate. Our results suggest that, unlike other rapidly inactivating ion channels, a hydrophobic barrier gives rise to fast inactivation in Piezo channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Zheng
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | - Elena O Gracheva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States.,Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | - Sviatoslav N Bagriantsev
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
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37
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Molina JE, Vasquez-Echeverri A, Schwartz DC, Hernández-Ortiz JP. Discrete and Continuum Models for the Salt in Crowded Environments of Suspended Charged Particles. J Chem Theory Comput 2018; 14:4901-4913. [PMID: 30044624 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.8b00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Electrostatic forces greatly affect the overall dynamics and diffusional activities of suspended charged particles in crowded environments. Accordingly, the concentration of counter- or co-ions in a fluid-''the salt"-determines the range, strength, and order of electrostatic interactions between particles. This environment fosters engineering routes for controlling directed assembly of particles at both the micro- and nanoscale. Here, we analyzed two computational modeling schemes that considered salt within suspensions of charged particles, or polyelectrolytes: discrete and continuum. Electrostatic interactions were included through a Green's function formalism, where the confined fundamental solution for Poisson's equation is resolved by the general geometry Ewald-like method. For the discrete model, the salt was considered as regularized point-charges with a specific valence and size, while concentration fields were defined for each ionic species for the continuum model. These considerations were evolved using Brownian dynamics of the suspended charged particles and the discrete salt ions, while a convection-diffusion transport equation, including the Nernst-Planck diffusion mechanism, accounted for the dynamics of the concentration fields. The salt/particle models were considered as suspensions under slit-confinement conditions for creating crowded "macro-ions", where density distributions and radial distribution functions were used to compare and differentiate computational models. Importantly, our analysis shows that disparate length scales or increased system size presented by the salt and suspended particles are best dealt with using concentration fields to model the ions. These findings were then validated by novel simulations of a semipermeable polyelectrolyte membrane, at the mesoscale, from which ionic channels emerged and enable ion conduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarol E Molina
- Departamento de Materiales y Nanotecnología , Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Medellín , Medellín 050034 , Colombia
| | - Alejandro Vasquez-Echeverri
- Departamento de Materiales y Nanotecnología , Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Medellín , Medellín 050034 , Colombia
| | - David C Schwartz
- Laboratory for Molecular and Computational Genomics, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Genetics , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53706-1396 , United States.,The Biotechnology Center , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53706-1396 , United States
| | - Juan P Hernández-Ortiz
- Departamento de Materiales y Nanotecnología , Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Medellín , Medellín 050034 , Colombia.,The Biotechnology Center , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53706-1396 , United States.,Institute for Molecular Engineering , University of Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60637 , United States
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38
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Abstract
Developing bioinspired artificial water channels may lead to the next-generation filtration membranes with ultra-high pore density and exclusive water permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Gong
- Department of Chemistry
- University at Buffalo
- The State University of New York
- Buffalo
- USA
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