1
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Bykhovskaia M. Dynamic Formation of the Protein-Lipid Pre-fusion Complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.17.589983. [PMID: 38659925 PMCID: PMC11042276 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.17.589983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Synaptic vesicles (SVs) fuse with the presynaptic membrane (PM) to release neuronal transmitters. The SV protein Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) serves as a Ca2+ sensor for evoked fusion. Syt1 is thought to trigger fusion by penetrating into PM upon Ca2+ binding, however the mechanistic detail of this process is still debated. Syt1 interacts with the SNARE complex, a coiled-coil four-helical bundle that enables the SV-PM attachment. The SNARE-associated protein Complexin (Cpx) promotes the Ca2+-dependent fusion, possibly interacting with Syt1. We employed all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) to investigate the formation of the Syt1-SNARE-Cpx complex interacting with the lipid bilayers of PM and SV. Our simulations demonstrated that the PM-Syt1-SNARE-Cpx complex can transition to a "dead-end" state, wherein Syt1 attaches tightly to PM but does not immerse into it, as opposed to a pre-fusion state, which has the tips of the Ca2+-bound C2 domains of Syt1 inserted into PM. Our simulations unraveled the sequence of Syt1 conformational transitions, including the simultaneous Syt1 docking to the SNARE-Cpx bundle and PM, followed by the Ca2+ chelation and the penetration of the tips of Syt1 domains into PM, leading to the pre-fusion state of the protein-lipid complex. Importantly, we found that the direct Syt1-Cpx interactions are required to promote these transitions. Thus, we developed the all-atom dynamic model of the conformational transitions that lead to the formation of the pre-fusion PM-Syt1-SNARE-Cpx complex. Our simulations also revealed an alternative "dead-end" state of the protein-lipid complex that can be formed if this pathway is disrupted.
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2
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Bian H, Shao X, Cai W, Fu H. Understanding the Reversible Binding of a Multichain Protein-Protein Complex through Free-Energy Calculations. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:3598-3604. [PMID: 38574232 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00519] [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: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
We demonstrate that the binding affinity of a multichain protein-protein complex, insulin dimer, can be accurately predicted using a streamlined route of standard binding free-energy calculations. We find that chains A and C, which do not interact directly during binding, stabilize the insulin monomer structures and reduce the binding affinity of the two monomers, therefore enabling their reversible association. Notably, we confirm that although classical methods can estimate the binding affinity of the insulin dimer, conventional molecular dynamics, enhanced sampling algorithms, and classical geometrical routes of binding free-energy calculations may not fully capture certain aspects of the role played by the noninteracting chains in the binding dynamics. Therefore, this study not only elucidates the role of noninteracting chains in the reversible binding of the insulin dimer but also offers a methodological guide for investigating the reversible binding of multichain protein-protein complexes utilizing streamlined free-energy calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengwei Bian
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Xueguang Shao
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Wensheng Cai
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Haohao Fu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
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3
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Grassmann G, Miotto M, Desantis F, Di Rienzo L, Tartaglia GG, Pastore A, Ruocco G, Monti M, Milanetti E. Computational Approaches to Predict Protein-Protein Interactions in Crowded Cellular Environments. Chem Rev 2024; 124:3932-3977. [PMID: 38535831 PMCID: PMC11009965 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Investigating protein-protein interactions is crucial for understanding cellular biological processes because proteins often function within molecular complexes rather than in isolation. While experimental and computational methods have provided valuable insights into these interactions, they often overlook a critical factor: the crowded cellular environment. This environment significantly impacts protein behavior, including structural stability, diffusion, and ultimately the nature of binding. In this review, we discuss theoretical and computational approaches that allow the modeling of biological systems to guide and complement experiments and can thus significantly advance the investigation, and possibly the predictions, of protein-protein interactions in the crowded environment of cell cytoplasm. We explore topics such as statistical mechanics for lattice simulations, hydrodynamic interactions, diffusion processes in high-viscosity environments, and several methods based on molecular dynamics simulations. By synergistically leveraging methods from biophysics and computational biology, we review the state of the art of computational methods to study the impact of molecular crowding on protein-protein interactions and discuss its potential revolutionizing effects on the characterization of the human interactome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Grassmann
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences “Alessandro Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
- Center
for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Mattia Miotto
- Center
for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Fausta Desantis
- Center
for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
- The
Open University Affiliated Research Centre at Istituto Italiano di
Tecnologia, Genoa 16163, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Di Rienzo
- Center
for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Gian Gaetano Tartaglia
- Center
for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
- Department
of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa 16163, Italy
- Center
for Human Technologies, Genoa 16152, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pastore
- Experiment
Division, European Synchrotron Radiation
Facility, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center
for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
- Department
of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Michele Monti
- RNA
System Biology Lab, Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa 16163, Italy
| | - Edoardo Milanetti
- Center
for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
- Department
of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome 00185, Italy
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4
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Venanzi NE, Basciu A, Vargiu AV, Kiparissides A, Dalby PA, Dikicioglu D. Machine Learning Integrating Protein Structure, Sequence, and Dynamics to Predict the Enzyme Activity of Bovine Enterokinase Variants. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:2681-2694. [PMID: 38386417 PMCID: PMC11005043 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Despite recent advances in computational protein science, the dynamic behavior of proteins, which directly governs their biological activity, cannot be gleaned from sequence information alone. To overcome this challenge, we propose a framework that integrates the peptide sequence, protein structure, and protein dynamics descriptors into machine learning algorithms to enhance their predictive capabilities and achieve improved prediction of the protein variant function. The resulting machine learning pipeline integrates traditional sequence and structure information with molecular dynamics simulation data to predict the effects of multiple point mutations on the fold improvement of the activity of bovine enterokinase variants. This study highlights how the combination of structural and dynamic data can provide predictive insights into protein functionality and address protein engineering challenges in industrial contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Basciu
- Department
of Physics, University of Cagliari, Cittadella
Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Attilio Vittorio Vargiu
- Department
of Physics, University of Cagliari, Cittadella
Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alexandros Kiparissides
- Department
of Biochemical Engineering, University College
London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, U.K.
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University
of Thessaloniki, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Paul A. Dalby
- Department
of Biochemical Engineering, University College
London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, U.K.
| | - Duygu Dikicioglu
- Department
of Biochemical Engineering, University College
London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, U.K.
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5
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Fu C, Wang Z, Zhou X, Hu B, Li C, Yang P. Protein-based bioactive coatings: from nanoarchitectonics to applications. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:1514-1551. [PMID: 38167899 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00786c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Protein-based bioactive coatings have emerged as a versatile and promising strategy for enhancing the performance and biocompatibility of diverse biomedical materials and devices. Through surface modification, these coatings confer novel biofunctional attributes, rendering the material highly bioactive. Their widespread adoption across various domains in recent years underscores their importance. This review systematically elucidates the behavior of protein-based bioactive coatings in organisms and expounds on their underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, it highlights notable advancements in artificial synthesis methodologies and their functional applications in vitro. A focal point is the delineation of assembly strategies employed in crafting protein-based bioactive coatings, which provides a guide for their expansion and sustained implementation. Finally, the current trends, challenges, and future directions of protein-based bioactive coatings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyu Fu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Polymeric Soft Matter, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
- International Joint Research Center on Functional Fiber and Soft Smart Textile, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Zhengge Wang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Polymeric Soft Matter, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
- International Joint Research Center on Functional Fiber and Soft Smart Textile, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Xingyu Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Polymeric Soft Matter, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
- International Joint Research Center on Functional Fiber and Soft Smart Textile, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Bowen Hu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Polymeric Soft Matter, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
- International Joint Research Center on Functional Fiber and Soft Smart Textile, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Chen Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Eastern HuaLan Avenue, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Polymeric Soft Matter, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
- International Joint Research Center on Functional Fiber and Soft Smart Textile, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
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6
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Henderson R, Anasti K, Manne K, Stalls V, Saunders C, Bililign Y, Williams A, Bubphamala P, Montani M, Kachhap S, Li J, Jaing C, Newman A, Cain D, Lu X, Venkatayogi S, Berry M, Wagh K, Korber B, Saunders KO, Tian M, Alt F, Wiehe K, Acharya P, Alam SM, Haynes BF. Engineering immunogens that select for specific mutations in HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.15.571700. [PMID: 38168268 PMCID: PMC10760096 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.15.571700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Vaccine development targeting rapidly evolving pathogens such as HIV-1 requires induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) with conserved paratopes and mutations, and, in some cases, the same Ig-heavy chains. The current trial-and-error search for immunogen modifications that improve selection for specific bnAb mutations is imprecise. To precisely engineer bnAb boosting immunogens, we used molecular dynamics simulations to examine encounter states that form when antibodies collide with the HIV-1 Envelope (Env). By mapping how bnAbs use encounter states to find their bound states, we identified Env mutations that were predicted to select for specific antibody mutations in two HIV-1 bnAb B cell lineages. The Env mutations encoded antibody affinity gains and selected for desired antibody mutations in vivo. These results demonstrate proof-of-concept that Env immunogens can be designed to directly select for specific antibody mutations at residue-level precision by vaccination, thus demonstrating the feasibility of sequential bnAb-inducing HIV-1 vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory Henderson
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kara Anasti
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kartik Manne
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Victoria Stalls
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Carrie Saunders
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yishak Bililign
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Ashliegh Williams
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Pimthada Bubphamala
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Maya Montani
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sangita Kachhap
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jingjing Li
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Chuancang Jaing
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Amanda Newman
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Derek Cain
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Xiaozhi Lu
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sravani Venkatayogi
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Madison Berry
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kshitij Wagh
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
- The New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, 87544 USA
| | - Bette Korber
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
- The New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, 87544 USA
| | - Kevin O Saunders
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Ming Tian
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fred Alt
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Wiehe
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Priyamvada Acharya
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - S Munir Alam
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Barton F Haynes
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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7
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Stix R, Tan XF, Bae C, Fernández-Mariño AI, Swartz KJ, Faraldo-Gómez JD. Eukaryotic Kv channel Shaker inactivates through selectivity filter dilation rather than collapse. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj5539. [PMID: 38064553 PMCID: PMC10708196 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj5539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic voltage-gated K+ channels have been extensively studied, but the structural bases for some of their most salient functional features remain to be established. C-type inactivation, for example, is an auto-inhibitory mechanism that confers temporal resolution to their signal-firing activity. In a recent breakthrough, studies of a mutant of Shaker that is prone to inactivate indicated that this process entails a dilation of the selectivity filter, the narrowest part of the ion conduction pathway. Here, we report an atomic-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure that demonstrates that the wild-type channel can also adopt this dilated state. All-atom simulations corroborate this conformation is congruent with the electrophysiological characteristics of the C-type inactivated state, namely, residual K+ conductance and altered ion specificity, and help rationalize why inactivation is accelerated or impeded by certain mutations. In summary, this study establishes the molecular basis for an important self-regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic K+ channels, laying a solid foundation for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Stix
- Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Xiao-Feng Tan
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chanhyung Bae
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ana I. Fernández-Mariño
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kenton J. Swartz
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - José D. Faraldo-Gómez
- Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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8
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Koldsø H, Jensen MØ, Jogini V, Shaw DE. Functional dynamics and allosteric modulation of TRPA1. Structure 2023; 31:1556-1566.e3. [PMID: 37729917 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.08.018] [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: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The cation channel TRPA1 is a potentially important drug target, and characterization of TRPA1 functional dynamics might help guide structure-based drug design. Here, we present results from long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations of TRPA1 with an allosteric activator, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), in which we observed spontaneous transitions from a closed, non-conducting channel conformation into an open, conducting conformation. Based on these transitions, we propose a gating mechanism in which movement of a regulatory TRP-like domain allosterically translates into pore opening in a manner reminiscent of pore opening in voltage-gated ion channels. In subsequent experiments, we found that mutations that disrupt packing of the S4-S5 linker-TRP-like domain and the S5 and S6 helices also affected channel activity. In simulations, we also observed A-967079, a known allosteric inhibitor, binding between helices S5 and S6, suggesting that A-967079 may suppress activity by stabilizing a non-conducting pore conformation-a finding consistent with our proposed gating mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David E Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, NY 10036, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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9
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Rollins ZA, Faller R, George SC. A dynamic biomimetic model of the membrane-bound CD4-CD3-TCR complex during pMHC disengagement. Biophys J 2023; 122:3133-3145. [PMID: 37381600 PMCID: PMC10432225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The coordinated (dis)engagement of the membrane-bound T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3-CD4 complex from the peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) is fundamental to TCR signal transduction and T cell effector function. As such, an atomic-scale understanding would not only enhance our basic understanding of the adaptive immune response but would also accelerate the rational design of TCRs for immunotherapy. In this study, we explore the impact of the CD4 coreceptor on the TCR-pMHC (dis)engagement by constructing a molecular-level biomimetic model of the CD3-TCR-pMHC and CD4-CD3-TCR-pMHC complexes within a lipid bilayer. After allowing the system complexes to equilibrate (engage), we use steered molecular dynamics to dissociate (disengage) the pMHC. We find that 1) the CD4 confines the pMHC closer to the T cell by 1.8 nm at equilibrium; 2) CD4 confinement shifts the TCR along the MHC binding groove engaging a different set of amino acids and enhancing the TCR-pMHC bond lifetime; 3) the CD4 translocates under load increasing the interaction strength between the CD4-pMHC, CD4-TCR, and CD4-CD3; and 4) upon dissociation, the CD3-TCR complex undergoes structural oscillation and increased energetic fluctuation between the CD3-TCR and CD3-lipids. These atomic-level simulations provide mechanistic insight on how the CD4 coreceptor impacts TCR-pMHC (dis)engagement. More specifically, our results provide further support (enhanced bond lifetime) for a force-dependent kinetic proofreading model and identify an alternate set of amino acids in the TCR that dominate the TCR-pMHC interaction and could thus impact the design of TCRs for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Rollins
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Roland Faller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
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10
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Kaur G, Prajapat M, Singh H, Sarma P, Bhadada SK, Shekhar N, Sharma S, Sinha S, Kumar S, Prakash A, Medhi B. Investigating the novel-binding site of RPA2 on Menin and predicting the effect of point mutation of Menin through protein-protein interactions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9337. [PMID: 37291166 PMCID: PMC10250348 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35599-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play a critical role in all biological processes. Menin is tumor suppressor protein, mutated in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome and has been shown to interact with multiple transcription factors including (RPA2) subunit of replication protein A (RPA). RPA2, heterotrimeric protein required for DNA repair, recombination and replication. However, it's still remains unclear the specific amino acid residues that have been involved in Menin-RPA2 interaction. Thus, accurately predicting the specific amino acid involved in interaction and effects of MEN1 mutations on biological systems is of great interests. The experimental approaches for identifying amino acids in menin-RPA2 interactions are expensive, time-consuming, and challenging. This study leverages computational tools, free energy decomposition and configurational entropy scheme to annotate the menin-RPA2 interaction and effect on menin point mutation, thereby proposing a viable model of menin-RPA2 interaction. The menin-RPA2 interaction pattern was calculated on the basis of different 3D structures of menin and RPA2 complexes, constructed using homology modeling and docking strategy, generating three best-fit models: Model 8 (- 74.89 kJ/mol), Model 28 (- 92.04 kJ/mol) and Model 9 (- 100.4 kJ/mol). The molecular dynamic (MD) was performed for 200 ns and binding free energies and energy decomposition analysis were calculated using Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) in GROMACS. From binding free energy change, model 8 of Menin-RPA2 exhibited most negative binding energy of - 205.624 kJ/mol, followed by model 28 of Menin-RPA2 with - 177.382 kJ/mol. After S606F point mutation in Menin, increase of BFE (ΔGbind) by - 34.09 kJ/mol in Model 8 of mutant Menin-RPA2 occurs. Interestingly, we found a significant reduction of BFE (ΔGbind) and configurational entropy by - 97.54 kJ/mol and - 2618 kJ/mol in mutant model 28 as compared the o wild type. Collectively, this is the first study to highlight the configurational entropy of protein-protein interactions thereby strengthening the prediction of two significant important interaction sites in menin for the binding of RPA2. These predicted sites could be vulnerable for structural alternation in terms of binding free energy and configurational entropy after missense mutation in menin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurjeet Kaur
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Research Block B, 4th Floor, Lab No 4044, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Manisha Prajapat
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Research Block B, 4th Floor, Lab No 4044, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Harvinder Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Research Block B, 4th Floor, Lab No 4044, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Phulen Sarma
- Department of Pharmacology, AIIMS, Guwahati, India
| | - Sanjay Kumar Bhadada
- Department of Endocrinology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Nishant Shekhar
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Research Block B, 4th Floor, Lab No 4044, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Saurabh Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Research Block B, 4th Floor, Lab No 4044, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Shweta Sinha
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Subodh Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Research Block B, 4th Floor, Lab No 4044, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Ajay Prakash
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Research Block B, 4th Floor, Lab No 4044, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Bikash Medhi
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Research Block B, 4th Floor, Lab No 4044, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
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11
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Iida S, Kameda T. Dissociation Rate Calculation via Constant-Force Steered Molecular Dynamics Simulation. J Chem Inf Model 2023. [PMID: 37188657 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations are used to study molecular dissociation events by applying a harmonic force to the molecules and pulling them at a constant velocity. Instead of constant-velocity pulling, we use a constant force: the constant-force SMD (CF-SMD) simulation. The CF-SMD simulation employs a constant force to reduce the activation barrier of molecular dissociation, thereby enhancing the dissociation event. Here, we present the capability of the CF-SMD simulation to estimate the dissociation time at equilibrium. We performed all-atom CF-SMD simulations for NaCl and protein-ligand systems, producing dissociation time at various forces. We extrapolated these values to the dissociation rate without a constant force using Bell's model or the Dudko-Hummer-Szabo model. We demonstrate that the CF-SMD simulations with the models predicted the dissociation time in equilibrium. A CF-SMD simulation is a powerful tool for estimating the dissociation rate in a direct and computationally efficient manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Iida
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Tomoshi Kameda
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
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12
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Tillotson MJ, Diamantonis NI, Buda C, Bolton LW, Müller EA. Molecular modelling of the thermophysical properties of fluids: expectations, limitations, gaps and opportunities. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:12607-12628. [PMID: 37114325 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp05423j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript provides an overview of the current state of the art in terms of the molecular modelling of the thermophysical properties of fluids. It is intended to manage the expectations and serve as guidance to practising physical chemists, chemical physicists and engineers in terms of the scope and accuracy of the more commonly available intermolecular potentials along with the peculiarities of the software and methods employed in molecular simulations while providing insights on the gaps and opportunities available in this field. The discussion is focused around case studies which showcase both the precision and the limitations of frequently used workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J Tillotson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | | | | | | | - Erich A Müller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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13
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Aittoniemi J, Jensen MØ, Pan AC, Shaw DE. Desensitization dynamics of the AMPA receptor. Structure 2023:S0969-2126(23)00096-5. [PMID: 37059095 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
To perform their physiological functions, amino methyl propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) cycle through active, resting, and desensitized states, and dysfunction in AMPAR activity is associated with various neurological disorders. Transitions among AMPAR functional states, however, are largely uncharacterized at atomic resolution and are difficult to examine experimentally. Here, we report long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations of dimerized AMPAR ligand-binding domains (LBDs), whose conformational changes are tightly coupled to changes in AMPAR functional states, in which we observed LBD dimer activation and deactivation upon ligand binding and unbinding at atomic resolution. Importantly, we observed the ligand-bound LBD dimer transition from the active conformation to several other conformations, which may correspond with distinct desensitized conformations. We also identified a linker region whose structural rearrangements heavily affected the transitions to and among these putative desensitized conformations, and confirmed, using electrophysiology experiments, the importance of the linker region in these functional transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David E Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, NY 10036, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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14
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Wang J, Do HN, Koirala K, Miao Y. Predicting Biomolecular Binding Kinetics: A Review. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:2135-2148. [PMID: 36989090 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular binding kinetics including the association (kon) and dissociation (koff) rates are critical parameters for therapeutic design of small-molecule drugs, peptides, and antibodies. Notably, the drug molecule residence time or dissociation rate has been shown to correlate with their efficacies better than binding affinities. A wide range of modeling approaches including quantitative structure-kinetic relationship models, Molecular Dynamics simulations, enhanced sampling, and Machine Learning has been developed to explore biomolecular binding and dissociation mechanisms and predict binding kinetic rates. Here, we review recent advances in computational modeling of biomolecular binding kinetics, with an outlook for future improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinan Wang
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Hung N Do
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Kushal Koirala
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
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15
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Shin S, Willard AP. Quantifying the Molecular Polarization Response of Liquid Water Interfaces at Heterogeneously Charged Surfaces. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:1843-1852. [PMID: 36866865 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
The hydration shells of proteins mediate interactions, such as small molecule binding, that are vital to their biological function or in some cases their dysfunction. However, even when the structure of a protein is known, the properties of its hydration environment cannot be easily predicted due to the complex interplay between protein surface heterogeneity and the collective structure of water's hydrogen bonding network. This manuscript presents a theoretical study of the influence of surface charge heterogeneity on the polarization response of the liquid water interface. We focus our attention on classical point charge models of water, where the polarization response is limited to molecular reorientation. We introduce a new computational method for analyzing simulation data that is capable of quantifying water's collective polarization response and determining the effective surface charge distribution of hydrated surfaces over atomistic length scales. To illustrate the utility of this method, we present the results of molecular dynamics simulations of liquid water in contact with a heterogeneous model surface and the CheY protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sucheol Shin
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Adam P Willard
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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16
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Kumar P, Kumar A, Garg N, Giri R. An insight into SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein interaction with spike, envelope, and nucleocapsid proteins. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:1062-1071. [PMID: 34913847 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2016490] [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] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Intraviral protein-protein interactions are crucial for replication, pathogenicity, and viral assembly. Among these, virus assembly is a critical step as it regulates the arrangements of viral structural proteins and helps in the encapsulation of genomic material. SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins play an essential role in the self-rearrangement, RNA encapsulation, and mature virus particle formation. In SARS-CoV, the membrane protein interacts with the envelope and spike protein in Endoplasmic Reticulum Golgi Intermediate Complex (ERGIC) to form an assembly in the lipid bilayer, followed by membrane-ribonucleoprotein (nucleocapsid) interaction. In this study, we tried to understand the interaction of membrane protein's interaction with envelope, spike, and nucleocapsid proteins using protein-protein docking. Further, simulation studies were performed up to 100 ns to examine the stability of protein-protein complexes of Membrane-Envelope, Membrane-Spike, and Membrane-Nucleocapsid proteins. Prime MM-GBSA showed high binding energy calculations for the simulated structures than the docked complex. The interactions identified in our study will be of great importance, as it provides valuable insight into the protein-protein complex, which could be the potential drug targets for future studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prateek Kumar
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Neha Garg
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajanish Giri
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
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17
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Park YC, Reddy B, Bavi N, Perozo E, Faraldo-Gómez JD. State-specific morphological deformations of the lipid bilayer explain mechanosensitive gating of MscS ion channels. eLife 2023; 12:81445. [PMID: 36715097 PMCID: PMC9925053 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The force-from-lipids hypothesis of cellular mechanosensation posits that membrane channels open and close in response to changes in the physical state of the lipid bilayer, induced for example by lateral tension. Here, we investigate the molecular basis for this transduction mechanism by studying the mechanosensitive ion channel MscS from Escherichia coli and its eukaryotic homolog MSL1 from Arabidopsis thaliana. First, we use single-particle cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure of a novel open conformation of wild-type MscS, stabilized in a thinned lipid nanodisc. Compared with the closed state, the structure shows a reconfiguration of helices TM1, TM2, and TM3a, and widening of the central pore. Based on these structures, we examined how the morphology of the membrane is altered upon gating, using molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations reveal that closed-state MscS causes drastic protrusions in the inner leaflet of the lipid bilayer, both in the absence and presence of lateral tension, and for different lipid compositions. These deformations arise to provide adequate solvation to hydrophobic crevices under the TM1-TM2 hairpin, and clearly reflect a high-energy conformation for the membrane, particularly under tension. Strikingly, these protrusions are largely eradicated upon channel opening. An analogous computational study of open and closed MSL1 recapitulates these findings. The gating equilibrium of MscS channels thus appears to be dictated by opposing conformational preferences, namely those of the lipid membrane and of the protein structure. We propose a membrane deformation model of mechanosensation, which posits that tension shifts the gating equilibrium towards the conductive state not because it alters the mode in which channel and lipids interact, but because it increases the energetic cost of the morphological perturbations in the membrane required by the closed state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yein Christina Park
- Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Bharat Reddy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Navid Bavi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Eduardo Perozo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - José D Faraldo-Gómez
- Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
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18
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Tunjic TM, Weber N, Brunsteiner M. Computer aided drug design in the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2058-2067. [PMID: 36968015 PMCID: PMC10030821 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.02.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras represent a class of drug molecules with a number of attractive properties, most notably a potential to work for targets that, so far, have been in-accessible for conventional small molecule inhibitors. Due to their different mechanism of action, and physico-chemical properties, many of the methods that have been designed and applied for computer aided design of traditional small molecule drugs are not applicable for proteolysis targeting chimeras. Here we review recent developments in this field focusing on three aspects: de-novo linker-design, estimation of absorption for beyond-rule-of-5 compounds, and the generation and ranking of ternary complex structures. In spite of this field still being young, we find that a good number of models and algorithms are available, with the potential to assist the design of such compounds in-silico, and accelerate applied pharmaceutical research.
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19
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Large interfacial relocation in RBD-ACE2 complex may explain fast-spreading property of Omicron. J Mol Struct 2022; 1270:133842. [PMID: 35937157 PMCID: PMC9339243 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 emerged in South African in late 2021. This variant has a large number of mutations, and regarded as fastest-spreading Covid variant. The spike RBD region of SARS-CoV-2 and its interaction with human ACE2 play fundamental role in viral infection and transmission. To explore the reason of fast-spreading properties of Omicron variant, we have modeled the interactions of Omicron RBD and human ACE2 using docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Results show that RBD-ACE2 binding site may drastically relocate with an enlarged interface. The predicted interface has large negative binding energies and shows stable conformation in molecular dynamics simulations. It was found that the interfacial area in Omicron RBD-ACE2 complex is increased up to 40% in comparison to wild-type Sars-Cov-2. Moreover, the number of hydrogen bonds significantly increased up to 80%. The key interacting residues become also very different in Omicron variant. The new binding interface can significantly accommodate R403, as a key RBD residue, near ACE2 surface which leads to two new strong salt bridges. The exploration of the new binding interface can help to understand the reasons of high transmission rate of Omicron.
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20
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Docking-based long timescale simulation of cell-size protein systems at atomic resolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2210249119. [PMID: 36191203 PMCID: PMC9565162 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210249119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in computational modeling have led to an increasing focus on larger biomolecular systems, up to the level of a cell. Protein interactions are a central component of cellular processes. Techniques for modeling protein interactions have been divided between two fields: protein docking (predicting the static structures of protein complexes) and molecular simulation (modeling the dynamics of protein association, for relatively short simulation times at atomic resolution). Our study combined the two approaches to reach very long simulation times. The study makes the model more adequate to the real cells, to explore cellular processes at atomic resolution to better understand molecular mechanisms of life, and to use this knowledge to improve our ability to treat diseases. Computational methodologies are increasingly addressing modeling of the whole cell at the molecular level. Proteins and their interactions are the key component of cellular processes. Techniques for modeling protein interactions, thus far, have included protein docking and molecular simulation. The latter approaches account for the dynamics of the interactions but are relatively slow, if carried out at all-atom resolution, or are significantly coarse grained. Protein docking algorithms are far more efficient in sampling spatial coordinates. However, they do not account for the kinetics of the association (i.e., they do not involve the time coordinate). Our proof-of-concept study bridges the two modeling approaches, developing an approach that can reach unprecedented simulation timescales at all-atom resolution. The global intermolecular energy landscape of a large system of proteins was mapped by the pairwise fast Fourier transform docking and sampled in space and time by Monte Carlo simulations. The simulation protocol was parametrized on existing data and validated on a number of observations from experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation protocol performed consistently across very different systems of proteins at different protein concentrations. It recapitulated data on the previously observed protein diffusion rates and aggregation. The speed of calculation allows reaching second-long trajectories of protein systems that approach the size of the cells, at atomic resolution.
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21
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Martin J, Frezza E. A dynamical view of protein-protein complexes: Studies by molecular dynamics simulations. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:970109. [PMID: 36275619 PMCID: PMC9583002 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.970109] [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: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions are at the basis of many protein functions, and the knowledge of 3D structures of protein-protein complexes provides structural, mechanical and dynamical pieces of information essential to understand these functions. Protein-protein interfaces can be seen as stable, organized regions where residues from different partners form non-covalent interactions that are responsible for interaction specificity and strength. They are commonly described as a peripheral region, whose role is to protect the core region that concentrates the most contributing interactions, from the solvent. To get insights into the dynamics of protein-protein complexes, we carried out all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent on eight different protein-protein complexes of different functional class and interface size by taking into account the bound and unbound forms. On the one hand, we characterized structural changes upon binding of the proteins, and on the other hand we extensively analyzed the interfaces and the structural waters involved in the binding. Based on our analysis, in 6 cases out of 8, the interfaces rearranged during the simulation time, in stable and long-lived substates with alternative residue-residue contacts. These rearrangements are not restricted to side-chain fluctuations in the periphery but also affect the core interface. Finally, the analysis of the waters at the interface and involved in the binding pointed out the importance to take into account their role in the estimation of the interaction strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Martin
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5086 MMSB, Lyon, France
- *Correspondence: Juliette Martin, ; Elisa Frezza,
| | - Elisa Frezza
- Université Paris Cité, CiTCoM, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Juliette Martin, ; Elisa Frezza,
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22
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Qing R, Hao S, Smorodina E, Jin D, Zalevsky A, Zhang S. Protein Design: From the Aspect of Water Solubility and Stability. Chem Rev 2022; 122:14085-14179. [PMID: 35921495 PMCID: PMC9523718 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Water solubility and structural stability are key merits for proteins defined by the primary sequence and 3D-conformation. Their manipulation represents important aspects of the protein design field that relies on the accurate placement of amino acids and molecular interactions, guided by underlying physiochemical principles. Emulated designer proteins with well-defined properties both fuel the knowledge-base for more precise computational design models and are used in various biomedical and nanotechnological applications. The continuous developments in protein science, increasing computing power, new algorithms, and characterization techniques provide sophisticated toolkits for solubility design beyond guess work. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the protein design field with respect to water solubility and structural stability. After introducing fundamental design rules, we discuss the transmembrane protein solubilization and de novo transmembrane protein design. Traditional strategies to enhance protein solubility and structural stability are introduced. The designs of stable protein complexes and high-order assemblies are covered. Computational methodologies behind these endeavors, including structure prediction programs, machine learning algorithms, and specialty software dedicated to the evaluation of protein solubility and aggregation, are discussed. The findings and opportunities for Cryo-EM are presented. This review provides an overview of significant progress and prospects in accurate protein design for solubility and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Qing
- State
Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and
Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Media
Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The
David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Shilei Hao
- Media
Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Key
Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Eva Smorodina
- Department
of Immunology, University of Oslo and Oslo
University Hospital, Oslo 0424, Norway
| | - David Jin
- Avalon GloboCare
Corp., Freehold, New Jersey 07728, United States
| | - Arthur Zalevsky
- Laboratory
of Bioinformatics Approaches in Combinatorial Chemistry and Biology, Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic
Chemistry RAS, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Shuguang Zhang
- Media
Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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23
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Abstract
The association of polyelectrolytes (PEs) in solution affects a wealth of structural and dynamic behaviors, and is also fundamentally important for an understanding of protein association and aggregation. Here, we theoretically study the association of two PE chains by addressing the stability and morphology of the non-spherical associates. Our theory predicts that an elongated pearl-necklace (PN) associate can be stable at high salt concentrations due to the screened electrostatic repulsion. This contradicts the implication of scaling theory. In addition, there is no one-to-one correspondence between the morphology of the associate and its constituting unimers, which is demonstrated by the existence of different association modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Duan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
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24
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Dynamic stability of salt stable cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid protein dimers and pentamers of dimers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14251. [PMID: 35995818 PMCID: PMC9395436 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediates of the self-assembly process of the salt stable cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (ss-CCMV) capsid can be modelled atomistically on realistic computational timescales either by studying oligomers in equilibrium or by focusing on their dissociation instead of their association. Our previous studies showed that among the three possible dimer interfaces in the icosahedral capsid, two are thermodynamically relevant for capsid formation. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the relative structural stabilities of the three different ss-CCMV dimers and to find and understand the conditions that lead to their dissociation. Long timescale molecular dynamics simulations at 300 K of the various dimers and of the pentamer of dimers underscore the importance of large contact surfaces on stabilizing the capsid subunits within an oligomer. Simulations in implicit solvent show that at higher temperature (350 K), the N-terminal tails of the protein units act as tethers, delaying dissociation for all but the most stable interface. The pentamer of dimers is also found to be stable on long timescales at 300 K, with an inherent flexibility of the outer protein chains.
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25
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Nguyen S, Jovcevski B, Truong JQ, Pukala TL, Bruning JB. A structural model of the human plasminogen and
Aspergillus fumigatus
enolase complex. Proteins 2022; 90:1509-1520. [DOI: 10.1002/prot.26331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Nguyen
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Blagojce Jovcevski
- Adelaide Proteomics Centre, School of Physical Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Jia Q. Truong
- Adelaide Proteomics Centre, School of Physical Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Tara L. Pukala
- Adelaide Proteomics Centre, School of Physical Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - John B. Bruning
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
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26
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Xia K, Shen H, Wang P, Tan R, Xun D. Investigation of the conformation of human prion protein in ethanol solution using molecular dynamics simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022:1-10. [PMID: 35838152 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2099466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
When the conformation of protein is changed from its natural state to a misfolded state, some diseases will happen like prion disease. Prion diseases are a set of deadly neurodegenerative diseases caused by prion protein misfolding and aggregation. Monohydric alcohols have a strong influence on the structure of protein. However, whether monohydric alcohols inhibit amyloid fibrosis remains uncertain. Here, to elucidate the effect of ethanol on the structural stability of human prion protein, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze the conformational changes and dynamics characteristics of human prion proteins at different temperatures. The results show that the extension of β-sheet occurs more easily and the α-helix is more easily disrupted at high temperatures. We found that ethanol can destroy the hydrophobic interactions and make the hydrogen bonds stable, which protects the secondary structure of the protein, especially at 500 K.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Xia
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Haolei Shen
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Rongri Tan
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Damao Xun
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
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27
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Blazhynska M, Goulard Coderc de Lacam E, Chen H, Roux B, Chipot C. Hazardous Shortcuts in Standard Binding Free Energy Calculations. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:6250-6258. [PMID: 35771686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Calculating the standard binding free energies of protein-protein and protein-ligand complexes from atomistic molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent is a problem of central importance in computational biophysics. A rigorous strategy for carrying out such calculations is the so-called "geometrical route". In this method, two molecular objects are progressively separated from one another in the presence of orientational and conformational restraints serving to control the change in configurational entropy that accompanies the dissociation process, thereby allowing the computations to converge within simulations of affordable length. Although the geometrical route provides a rigorous theoretical framework, a tantalizing computational shortcut consists of simply leaving out such orientational and conformational degrees of freedom during the separation process. Here the accuracy and convergence of the two approaches are critically compared in the case of two protein-ligand complexes (Abl kinase-SH3:p41 and MDM2-p53:NVP-CGM097) and three protein-protein complexes (pig insulin dimer, SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD:ACE2, and CheA kinase-P2:CheY). The results of the simulations that strictly follow the geometrical route match the experimental standard binding free energies within chemical accuracy. In contrast, simulations bereft of geometrical restraints converge more poorly, yielding inconsistent results that are at variance with the experimental measurements. Furthermore, the orientational and positional time correlation functions of the protein in the unrestrained simulations decay over several microseconds, a time scale that is far longer than the typical simulation times of the geometrical route, which explains why those simulations fail to sample the relevant degrees of freedom during the separation process of the complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marharyta Blazhynska
- Laboratoire International Associé Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7019, Université de Lorraine, B.P. 70239, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France
| | - Emma Goulard Coderc de Lacam
- Laboratoire International Associé Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7019, Université de Lorraine, B.P. 70239, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France
| | - Haochuan Chen
- Laboratoire International Associé Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7019, Université de Lorraine, B.P. 70239, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France
| | - Benoît Roux
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, W225, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Christophe Chipot
- Laboratoire International Associé Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7019, Université de Lorraine, B.P. 70239, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, W225, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, Beckman Institute, and Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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28
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Xu H, Palpant T, Weinberger C, Shaw DE. Characterizing Receptor Flexibility to Predict Mutations That Lead to Human Adaptation of Influenza Hemagglutinin. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:4995-5005. [PMID: 35815857 PMCID: PMC9367001 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c01044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
A key step in the
emergence of human pandemic influenza strains
has been a switch in binding preference of the viral glycoprotein
hemagglutinin (HA) from avian to human sialic acid (SA) receptors.
The conformation of the bound SA varies substantially with HA sequence,
and crystallographic evidence suggests that the bound SA is flexible,
making it difficult to predict which mutations are responsible for
changing HA-binding preference. We performed molecular dynamics (MD)
simulations of SA analogues binding to various HAs and observed a
dynamic equilibrium among structurally diverse receptor conformations,
including conformations that have not been experimentally observed.
Using one such novel conformation, we predicted—and experimentally
confirmed—a set of mutations that substantially increased an
HA’s affinity for a human SA analogue. This prediction could
not have been inferred from the existing crystal structures, suggesting
that MD-generated HA–SA conformational ensembles could help
researchers predict human-adaptive mutations, aiding surveillance
of emerging pandemic threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huafeng Xu
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | - Timothy Palpant
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | - Cody Weinberger
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | - David E Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, United States
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29
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Nandigrami P, Szczepaniak F, Boughter CT, Dehez F, Chipot C, Roux B. Computational Assessment of Protein-Protein Binding Specificity within a Family of Synaptic Surface Receptors. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:7510-7527. [PMID: 35787023 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c02173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Atomic-level information is essential to explain the formation of specific protein complexes in terms of structure and dynamics. The set of Dpr and DIP proteins, which play a key role in the neuromorphogenesis in the nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster, offer a rich paradigm to learn about protein-protein recognition. Many members of the DIP subfamily cross-react with several members of the Dpr family and vice versa. While there exists a total of 231 possible Dpr-DIP heterodimer complexes from the 21 Dpr and 11 DIP proteins, only 57 "cognate" pairs have been detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments, suggesting that the remaining 174 pairs have low or unreliable binding affinity. Our goal is to assess the performance of computational approaches to characterize the global set of interactions between Dpr and DIP proteins and identify the specificity of binding between each DIP with their corresponding Dpr binding partners. In addition, we aim to characterize how mutations influence the specificity of the binding interaction. In this work, a wide range of knowledge-based and physics-based approaches are utilized, including mutual information, linear discriminant analysis, homology modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, Poisson-Boltzmann continuum electrostatics calculations, and alchemical free energy perturbation to decipher the origin of binding specificity of the Dpr-DIP complexes examined. Ultimately, the results show that those two broad strategies are complementary, with different strengths and limitations. Biological inter-relations are more clearly revealed through knowledge-based approaches combining evolutionary and structural features, the molecular determinants controlling binding specificity can be predicted accurately with physics-based approaches based on atomic models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prithviraj Nandigrami
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Florence Szczepaniak
- Unité Mixte de Recherche No. 7019, Université de Lorraine, B.P. 70239, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy cedex, France
| | - Christopher T Boughter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - François Dehez
- Unité Mixte de Recherche No. 7019, Université de Lorraine, B.P. 70239, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy cedex, France
| | - Christophe Chipot
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, NIH Center for Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61820, United States.,Laboratoire International Associé Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Unité Mixte de Recherche No. 7019, Université de Lorraine, B.P. 70239, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy cedex, France.,Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61820, United States
| | - Benoît Roux
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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30
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Jones D, Allen JE, Yang Y, Drew Bennett WF, Gokhale M, Moshiri N, Rosing TS. Accelerators for Classical Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Biomolecules. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:4047-4069. [PMID: 35710099 PMCID: PMC9281402 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c01214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations provide researchers the ability to model biomolecular structures such as proteins and their interactions with drug-like small molecules with greater spatiotemporal resolution than is otherwise possible using experimental methods. MD simulations are notoriously expensive computational endeavors that have traditionally required massive investment in specialized hardware to access biologically relevant spatiotemporal scales. Our goal is to summarize the fundamental algorithms that are employed in the literature to then highlight the challenges that have affected accelerator implementations in practice. We consider three broad categories of accelerators: Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). These categories are comparatively studied to facilitate discussion of their relative trade-offs and to gain context for the current state of the art. We conclude by providing insights into the potential of emerging hardware platforms and algorithms for MD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Jones
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States.,Global Security Computing Applications Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Jonathan E Allen
- Global Security Computing Applications Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Yue Yang
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - William F Drew Bennett
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Maya Gokhale
- Center for Applied Scientific Computing, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Niema Moshiri
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Tajana S Rosing
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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31
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Ahmad K, Rizzi A, Capelli R, Mandelli D, Lyu W, Carloni P. Enhanced-Sampling Simulations for the Estimation of Ligand Binding Kinetics: Current Status and Perspective. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:899805. [PMID: 35755817 PMCID: PMC9216551 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.899805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The dissociation rate (k off) associated with ligand unbinding events from proteins is a parameter of fundamental importance in drug design. Here we review recent major advancements in molecular simulation methodologies for the prediction of k off. Next, we discuss the impact of the potential energy function models on the accuracy of calculated k off values. Finally, we provide a perspective from high-performance computing and machine learning which might help improve such predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katya Ahmad
- Computational Biomedicine (IAS-5/INM-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Andrea Rizzi
- Computational Biomedicine (IAS-5/INM-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Atomistic Simulations, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Riccardo Capelli
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Davide Mandelli
- Computational Biomedicine (IAS-5/INM-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Wenping Lyu
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Paolo Carloni
- Computational Biomedicine (IAS-5/INM-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (INM-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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32
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Induced fit with replica exchange improves protein complex structure prediction. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010124. [PMID: 35658008 PMCID: PMC9200320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the progress in prediction of protein complexes over the last decade, recent blind protein complex structure prediction challenges revealed limited success rates (less than 20% models with DockQ score > 0.4) on targets that exhibit significant conformational change upon binding. To overcome limitations in capturing backbone motions, we developed a new, aggressive sampling method that incorporates temperature replica exchange Monte Carlo (T-REMC) and conformational sampling techniques within docking protocols in Rosetta. Our method, ReplicaDock 2.0, mimics induced-fit mechanism of protein binding to sample backbone motions across putative interface residues on-the-fly, thereby recapitulating binding-partner induced conformational changes. Furthermore, ReplicaDock 2.0 clocks in at 150-500 CPU hours per target (protein-size dependent); a runtime that is significantly faster than Molecular Dynamics based approaches. For a benchmark set of 88 proteins with moderate to high flexibility (unbound-to-bound iRMSD over 1.2 Å), ReplicaDock 2.0 successfully docks 61% of moderately flexible complexes and 35% of highly flexible complexes. Additionally, we demonstrate that by biasing backbone sampling particularly towards residues comprising flexible loops or hinge domains, highly flexible targets can be predicted to under 2 Å accuracy. This indicates that additional gains are possible when mobile protein segments are known.
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33
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Paiva VDA, Gomes IDS, Monteiro CR, Mendonça MV, Martins PM, Santana CA, Gonçalves-Almeida V, Izidoro SC, Melo-Minardi RCD, Silveira SDA. Protein structural bioinformatics: An overview. Comput Biol Med 2022; 147:105695. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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34
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Jain S, Sekhar A. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying protein conformational switching using NMR spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE OPEN 2022; 10-11:100034. [PMID: 35586549 PMCID: PMC7612731 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmro.2022.100034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
How proteins switch between various ligand-free and ligand-bound structures has been a key biophysical question ever since the postulation of the Monod-Wyman-Changeux and Koshland-Nemethy-Filmer models over six decades ago. The ability of NMR spectroscopy to provide structural and kinetic information on biomolecular conformational exchange places it in a unique position as an analytical tool to interrogate the mechanisms of biological processes such as protein folding and biomolecular complex formation. In addition, recent methodological developments in the areas of saturation transfer and relaxation dispersion have expanded the scope of NMR for probing the mechanics of transitions in systems where one or more states constituting the exchange process are sparsely populated and 'invisible' in NMR spectra. In this review, we highlight some of the strategies available from NMR spectroscopy for examining the nature of multi-site conformational exchange, using five case studies that have employed NMR, either in isolation, or in conjunction with other biophysical tools.
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35
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Chen CH, Liu Y, Eskandari A, Ghimire J, Lin LC, Fang Z, Wimley WC, Ulmschneider JP, Suntharalingam K, Hu CJ, Ulmschneider MB. Integrated Design of a Membrane-Lytic Peptide-Based Intravenous Nanotherapeutic Suppresses Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105506. [PMID: 35246961 PMCID: PMC9069370 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-lytic peptides offer broad synthetic flexibilities and design potential to the arsenal of anticancer therapeutics, which can be limited by cytotoxicity to noncancerous cells and induction of drug resistance via stress-induced mutagenesis. Despite continued research efforts on membrane-perforating peptides for antimicrobial applications, success in anticancer peptide therapeutics remains elusive given the muted distinction between cancerous and normal cell membranes and the challenge of peptide degradation and neutralization upon intravenous delivery. Using triple-negative breast cancer as a model, the authors report the development of a new class of anticancer peptides. Through function-conserving mutations, the authors achieved cancer cell selective membrane perforation, with leads exhibiting a 200-fold selectivity over non-cancerogenic cells and superior cytotoxicity over doxorubicin against breast cancer tumorspheres. Upon continuous exposure to the anticancer peptides at growth-arresting concentrations, cancer cells do not exhibit resistance phenotype, frequently observed under chemotherapeutic treatment. The authors further demonstrate efficient encapsulation of the anticancer peptides in 20 nm polymeric nanocarriers, which possess high tolerability and lead to effective tumor growth inhibition in a mouse model of MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer. This work demonstrates a multidisciplinary approach for enabling translationally relevant membrane-lytic peptides in oncology, opening up a vast chemical repertoire to the arms race against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H. Chen
- Department of ChemistryKing's College LondonLondonSE1 1DBUK
- Synthetic Biology GroupResearch Laboratory of ElectronicsMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Yu‐Han Liu
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei115Taiwan
| | | | - Jenisha Ghimire
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLA70112USA
| | | | - Zih‐Syun Fang
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei115Taiwan
| | - William C. Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLA70112USA
| | - Jakob P. Ulmschneider
- Department of PhysicsInstitute of Natural SciencesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
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36
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Schöller A, Kearns F, Woodcock HL, Boresch S. Optimizing the Calculation of Free Energy Differences in Nonequilibrium Work SQM/MM Switching Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:2798-2811. [PMID: 35404610 PMCID: PMC9036525 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c00696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A key step during indirect alchemical free energy simulations using quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) hybrid potential energy functions is the calculation of the free energy difference ΔAlow→high between the low level (e.g., pure MM) and the high level of theory (QM/MM). A reliable approach uses nonequilibrium work (NEW) switching simulations in combination with Jarzynski's equation; however, it is computationally expensive. In this study, we investigate whether it is more efficient to use more shorter switches or fewer but longer switches. We compare results obtained with various protocols to reference free energy differences calculated with Crooks' equation. The central finding is that fewer longer switches give better converged results. As few as 200 sufficiently long switches lead to ΔAlow→high values in good agreement with the reference results. This optimized protocol reduces the computational cost by a factor of 40 compared to earlier work. We also describe two tools/ways of analyzing the raw data to detect sources of poor convergence. Specifically, we find it helpful to analyze the raw data (work values from the NEW switching simulations) in a quasi-time series-like manner. Principal component analysis helps to detect cases where one or more conformational degrees of freedom are different at the low and high level of theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schöller
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Department of Computational Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Vienna
Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem), University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Fiona Kearns
- Department
of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CHE205, Tampa, Florida 33620-5250, United States
| | - H. Lee Woodcock
- Department
of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CHE205, Tampa, Florida 33620-5250, United States
| | - Stefan Boresch
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Department of Computational Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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37
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Ngo ST. 501Y.V2 spike protein resists the neutralizing antibody in atomistic simulations. Comput Biol Chem 2022; 97:107636. [PMID: 35066438 PMCID: PMC8769535 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107636] [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: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks worldwide caused COVID-19 pandemic, which is related to several million deaths. In particular, SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein is a major biological target for COVID-19 vaccine design. Unfortunately, recent reports indicated that Spike (S) protein mutations can lead to antibody resistance. However, understanding the process is limited, especially at the atomic scale. The structural change of S protein and neutralizing antibody fragment (FAb) complexes was thus probed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In particular, the backbone RMSD of the 501Y.V2 complex was significantly larger than that of the wild-type one implying a large structural change of the mutation system. Moreover, the mean of Rg, CCS, and SASA are almost the same when compared two complexes, but the distributions of these values are absolutely different. Furthermore, the free energy landscape of the complexes was significantly changed when the 501Y.V2 variant was induced. The binding pose between S protein and FAb was thus altered. The FAb-binding affinity to S protein was thus reduced due to revealing over steered-MD (SMD) simulations. The observation is in good agreement with the respective experiment that the 501Y.V2 SARS-CoV-2 variant can escape from neutralizing antibody (NAb).
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38
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Tan XF, Bae C, Stix R, Fernández-Mariño AI, Huffer K, Chang TH, Jiang J, Faraldo-Gómez JD, Swartz KJ. Structure of the Shaker Kv channel and mechanism of slow C-type inactivation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm7814. [PMID: 35302848 PMCID: PMC8932672 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm7814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-activated potassium (Kv) channels open upon membrane depolarization and proceed to spontaneously inactivate. Inactivation controls neuronal firing rates and serves as a form of short-term memory and is implicated in various human neurological disorders. Here, we use high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy and computer simulations to determine one of the molecular mechanisms underlying this physiologically crucial process. Structures of the activated Shaker Kv channel and of its W434F mutant in lipid bilayers demonstrate that C-type inactivation entails the dilation of the ion selectivity filter and the repositioning of neighboring residues known to be functionally critical. Microsecond-scale molecular dynamics trajectories confirm that these changes inhibit rapid ion permeation through the channel. This long-sought breakthrough establishes how eukaryotic K+ channels self-regulate their functional state through the plasticity of their selectivity filters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Feng Tan
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chanhyung Bae
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Robyn Stix
- Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Ana I. Fernández-Mariño
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kate Huffer
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Tsg-Hui Chang
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jiansen Jiang
- Laboratory of Membrane Proteins and Structural Biology and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - José D. Faraldo-Gómez
- Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kenton J. Swartz
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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39
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Wang J, Miao Y. Protein-Protein Interaction-Gaussian Accelerated Molecular Dynamics (PPI-GaMD): Characterization of Protein Binding Thermodynamics and Kinetics. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:1275-1285. [PMID: 35099970 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play key roles in many fundamental biological processes such as cellular signaling and immune responses. However, it has proven challenging to simulate repetitive protein association and dissociation in order to calculate binding free energies and kinetics of PPIs due to long biological timescales and complex protein dynamics. To address this challenge, we have developed a new computational approach to all-atom simulations of PPIs based on a robust Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) technique. The method, termed "PPI-GaMD", selectively boosts interaction potential energy between protein partners to facilitate their slow dissociation. Meanwhile, another boost potential is applied to the remaining potential energy of the entire system to effectively model the protein's flexibility and rebinding. PPI-GaMD has been demonstrated on a model system of the ribonuclease barnase interactions with its inhibitor barstar. Six independent 2 μs PPI-GaMD simulations have captured repetitive barstar dissociation and rebinding events, which enable calculations of the protein binding thermodynamics and kinetics simultaneously. The calculated binding free energies and kinetic rate constants agree well with the experimental data. Furthermore, PPI-GaMD simulations have provided mechanistic insights into barstar binding to barnase, which involves long-range electrostatic interactions and multiple binding pathways, being consistent with previous experimental and computational findings of this model system. In summary, PPI-GaMD provides a highly efficient and easy-to-use approach for binding free energy and kinetics calculations of PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinan Wang
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
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40
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Shan Y, Mysore VP, Leffler AE, Kim ET, Sagawa S, Shaw DE. How does a small molecule bind at a cryptic binding site? PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009817. [PMID: 35239648 PMCID: PMC8893328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are ubiquitous biomolecular processes that are central to virtually all aspects of cellular function. Identifying small molecules that modulate specific disease-related PPIs is a strategy with enormous promise for drug discovery. The design of drugs to disrupt PPIs is challenging, however, because many potential drug-binding sites at PPI interfaces are “cryptic”: When unoccupied by a ligand, cryptic sites are often flat and featureless, and thus not readily recognizable in crystal structures, with the geometric and chemical characteristics of typical small-molecule binding sites only emerging upon ligand binding. The rational design of small molecules to inhibit specific PPIs would benefit from a better understanding of how such molecules bind at PPI interfaces. To this end, we have conducted unbiased, all-atom MD simulations of the binding of four small-molecule inhibitors (SP4206 and three SP4206 analogs) to interleukin 2 (IL2)—which performs its function by forming a PPI with its receptor—without incorporating any prior structural information about the ligands’ binding. In multiple binding events, a small molecule settled into a stable binding pose at the PPI interface of IL2, resulting in a protein–small-molecule binding site and pose virtually identical to that observed in an existing crystal structure of the IL2-SP4206 complex. Binding of the small molecule stabilized the IL2 binding groove, which when the small molecule was not bound emerged only transiently and incompletely. Moreover, free energy perturbation (FEP) calculations successfully distinguished between the native and non-native IL2–small-molecule binding poses found in the simulations, suggesting that binding simulations in combination with FEP may provide an effective tool for identifying cryptic binding sites and determining the binding poses of small molecules designed to disrupt PPI interfaces by binding to such sites. Small-molecule drugs typically function by binding to and modulating the biological activity of their protein targets. Drug-binding sites resemble pockets or grooves on the surface of the target protein, and are generally present even when the drug is not bound. In the case of “cryptic” binding sites, however, the pocket or groove only takes shape during the drug-binding process, prior to which the geometric features of a typical binding site are absent. Cryptic sites commonly occur at protein-protein interfaces, for example, so targeting such sites could facilitate the design of drugs capable of modulating specific protein-protein interactions—an approach with great therapeutic potential. In practice, targeting cryptic sites is typically difficult, in part because much less is known about how small molecules bind to cryptic sites than to conventional sites. In the work reported here, we used molecular dynamics simulations to study the process of a drug binding at a cryptic binding site, and showed that simulations are capable of predicting the location and geometry of a drug binding. The improved understanding of how small molecules bind at cryptic sites afforded by approaches like the one presented here could aid the rational design of small molecules that target such sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibing Shan
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (YS); (DES)
| | | | - Abba E. Leffler
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Eric T. Kim
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Shiori Sagawa
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - David E. Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (YS); (DES)
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41
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Faruk NF, Peng X, Freed KF, Roux B, Sosnick TR. Challenges and Advantages of Accounting for Backbone Flexibility in Prediction of Protein-Protein Complexes. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:2016-2032. [PMID: 35213808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c01255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Predicting protein binding is a core problem of computational biophysics. That this objective can be partly achieved with some amount of success using docking algorithms based on rigid protein models is remarkable, although going further requires allowing for protein flexibility. However, accurately capturing the conformational changes upon binding remains an enduring challenge for docking algorithms. Here, we adapt our Upside folding model, where side chains are represented as multi-position beads, to explore how flexibility may impact predictions of protein-protein complexes. Specifically, the Upside model is used to investigate where backbone flexibility helps, which types of interactions are important, and what is the impact of coarse graining. These efforts also shed light on the relative challenges posed by folding and docking. After training the Upside energy function for docking, the model is competitive with the established all-atom methods. However, allowing for backbone flexibility during docking is generally detrimental, as the presence of comparatively minor (3-5 Å) deviations relative to the docked structure has a large negative effect on performance. While this issue appears to be inherent to current forcefield-guided flexible docking methods, systems involving the co-folding of flexible loops such as antibody-antigen complexes represent an interesting exception. In this case, binding is improved when backbone flexibility is allowed using the Upside model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabil F Faruk
- Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Xiangda Peng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Karl F Freed
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Benoît Roux
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Tobin R Sosnick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.,Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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42
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Chaudhary Y, Bhimalapuram P. Insulin aspart dimer dissociation in water. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:105106. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0078738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yagya Chaudhary
- International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad, India
| | - Prabhakar Bhimalapuram
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad, India
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43
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Bivalent recognition of fatty acyl-CoA by a human integral membrane palmitoyltransferase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2022050119. [PMID: 35140179 PMCID: PMC8851515 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022050119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein palmitoylation is one of the most highly abundant protein modifications, through which long-chain fatty acids get attached to cysteines by a thioester linkage. It plays critically important roles in growth signaling, the organization of synaptic receptors, and the regulation of ion channel function. Yet the molecular mechanism of the DHHC family of integral membrane enzymes that catalyze this modification remains poorly understood. Here, we present the structure of a precatalytic complex of human DHHC20 with palmitoyl CoA. Together with the accompanying functional data, the structure shows how a bivalent recognition of palmitoyl CoA by the DHHC enzyme, simultaneously at both the fatty acyl group and the CoA headgroup, is essential for catalytic chemistry to proceed. S-acylation, also known as palmitoylation, is the most abundant form of protein lipidation in humans. This reversible posttranslational modification, which targets thousands of proteins, is catalyzed by 23 members of the DHHC family of integral membrane enzymes. DHHC enzymes use fatty acyl-CoA as the ubiquitous fatty acyl donor and become autoacylated at a catalytic cysteine; this intermediate subsequently transfers the fatty acyl group to a cysteine in the target protein. Protein S-acylation intersects with almost all areas of human physiology, and several DHHC enzymes are considered as possible therapeutic targets against diseases such as cancer. These efforts would greatly benefit from a detailed understanding of the molecular basis for this crucial enzymatic reaction. Here, we combine X-ray crystallography with all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the structure of the precatalytic complex of human DHHC20 in complex with palmitoyl CoA. The resulting structure reveals that the fatty acyl chain inserts into a hydrophobic pocket within the transmembrane spanning region of the protein, whereas the CoA headgroup is recognized by the cytosolic domain through polar and ionic interactions. Biochemical experiments corroborate the predictions from our structural model. We show, using both computational and experimental analyses, that palmitoyl CoA acts as a bivalent ligand where the interaction of the DHHC enzyme with both the fatty acyl chain and the CoA headgroup is important for catalytic chemistry to proceed. This bivalency explains how, in the presence of high concentrations of free CoA under physiological conditions, DHHC enzymes can efficiently use palmitoyl CoA as a substrate for autoacylation.
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44
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Kasson PM. Modeling biomolecular kinetics with large-scale simulation. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 72:95-102. [PMID: 34592698 PMCID: PMC9476681 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.08.009] [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: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The molecular details of biomolecular kinetics present a challenging estimation problem because the identities of relevant intermediates and the rates of exchange between them must be determined. These can be derived from prior knowledge, but in recent years, great advances have been made in the development and application of methods to systematically determine states and rates using biomolecular simulation. Doing this for biological systems of reasonable complexity requires substantial computational power, and contemporary methods leverage distributed computing or leadership-class computing resources to accomplish this. The result has been substantial insight into pressing contemporary problems, including structural activation of pandemic viruses. Here, we highlight recent developments in both methodology and exciting applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M. Kasson
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University,Correspondence to: Box 800886 Charlottesville VA 22908, Tel 434-924-0174.
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45
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Kumar S, Sadigh B, Zhu S, Suryanarayana P, Hamel S, Gallagher B, Bulatov V, Klepeis J, Samanta A. Accurate parameterization of the kinetic energy functional for calculations using exact-exchange. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:024107. [PMID: 35032977 DOI: 10.1063/5.0065217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Electronic structure calculations based on Kohn-Sham density functional theory (KSDFT) that incorporate exact-exchange or hybrid functionals are associated with a large computational expense, a consequence of the inherent cubic scaling bottleneck and large associated prefactor, which limits the length and time scales that can be accessed. Although orbital-free density functional theory (OFDFT) calculations scale linearly with system size and are associated with a significantly smaller prefactor, they are limited by the absence of accurate density-dependent kinetic energy functionals. Therefore, the development of accurate density-dependent kinetic energy functionals is important for OFDFT calculations of large realistic systems. To this end, we propose a method to train kinetic energy functional models at the exact-exchange level of theory by using a dictionary of physically relevant terms that have been proposed in the literature in conjunction with linear or nonlinear regression methods to obtain the fitting coefficients. For our dictionary, we use a gradient expansion of the kinetic energy nonlocal models proposed in the literature and their nonlinear combinations, such as a model that incorporates spatial correlations between higher order derivatives of electron density at two points. The predictive capabilities of these models are assessed by using a variety of model one-dimensional (1D) systems that exhibit diverse bonding characteristics, such as a chain of eight hydrogens, LiF, LiH, C4H2, C4N2, and C3O2. We show that by using the data from model 1D KSDFT calculations performed using the exact-exchange functional for only a few neutral structures, it is possible to generate models with high accuracy for charged systems and electron and kinetic energy densities during self-consistent field iterations. In addition, we show that it is possible to learn both the orbital dependent terms, i.e., the kinetic energy and the exact-exchange energy, and models that incorporate additional nonlinearities in spatial correlations, such as a quadratic model, are needed to capture subtle features of the kinetic energy density that are present in exact-exchange-based KSDFT calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashikant Kumar
- Physics Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Babak Sadigh
- Physics Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Siya Zhu
- Physics Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Phanish Suryanarayana
- College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Sebastian Hamel
- Physics Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Brian Gallagher
- Applications, Simulations and Quality Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Vasily Bulatov
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - John Klepeis
- Physics Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Amit Samanta
- Physics Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
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46
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Challenges and frontiers of computational modelling of biomolecular recognition. QRB DISCOVERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1017/qrd.2022.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Biomolecular recognition including binding of small molecules, peptides and proteins to their target receptors plays a key role in cellular function and has been targeted for therapeutic drug design. However, the high flexibility of biomolecules and slow binding and dissociation processes have presented challenges for computational modelling. Here, we review the challenges and computational approaches developed to characterise biomolecular binding, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (especially enhanced sampling) and machine learning. Further improvements are still needed in order to accurately and efficiently characterise binding structures, mechanisms, thermodynamics and kinetics of biomolecules in the future.
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47
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Gorai B, Vashisth H. Progress in Simulation Studies of Insulin Structure and Function. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:908724. [PMID: 35795141 PMCID: PMC9252437 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.908724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin is a peptide hormone known for chiefly regulating glucose level in blood among several other metabolic processes. Insulin remains the most effective drug for treating diabetes mellitus. Insulin is synthesized in the pancreatic β-cells where it exists in a compact hexameric architecture although its biologically active form is monomeric. Insulin exhibits a sequence of conformational variations during the transition from the hexamer state to its biologically-active monomer state. The structural transitions and the mechanism of action of insulin have been investigated using several experimental and computational methods. This review primarily highlights the contributions of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in elucidating the atomic-level details of conformational dynamics in insulin, where the structure of the hormone has been probed as a monomer, dimer, and hexamer. The effect of solvent, pH, temperature, and pressure have been probed at the microscopic scale. Given the focus of this review on the structure of the hormone, simulation studies involving interactions between the hormone and its receptor are only briefly highlighted, and studies on other related peptides (e.g., insulin-like growth factors) are not discussed. However, the review highlights conformational dynamics underlying the activities of reported insulin analogs and mimetics. The future prospects for computational methods in developing promising synthetic insulin analogs are also briefly highlighted.
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48
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Chen CH, Pepper K, Ulmschneider JP, Ulmschneider MB, Lu TK. Predicting Membrane-Active Peptide Dynamics in Fluidic Lipid Membranes. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2405:115-136. [PMID: 35298811 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1855-4_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the interactions between peptides and lipid membranes could not only accelerate the development of antimicrobial peptides as treatments for infections but also be applied to finding targeted therapies for cancer and other diseases. However, designing biophysical experiments to study molecular interactions between flexible peptides and fluidic lipid membranes has been an ongoing challenge. Recently, with hardware advances, algorithm improvements, and more accurate parameterizations (i.e., force fields), all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been used as a "computational microscope" to investigate the molecular interactions and mechanisms of membrane-active peptides in cell membranes (Chen et al., Curr Opin Struct Biol 61:160-166, 2020; Ulmschneider and Ulmschneider, Acc Chem Res 51(5):1106-1116, 2018; Dror et al., Annu Rev Biophys 41:429-452, 2012). In this chapter, we describe how to utilize MD simulations to predict and study peptide dynamics and how to validate the simulations by circular dichroism, intrinsic fluorescent probe, membrane leakage assay, electrical impedance, and isothermal titration calorimetry. Experimentally validated MD simulations open a new route towards peptide design starting from sequence and structure and leading to desirable functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H Chen
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Karen Pepper
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jakob P Ulmschneider
- Department of Physics, Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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49
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Buyan A, Corry B. Initiating Coarse-Grained MD Simulations for Membrane-Bound Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2402:131-141. [PMID: 34854041 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1843-1_11] [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] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become a widely used tool in the scientific community for understanding molecular scale phenomena that are challenging to address with wet-lab techniques. Coarse-grained simulations, in which multiple atoms are combined into single beads, allow for larger systems and longer time scales to be explored than atomistic techniques. Here, we describe the procedures and equipment required to set up coarse-grained simulations of membrane-bound proteins in a lipid bilayer that can mimic many membrane environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Buyan
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Ben Corry
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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50
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Nguyen PH, Derreumaux P. Computer Simulations Aimed at Exploring Protein Aggregation and Dissociation. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2340:175-196. [PMID: 35167075 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1546-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Protein aggregation can lead to well-defined structures that are functional, but is also the cause of the death of neuron cells in many neurodegenerative diseases. The complexity of the molecular events involved in the aggregation kinetics of amyloid proteins and the transient and heterogeneous characters of all oligomers prevent high-resolution structural experiments. As a result, computer simulations have been used to determine the atomic structures of amyloid proteins at different association stages as well as to understand fibril dissociation. In this chapter, we first review the current computer simulation methods used for aggregation with some atomistic and coarse-grained results aimed at better characterizing the early formed oligomers and amyloid fibril formation. Then we present the applications of non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to comprehend the dissociation of protein assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong H Nguyen
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, UPR 9080, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Derreumaux
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, UPR 9080, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris, France.
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