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Nasralla M, Laurent H, Alderman OLG, Headen TF, Dougan L. Trimethylamine-N-oxide depletes urea in a peptide solvation shell. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317825121. [PMID: 38536756 PMCID: PMC10998561 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317825121] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and urea are metabolites that are used by some marine animals to maintain their cell volume in a saline environment. Urea is a well-known denaturant, and TMAO is a protective osmolyte that counteracts urea-induced protein denaturation. TMAO also has a general protein-protective effect, for example, it counters pressure-induced protein denaturation in deep-sea fish. These opposing effects on protein stability have been linked to the spatial relationship of TMAO, urea, and protein molecules. It is generally accepted that urea-induced denaturation proceeds through the accumulation of urea at the protein surface and their subsequent interaction. In contrast, it has been suggested that TMAO's protein-stabilizing effects stem from its exclusion from the protein surface, and its ability to deplete urea from protein surfaces; however, these spatial relationships are uncertain. We used neutron diffraction, coupled with structural refinement modeling, to study the spatial associations of TMAO and urea with the tripeptide derivative glycine-proline-glycinamide in aqueous urea, aqueous TMAO, and aqueous urea-TMAO (in the mole ratio 1:2 TMAO:urea). We found that TMAO depleted urea from the peptide's surface and that while TMAO was not excluded from the tripeptide's surface, strong atomic interactions between the peptide and TMAO were limited to hydrogen bond donating peptide groups. We found that the repartition of urea, by TMAO, was associated with preferential TMAO-urea bonding and enhanced urea-water hydrogen bonding, thereby anchoring urea in the bulk solution and depleting urea from the peptide surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazin Nasralla
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Harrison Laurent
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver L. G. Alderman
- Disordered Materials Group, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, DidcotOX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas F. Headen
- Disordered Materials Group, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, DidcotOX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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2
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Laurent H, Hughes MDG, Walko M, Brockwell DJ, Mahmoudi N, Youngs TGA, Headen TF, Dougan L. Visualization of Self-Assembly and Hydration of a β-Hairpin through Integrated Small and Wide-Angle Neutron Scattering. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:4869-4879. [PMID: 37874935 PMCID: PMC10646990 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00583] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Fundamental understanding of the structure and assembly of nanoscale building blocks is crucial for the development of novel biomaterials with defined architectures and function. However, accessing self-consistent structural information across multiple length scales is challenging. This limits opportunities to exploit atomic scale interactions to achieve emergent macroscale properties. In this work we present an integrative small- and wide-angle neutron scattering approach coupled with computational modeling to reveal the multiscale structure of hierarchically self-assembled β hairpins in aqueous solution across 4 orders of magnitude in length scale from 0.1 Å to 300 nm. Our results demonstrate the power of this self-consistent cross-length scale approach and allows us to model both the large-scale self-assembly and small-scale hairpin hydration of the model β hairpin CLN025. Using this combination of techniques, we map the hydrophobic/hydrophilic character of this model self-assembled biomolecular surface with atomic resolution. These results have important implications for the multiscale investigation of aqueous peptides and proteins, for the prediction of ligand binding and molecular associations for drug design, and for understanding the self-assembly of peptides and proteins for functional biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison Laurent
- School
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS2
9JT
| | - Matt D. G. Hughes
- School
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS2
9JT
- Astbury
Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom LS2
9JT
| | - Martin Walko
- School
of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, United
Kingdom, LS2 9JT
| | - David J. Brockwell
- Astbury
Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom LS2
9JT
| | - Najet Mahmoudi
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, United Kingdom, OX11 0QX
| | - Tristan G. A. Youngs
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, United Kingdom, OX11 0QX
| | - Thomas F. Headen
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, United Kingdom, OX11 0QX
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS2
9JT
- Astbury
Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom LS2
9JT
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3
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La Francesca P, Gallo P. Supercooled solutions of sodium perchlorate in TIP4P/2005 water: The effect of martian solutes on thermodynamics and structure. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:124501. [PMID: 38127381 DOI: 10.1063/5.0168587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We study the thermodynamic behavior of sodium perchlorate solutions in supercooled water through molecular dynamics numerical simulations. These solutions are of special interest because of the recent experimental results that led to hypothesize the presence of liquid water in perchlorate solutions beneath the Martian soil. We model water using the TIP4P/2005 potential. The results we obtain for solutions with concentrations 1.63 and 15.4 wt% are in agreement with those of a system undergoing a liquid-liquid phase transition where the liquid-liquid critical point shifts to slightly higher temperatures and lower pressures. The structure of the system is also analyzed, and we come to the conclusion that, even at the highest concentration considered, water retains its anomalous behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- P La Francesca
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università Degli Studi Roma Tre, via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - P Gallo
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università Degli Studi Roma Tre, via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Rome, Italy
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Laurent H, Youngs TGA, Headen TF, Soper AK, Dougan L. The ability of trimethylamine N-oxide to resist pressure induced perturbations to water structure. Commun Chem 2022; 5:116. [PMID: 36697784 PMCID: PMC9814673 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00726-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) protects organisms from the damaging effects of high pressure. At the molecular level both TMAO and pressure perturb water structure but it is not understood how they act in combination. Here, we use neutron scattering coupled with computational modelling to provide atomistic insight into the structure of water under pressure at 4 kbar in the presence and absence of TMAO. The data reveal that TMAO resists pressure-induced perturbation to water structure, particularly in retaining a clear second solvation shell, enhanced hydrogen bonding between water molecules and strong TMAO - water hydrogen bonds. We calculate an 'osmolyte protection' ratio at which pressure and TMAO-induced energy changes effectively cancel out. Remarkably this ratio translates across scales to the organism level, matching the observed concentration dependence of TMAO in the muscle tissue of organisms as a function of depth. Osmolyte protection may therefore offer a molecular mechanism for the macroscale survival of life in extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison Laurent
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Tristan G. A. Youngs
- grid.76978.370000 0001 2296 6998ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK
| | - Thomas F. Headen
- grid.76978.370000 0001 2296 6998ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK
| | - Alan K. Soper
- grid.76978.370000 0001 2296 6998ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK ,grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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5
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Laurent H, Baker DL, Soper AK, Ries ME, Dougan L. Bridging Structure, Dynamics, and Thermodynamics: An Example Study on Aqueous Potassium Halides. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:12774-12786. [PMID: 34757756 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c06728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aqueous salt systems are ubiquitous in all areas of life. The ions in these solutions impose important structural and dynamic perturbations to water. In this study, we employ a combined neutron scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and computational modeling approach to deconstruct ion-specific perturbations to water structure and dynamics and shed light on the molecular origins of bulk thermodynamic properties of the solutions. Our approach uses the atomistic scale resolution offered to us by neutron scattering and computational modeling to investigate how the properties of particular short-ranged microenvironments within aqueous systems can be related to bulk properties of the system. We find that by considering only the water molecules in the first hydration shell of the ions that the enthalpy of hydration can be determined. We also quantify the range over which ions perturb water structure by calculating the average enthalpic interaction between a central halide anion and the surrounding water molecules as a function of distance and find that the favorable anion-water enthalpic interactions only extend to ∼4 Å. We further validate this by showing that ions induce structure in their solvating water molecules by examining the distribution of dipole angles in the first hydration shell of the ions but that this perturbation does not extend into the bulk water. We then use these structural findings to justify mathematical models that allow us to examine perturbations to rotational and diffusive dynamics in the first hydration shell around the potassium halide ions from NMR measurements. This shows that as one moves down the halide series from fluorine to iodine, and ionic charge density is therefore reduced, that the enthalpy of hydration becomes less negative. The first hydration shell also becomes less well structured, and rotational and diffusive motions of the hydrating water molecules are increased. This reduction in structure and increase in dynamics are likely the origin of the previously observed increased entropy of hydration as one moves down the halide series. These results also suggest that simple monovalent potassium halide ions induce mostly local perturbations to water structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison Laurent
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Daniel L Baker
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Alan K Soper
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, U.K
| | - Michael E Ries
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.,Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
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Laurent H, Baker DL, Soper AK, Ries ME, Dougan L. Solute Specific Perturbations to Water Structure and Dynamics in Tertiary Aqueous Solution. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:10983-10993. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c07780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan K. Soper
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
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Laurent H, Soper AK, Dougan L. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) resists the compression of water structure by magnesium perchlorate: terrestrial kosmotrope vs. Martian chaotrope. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:4924-4937. [PMID: 32091074 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp06324b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neutron diffraction and computational modelling provide insight into water structure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan K. Soper
- ISIS Facility
- STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
- Didcot
- UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
- University of Leeds
- Leeds
- UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology
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