A comparative molecular dynamics study of thermophilic and mesophilic ribonuclease HI enzymes

Quantifying the Relationship between Conformational Dynamics and Enzymatic Activity in Ribonuclease HI Homologues

Ribonuclease HI (RNHI), a ubiquitous, non-sequence-specific endonuclease, cleaves the RNA strand in RNA/DNA hybrids. RNHI functions in replication and genome maintenance, and retroviral reverse transcriptases contain an essential ribonuclease H domain. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggests a model in which the extended handle region domain of Escherichia coli RNHI populates (substrate-binding-competent) "open" and (substrate-binding-incompetent) "closed" states, while the thermophilic Thermus thermophilus RNHI mainly populates the closed state at 300 K [Stafford, K. A., Robustelli, P., and Palmer, A. G., III (2013) PLoS Comput. Biol. 9, 1-10]. In addition, an in silico-designed mutant E. coli Val98Ala RNHI was predicted to populate primarily the closed state. The work presented here validates this model and confirms the predicted properties of the designed mutant. MD simulations suggest that the conformational preferences of the handle region correlate with the conformations of Trp85, Thr92, and Val101. NMR residual dipolar coupling constants, three-bond scalar coupling constants, and chemical shifts experimentally define the conformational states of these residues and hence of the handle domain. These NMR parameters correlate with the Michaelis constants for RNHI homologues, confirming the important role of the handle region in the modulation of substrate recognition and illustrating the power of NMR spectroscopy in dissecting the conformational preferences underlying enzyme function.

Heat-resistant cytosolic malate dehydrogenases (cMDHs) of thermophilic intertidal snails (genus Echinolittorina): protein underpinnings of tolerance to body temperatures reaching 55°C

Snails of the genus Echinolittorina are among the most heat-tolerant animals; they experience average body temperatures near 41-44°C in summer and withstand temperatures up to at least 55°C. Here, we demonstrate that heat stability of function (indexed by the Michaelis-Menten constant of the cofactor NADH, K_M^NADH) and structure (indexed by rate of denaturation) of cytosolic malate dehydrogenases (cMDHs) of two congeners (E. malaccana and E. radiata) exceeds values previously found for orthologs of this protein from less thermophilic species. The ortholog of E. malaccana is more heat stable than that of E. radiata, in keeping with the congeners' thermal environments. Only two inter-congener differences in amino acid sequence in these 332 residue proteins were identified. In both cases (positions 48 and 114), a glycine in the E. malaccana ortholog is replaced by a serine in the E. radiata protein. To explore the relationship between structure and function and to characterize how amino acid substitutions alter stability of different regions of the enzyme, we used molecular dynamics simulation methods. These computational methods allow determination of thermal effects on fine-scale movements of protein components, for example, by estimating the root mean square deviation in atom position over time and the root mean square fluctuation for individual residues. The minor changes in amino acid sequence favor temperature-adaptive change in flexibility of regions in and around the active sites. Interspecific differences in effects of temperature on fine-scale protein movements are consistent with the differences in thermal effects on binding and rates of heat denaturation.

Terahertz Frequency Spectroscopy to Determine Cold Shock Protein Stability upon Solvation and Evaporation - A Molecular Dynamics Study

Infrared (IR) and Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy simulations were carried out using CHARMM35b2 to determine protein stability. The stabilities of three bacterial cold shock proteins (Csps) originating from mesophiles, thermophiles and hyper- thermophiles respectively were investigated in this study. The three different Csps were investigated by Normal-Mode analysis and Molecular Dynamics simulation of THz spectra using the Hessian matrix for solvated systems, interpreted in the harmonic approximation at optimum near-melting temperatures of each homologue, by incorporating differences in the hydrous and anhydrous states of the Csps. The results show slight variations in the large scale protein motion. However, the IR spectra of Csps observed at the low frequency saddle surface region, clearly distinguishes the thermophilic and mesophilic proteins based on their stability. Further studies on protein stability employing low-frequency collective modes have the potential to reveal functionally important conformational changes that are biologically significant.

In Silico Designing of an Industrially Sustainable Carbonic Anhydrase Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a family of metalloenzymes that has the potential to sequestrate carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the environment and reduce pollution. The goal of this study is to apply protein engineering to develop a modified CA enzyme that has both higher stability and activity and hence could be used for industrial purposes. In the current study, we have developed an in silico method to understand the molecular basis behind the stability of CA. We have performed comparative molecular dynamics simulation of two homologous α-CA, one of thermophilic origin (Sulfurihydrogenibium sp.) and its mesophilic counterpart (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), for 100 ns each at 300, 350, 400, and 500 K. Comparing the trajectories of two proteins using different stability-determining factors, we have designed a highly thermostable version of mesophilic α-CA by introducing three mutations (S44R, S139E, and K168R). The designed mutant α-CA maintains conformational stability at high temperatures. This study shows the potential to develop industrially stable variants of enzymes while maintaining high activity.

A comparative molecular dynamics study of thermophilic and mesophilic β-fructosidase enzymes

Arabidopsis thaliana cell wall invertase 1 (AtcwINV1) and Thermotoga maritima β-fructosidase (BfrA) are among the best structurally studied members of the glycoside hydrolase family 32. Both enzymes hydrolyze sucrose as the main substrate but differ strongly in their thermal stability. Mesophilic AtcwINV1 and thermophilic BfrA have divergent sequence similarities in the N-terminal five bladed β-propeller catalytic domain (31 %) and the C-terminal β-sandwich domain (15 %) of unknown function. The two enzymes were subjected to 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations at 300 K (27 °C) and 353 K (80 °C). Regular secondary structure regions, but not loops, in AtcwINV1 and BfrA showed no significant fluctuation differences at both temperatures. BfrA was more rigid than AtcwINV1 at 300 K. The simulation at 353 K did not alter the structural stability of BfrA, but did increase the overall flexibility of AtcwINV1 exhibiting the most fluctuating regions in the β-propeller domain. The simulated heat treatment also increased the gyration radius and hydrophobic solvent accessible surface area of the plant enzyme, consistent with the initial steps of an unfolding process. The preservation of the conformational rigidity of BfrA at 353 K is linked to the shorter size of the protein loops. Shortening of BfrA loops appears to be a key mechanism for thermostability.

Temperature dependent dynamics of DegP-trimer: A molecular dynamics study

DegP is a heat shock protein from high temperature requirement protease A family, which reacts to the environmental stress conditions in an ATP independent way. The objective of the present analysis emerged from the temperature dependent functional diversity of DegP between chaperonic and protease activities at temperatures below and above 28 °C, respectively. DegP is a multimeric protein and the minimal functional unit, DegP-trimer, is of great importance in understanding the DegP pathway. The structural aspects of DegP-trimer with respect to temperature variation have been studied using molecular dynamics simulations (for 100 ns) and principal component analysis to highlight the temperature dependent dynamics facilitating its functional diversity. The DegP-trimer revealed a pronounced dynamics at both 280 and 320 K, when compared to the dynamics observed at 300 K. The LA loop is identified as the highly flexible region during dynamics and at extreme temperatures, the residues 46–80 of LA loop express a flip towards right (at 280) and left ( at 320 K) with respect to the fixed β-sheet connecting the LA loop of protease for which Phe46 acts as one of the key residues. Such dynamics of LA loop facilitates inter-monomeric interaction with the PDZ1 domain of the neighbouring monomer and explains its active participation when DegP exists as trimer. Hence, the LA loop mediated dynamics of DegP-trimer is expected to provide further insight into the temperature dependent dynamics of DegP towards the understanding of its assembly and functional diversity in the presence of substrate.

Understanding the thermostability and activity of Bacillus subtilis lipase mutants: insights from molecular dynamics simulations

Improving the thermostability of industrial enzymes is an important protein engineering challenge. Point mutations, induced to increase thermostability, affect the structure and dynamics of the target protein in several ways and thus can also affect its activity. There appears to be no general rules for improving the thermostabilty of enzymes without adversely affecting their enzymatic activity. We report MD simulations, of wild type Bacillus subtilis lipase (WT) and its six progressively thermostable mutants (2M, 3M, 4M, 6M, 9M, and 12M), performed at different temperatures, to address this issue. Less thermostable mutants (LTMs), 2M to 6M, show WT-like dynamics at all simulation temperatures. However, the two more thermostable mutants (MTMs) show the required flexibility at appropriate temperature ranges and maintain conformational stability at high temperature. They show a deep and rugged free-energy landscape, confining them within a near-native conformational space by conserving noncovalent interactions, and thus protecting them from possible aggregation. In contrast, the LTMs having marginally higher thermostabilities than WT show greater probabilities of accessing non-native conformations, which, due to aggregation, have reduced possibilities of reverting to their respective native states under refolding conditions. Our analysis indicates the possibility of nonadditive effects of point mutations on the conformational stability of LTMs.

Molecular dynamics of a thermostable multicopper oxidase from Thermus thermophilus HB27: structural differences between the apo and holo forms

Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations have been performed on Tth-MCO, a hyperthermophilic multicopper oxidase from thermus thermophilus HB27, in the apo as well as the holo form, with the aim of exploring the structural dynamic properties common to the two conformational states. According to structural comparison between this enzyme and other MCOs, the substrate in process to electron transfer in an outer-sphere event seems to transiently occupy a shallow and overall hydrophobic cavity near the Cu type 1 (T1Cu). The linker connecting the β-strands 21 and 24 of the second domain (loop (β21–β24)_D2) has the same conformation in both states, forming a flexible lid at the entrance of the electron-transfer cavity. Loop (β21–β24)_D2 has been tentatively assigned a role occluding the access to the electron-transfer site. The dynamic of the loop (β21–β24)_D2 has been investigated by MD simulation, and results show that the structures of both species have the same secondary and tertiary structure during almost all the MD simulations. In the simulation, loop (β21–β24)_D2 of the holo form undergoes a higher mobility than in the apo form. In fact, loop (β21–β24)_D2 of the holo form experiences a conformational change which enables exposure to the electron-transfer site (open conformation), while in the apo form the opposite effect takes place (closed conformation). To confirm the hypothesis that the open conformation might facilitate the transient electron-donor molecule occupation of the site, the simulation was extended another 40 ns with the electron-donor molecule docked into the protein cavity. Upon electron-donor molecule stabilization, loops near the cavity reduce their mobility. These findings show that coordination between the copper and the protein might play an important role in the general mobility of the enzyme, and that the open conformation seems to be required for the electron transfer process to T1Cu.

Molecular simulations on the thermal stabilization of DNA by hyperthermophilic chromatin protein Sac7d, and associated conformational transitions

Sac7d belongs to a family of chromosomal proteins, which are crucial for thermal stabilization of DNA at higher growth temperatures. It is capable of binding DNA nonspecifically, and is responsible for the increase in the melting temperature of DNA in the bound form up to 85 °C. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed at different temperatures on two protein-DNA complexes of Sac7d. Various structural and energetic parameters were calculated to examine the DNA stability and to investigate the conformational changes in DNA and the protein-DNA interactions. Room temperature simulations indicated very good agreement with the experimental structures. The protein structure is nearly unchanged at both 300 and 360 K, and only up to five base pairs of the DNA are stabilized by Sac7d at 360 K. However, the MD simulations on DNA alone systems show that they lose their helical structures at 360 K further supporting the role of Sac7d in stabilizing the oligomers. At higher temperatures (420 and 480 K), DNA undergoes denaturation in the presence and the absence of the protein. The DNA molecules were found to undergo B- to A-form transitions consistent with experimental studies, and the extent of these transitions are examined in detail. The extent of sampling B- and A-form regions was found to show temperature and sequence dependence. Multiple MD simulations yielded similar results validating the proposed model. Interaction energy calculations corresponding to protein-DNA binding indicates major contribution due to DNA backbone, explaining the nonspecific interactions of Sac7d.

Flexibility and mobility in mesophilic and thermophilic homologous proteins from molecular dynamics and FoldUnfold method

To function properly protein molecules require both flexibility and rigidity, therefore fast and accurate prediction of protein rigidity/flexibility is one of the important problems in protein science. In this work we used two theoretical approaches to determine flexible regions in four homologous pairs of proteins from thermophilic and mesophilic organisms. Protein pairs chosen in this study were selected to represent four typical folding classes. Our first approach, FoldUnfold, uses amino acid sequence and statistical information on the density of contacts of amino acids in tertiary structures of known globular proteins. The main advantages of such knowledge-based methodology are its computational speed and ability to make predictions in the absence of three-dimensional (3D) structure of a protein. The second approach uses a graph theory-based rigid cluster decomposition termed FIRST, applied together with Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations of proteins with known structure. While MD simulations are time-consuming, they are the most direct way of studying physical properties of proteins, including their rigidity/flexibility. Flexible regions predicted by both methods in this work were in good agreement with each other. We also showed that high mobility of a site is not necessarily indicative of its high flexibility and vice versa. In our simulations thermophile proteins were less flexible than their mesophilic homologues. Longer flexible loops were found in mesophilic proteins of all classes.

Using molecular dynamics to probe the structural basis for enhanced stability in thermal stable cytochromes P450

High-temperature molecular dynamics (MD) has been used to assess if MD can be employed as a useful tool for probing the structural basis for enhanced stability in thermal stable cytochromes P450. CYP119, the most thermal stable P450 known, unfolds more slowly during 500 K MD simulations than P450s that melt at lower temperatures, P450cam and P450cin. A comparison of the 500 K MD trajectories shows that the Cys ligand loop, a critically important structural feature just under the heme, in both P450cin and P450cam completely unfolds while this region is quite stable in CYP119. In CYP119, this region is stabilized by tight nonpolar interactions involving Tyr26 and Leu308. The corresponding residues in P450cam are Gly and Thr, respectively. The in silico generated Y26A/L308A CYP119 double mutant is substantially less stable than wild-type CYP119, and the Cys ligand loop unfolds in a manner similar to that of P450cam. The MD thus has identified a potential "hot spot" important for stability. As an experimental test of the MD results, the Y26A/L308A double mutant was prepared, and thermal melting curves show that the double mutant exhibits a melting temperature (T(m)) 16 degrees C lower than that of wild-type CYP119. Control mutations that were predicted by MD not to destabilize the protein were also generated, and the experimental melting temperature was not significantly different from that of the wild-type enzyme. Therefore, high-temperature MD is a useful tool in predicting the structural underpinnings of thermal stability in P450s.

Conformational coupling, bridge helix dynamics and active site dehydration in catalysis by RNA polymerase

Molecular dynamics simulation of Thermus thermophilus (Tt) RNA polymerase (RNAP) in a catalytic conformation demonstrates that the active site dNMP-NTP base pair must be substantially dehydrated to support full active site closing and optimum conditions for phosphodiester bond synthesis. In silico mutant beta R428A RNAP, which was designed based on substitutions at the homologous position (Rpb2 R512) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) RNAP II, was used as a reference structure to compare to Tt RNAP in simulations. Long range conformational coupling linking a dynamic segment of the bridge alpha-helix, the extended fork loop, the active site, and the trigger loop-trigger helix is apparent and adversely affected in beta R428A RNAP. Furthermore, bridge helix bending is detected in the catalytic structure, indicating that bridge helix dynamics may regulate phosphodiester bond synthesis as well as translocation. An active site "latch" assembly that includes a key trigger helix residue Tt beta' H1242 and highly conserved active site residues beta E445 and R557 appears to help regulate active site hydration/dehydration. The potential relevance of these observations in understanding RNAP and DNAP induced fit and fidelity is discussed.

Structural study of carboxylesterase from hyperthermophilic bacteria Geobacillus stearothermophilus by molecular dynamics simulation

Carboxylesterases are ubiquitous enzymes with important physiological, industrial and medical applications such as synthesis and hydrolysis of stereo specific compounds, including the metabolic processing of drugs, and antimicrobial agents. Here, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations of carboxylesterase from hyperthermophilic bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GsEst) for 10ns each at five different temperatures namely at 300K, 343K, 373K, 473K and 500K. Profiles of root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) identify thermostable and thermosensitive regions of GsEst. Unfolding of GsEst initiates at the thermosensitive alpha-helices and proceeds to the thermostable beta-sheets. Five ion-pairs have been identified as critical ion-pairs for thermostability and are maintained stably throughout the higher temperature simulations. A detailed investigation of the active site residues of this enzyme suggests that the geometry of this site is well preserved up to 373K. Furthermore, the hydrogen bonds between Asp188 and His218 of the active site are stably maintained at higher temperatures imparting stability of this site. Radial distribution functions (RDFs) show similar pattern of solvent ordering and water penetration around active site residues up to 373K. Principal component analysis suggests that the motion of the entire protein as well as the active site is similar at 300K, 343K and 373K. Our study may help to identify the factors responsible for thermostability of GsEst that may endeavor to design enzymes with enhanced thermostability.