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Nguyen PT, Harris BJ, Mateos DL, González AH, Murray AM, Yarov-Yarovoy V. Structural modeling of ion channels using AlphaFold2, RoseTTAFold2, and ESMFold. Channels (Austin) 2024; 18:2325032. [PMID: 38445990 PMCID: PMC10936637 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2024.2325032] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Ion channels play key roles in human physiology and are important targets in drug discovery. The atomic-scale structures of ion channels provide invaluable insights into a fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms of channel gating and modulation. Recent breakthroughs in deep learning-based computational methods, such as AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold, and ESMFold have transformed research in protein structure prediction and design. We review the application of AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold, and ESMFold to structural modeling of ion channels using representative voltage-gated ion channels, including human voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channel - NaV1.8, human voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channel - CaV1.1, and human voltage-gated potassium (KV) channel - KV1.3. We compared AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold, and ESMFold structural models of NaV1.8, CaV1.1, and KV1.3 with corresponding cryo-EM structures to assess details of their similarities and differences. Our findings shed light on the strengths and limitations of the current state-of-the-art deep learning-based computational methods for modeling ion channel structures, offering valuable insights to guide their future applications for ion channel research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong Tran Nguyen
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brandon John Harris
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Diego Lopez Mateos
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Adriana Hernández González
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Vladimir Yarov-Yarovoy
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
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Chen Y, Xu W, Yu S, Ni K, She G, Ye X, Xing Q, Zhao J, Huang C. Assembly status transition offers an avenue for activity modulation of a supramolecular enzyme. eLife 2021; 10:72535. [PMID: 34898426 PMCID: PMC8668187 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72535] [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: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature has evolved many supramolecular proteins assembled in certain, sometimes even seemingly oversophisticated, morphological manners. The rationale behind such evolutionary efforts is often poorly understood. Here, we provide atomic-resolution insights into how the dynamic building of a structurally complex enzyme with higher order symmetry offers amenability to intricate regulation. We have established the functional coupling between enzymatic activity and protein morphological states of glutamine synthetase (GS), an old multi-subunit enzyme essential for cellular nitrogen metabolism. Cryo-EM structure determination of GS in both the catalytically active and inactive assembly states allows us to reveal an unanticipated self-assembly-induced disorder-order transition paradigm, in which the remote interactions between two subcomplex entities significantly rigidify the otherwise structurally fluctuating active sites, thereby regulating activity. We further show in vivo evidences that how the enzyme morphology transitions could be modulated by cellular factors on demand. Collectively, our data present an example of how assembly status transition offers an avenue for activity modulation, and sharpens our mechanistic understanding of the complex functional and regulatory properties of supramolecular enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membrane-less Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Weiya Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membrane-less Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shuwei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, College of Tea and Food Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Kang Ni
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Guangbiao She
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, College of Tea and Food Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaodong Ye
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qiong Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, College of Tea and Food Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Chengdong Huang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membrane-less Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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A Fast Image Alignment Approach for 2D Classification of Cryo-EM Images Using Spectral Clustering. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2021; 43:1652-1668. [PMID: 34698131 PMCID: PMC8928942 DOI: 10.3390/cimb43030117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction in single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a significant technique for recovering the 3D structure of proteins or other biological macromolecules from their two-dimensional (2D) noisy projection images taken from unknown random directions. Class averaging in single-particle cryo-EM is an important procedure for producing high-quality initial 3D structures, where image alignment is a fundamental step. In this paper, an efficient image alignment algorithm using 2D interpolation in the frequency domain of images is proposed to improve the estimation accuracy of alignment parameters of rotation angles and translational shifts between the two projection images, which can obtain subpixel and subangle accuracy. The proposed algorithm firstly uses the Fourier transform of two projection images to calculate a discrete cross-correlation matrix and then performs the 2D interpolation around the maximum value in the cross-correlation matrix. The alignment parameters are directly determined according to the position of the maximum value in the cross-correlation matrix after interpolation. Furthermore, the proposed image alignment algorithm and a spectral clustering algorithm are used to compute class averages for single-particle 3D reconstruction. The proposed image alignment algorithm is firstly tested on a Lena image and two cryo-EM datasets. Results show that the proposed image alignment algorithm can estimate the alignment parameters accurately and efficiently. The proposed method is also used to reconstruct preliminary 3D structures from a simulated cryo-EM dataset and a real cryo-EM dataset and to compare them with RELION. Experimental results show that the proposed method can obtain more high-quality class averages than RELION and can obtain higher reconstruction resolution than RELION even without iteration.
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Abstract
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become the technique of choice for structural biology of macromolecular assemblies, after the 'resolution revolution' that has occurred in this field since 2012. With a suitable instrument, an appropriate electron detector and, last but not least, a cooperative sample it is now possible to collect images from which macromolecular structures can be determined to better than 2 Å resolution, where reliable atomic models can be built. By electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging of cryo-samples, it is also possible to reconstruct subcellular structures to sub-nanometre resolution. This review describes the infrastructure that is needed to achieve this goal. Ideally, a cryo-EM lab will have a dedicated 300 kV electron microscope for data recording and a 200 kV instrument for screening cryo-samples, both with direct electron detectors, and at least one 120 kV EM for negative-stain screening at room temperature. Added to this should be ancillary equipment for specimen preparation, including a light microscope, carbon coater, plasma cleaner, glow discharge unit, a device for fast, robotic sample freezing, liquid nitrogen storage Dewars and a ready supply of clean liquid nitrogen. In practice, of course, the available budget will determine the number and types of microscopes and how elaborate the lab can be. The cryo-EM lab should be designed with adequate space for the electron microscopes and ancillary equipment, and should allow for sufficient storage space. Each electron microscope room should be connected to the image-processing computers by fibre-optic cables for the rapid transfer of large datasets. The cryo-EM lab should be overseen by a facility manager whose responsibilities include the day-to-day tasks to ensure that all microscopes are operating perfectly, organising service and repairs to minimise downtime, and controlling the budget. Large facilities will require additional support staff who help to oversee the operation of the facility and instruct new users.
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Cárdenas R, Martínez-Seoane J, Amero C. Combining Experimental Data and Computational Methods for the Non-Computer Specialist. Molecules 2020; 25:E4783. [PMID: 33081072 PMCID: PMC7594097 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental methods are indispensable for the study of the function of biological macromolecules, not just as static structures, but as dynamic systems that change conformation, bind partners, perform reactions, and respond to different stimulus. However, providing a detailed structural interpretation of the results is often a very challenging task. While experimental and computational methods are often considered as two different and separate approaches, the power and utility of combining both is undeniable. The integration of the experimental data with computational techniques can assist and enrich the interpretation, providing new detailed molecular understanding of the systems. Here, we briefly describe the basic principles of how experimental data can be combined with computational methods to obtain insights into the molecular mechanism and expand the interpretation through the generation of detailed models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carlos Amero
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Resonancia Magnética Nuclear, Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62209, Mexico; (R.C.); (J.M.-S.)
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Tiwari SP, Chhabra S, Tama F, Miyashita O. Computational Protocol for Assessing the Optimal Pixel Size to Improve the Accuracy of Single-particle Cryo-electron Microscopy Maps. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:2570-2580. [PMID: 32003995 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b01107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) single-particle analysis has come a long way in achieving atomic-level resolution when imaging biomolecules. To obtain the best possible three-dimensional (3D) structure in cryo-EM, many parameters have to be carefully considered. Here we address the often-overlooked parameter of the pixel size, which describes the magnification of the image produced by the experiment. While efforts are made to refine and validate this parameter in the analysis of cryo-EM experimental data, there is no systematic protocol in place. Since the pixel size parameter can have an impact on the resolution and accuracy of a cryo-EM map, and the atomic resolution 3D structure models derived from it, we propose a computational protocol to estimate the appropriate pixel size parameter. In our protocol, we fit and refine atomic structures against cryo-EM maps at multiple pixel sizes. The resulting fitted and refined structures are evaluated using the GOAP (generalized orientation-dependent, all-atom statistical potential) score, which we found to perform better than other commonly used functions, such as Molprobity and the correlation coefficient from refinement. Finally, we describe the efficacy of this protocol in retrieving appropriate pixel sizes for several examples; simulated data based on yeast elongation factor 2 and experimental data from Gro-EL chaperone, beta-galactosidase, and the TRPV1 ion channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya P Tiwari
- Computational Structural Biology Division, RIKEN Center for Computational Science, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 650-0047, Japan
| | - Sahil Chhabra
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1382, United States.,Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1382, United States
| | - Florence Tama
- Computational Structural Biology Division, RIKEN Center for Computational Science, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 650-0047, Japan.,Graduate School of Science, Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 464-8601, Japan.,Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 464-8601, Japan
| | - Osamu Miyashita
- Computational Structural Biology Division, RIKEN Center for Computational Science, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 650-0047, Japan
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