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Hu R, Zhang J, Kang Y, Wang Z, Pan P, Deng Y, Hsieh CY, Hou T. Comprehensive, Open-Source, and Automated Workflow for Multisite λ-Dynamics in Lead Optimization. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:1465-1478. [PMID: 38300792 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01154] [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: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Multisite λ-dynamics (MSLD) is a highly efficient binding free energy calculation method that samples multiple ligands in a single round by assigning different λ values to the alchemical part of each ligand. This method holds great promise for lead optimization (LO) in drug discovery. However, the complex data preparation and simulation process limits its widespread application in diverse protein-ligand systems. To address this challenge, we developed a comprehensive, open-source, and automated workflow for MSLD calculations based on the BLaDE dynamics engine. This workflow incorporates the Ligand Internal and Cartesian coordinate reconstruction-based alignment algorithm (LIC-align) and an optimized maximum common substructure (MCS) search algorithm to accurately generate MSLD multiple topologies with ideal perturbation patterns. Furthermore, our workflow is highly modularized, allowing straightforward integration and extension of various simulation techniques, and is highly accessible to nonexperts. This workflow was validated by calculating the relative binding free energies of large-scale congeneric ligands, many of which have large perturbing groups. The agreement between the calculations and experiments was excellent, with an average unsigned error of 1.08 ± 0.47 kcal/mol. More than 57.1% of the ligands had an error of less than 1.0 kcal/mol, and the perturbations of 6 targets were fully connected via the calculations, while those of 2 targets were connected via both calculations and experimental data. The Pearson correlation coefficient reached 0.88, indicating that the MSLD workflow provides accurate predictions that can guide lead optimization in drug discovery. We also examined the impact of single-site versus multisite perturbations, ligand grouping by perturbing group size, and the position of the anchor atom on the MSLD performance. By integrating our proposed LIC-align and optimized MCS search algorithm along with the coping strategies to handle challenging molecular substructures, our workflow can handle many realistic scenarios more reasonably than all previously published methods. Moreover, we observed that our MSLD workflow achieved similar accuracy to free energy perturbation (FEP) while improving computational efficiency by over 1 order of magnitude in speedup. These findings provide valuable insights and strategies for further MSLD development, making MSLD a competitive tool for lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renling Hu
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Polytechnic Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jintu Zhang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu Kang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peichen Pan
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yafeng Deng
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chang-Yu Hsieh
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
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Gosai A, Ma X, Balasubramanian G, Shrotriya P. Electrical Stimulus Controlled Binding/Unbinding of Human Thrombin-Aptamer Complex. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37449. [PMID: 27874042 PMCID: PMC5118750 DOI: 10.1038/srep37449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The binding/unbinding of the human thrombin and its 15-mer single stranded DNA aptamer, under the application of external stimulus in the form of electrostatic potential/electric field, is investigated by a combination of continuum analysis and atomistic molecular dynamics simulation. In agreement with the experiments that demonstrate the influence of electrostatic potential on the thrombin/aptamer complex, our computations show that the application of positive electric field successfully unbinds the thrombin from the aptamer. Results from umbrella sampling simulations reveal that there is a decrease in the free energy of binding between the thrombin and aptamer in presence of positive electric fields. Hydrogen bonding and non-bonded interaction energies, and hence the free energy of binding, between the thrombin and its aptamer reduce as the applied electric field is shifted from negative to positive values. Our analyses demonstrate that application of electrical stimulus modifies the molecular interactions within the complex and consequently, electrical field can be used to modulate the association between the thrombin and its aptamer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnivo Gosai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Xiao Ma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Ganesh Balasubramanian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.,Microelectronics Research Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Pranav Shrotriya
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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Rudchenko MN, Zamyatnin AA. Prospects for using self-assembled nucleic acid structures. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2016; 80:391-9. [PMID: 25869355 DOI: 10.1134/s000629791504001x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
According to the central dogma in molecular biology, nucleic acids are assigned with key functions on storing and executing genetic information in any living cell. However, features of nucleic acids are not limited only with properties providing template-dependent biosynthetic processes. Studies of DNA and RNA unveiled unique features of these polymers able to make various self-assembled three-dimensional structures that, among other things, use the complementarity principle. Here, we review various self-assembled nucleic acid structures as well as application of DNA and RNA to develop nanomaterials, molecular automata, and nanodevices. It can be expected that in the near future results of these developments will allow designing novel next-generation diagnostic systems and medicinal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Rudchenko
- Research Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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Tsvetkov V, Pozmogova G, Varizhuk A. The systematic approach to describing conformational rearrangements in G-quadruplexes. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2015; 34:705-15. [PMID: 26017012 PMCID: PMC4867883 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2015.1055303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Conformational changes in DNA G-quadruplex (GQ)-forming regions affect genome function and, thus, compose an interesting research topic. Computer modelling may yield insight into quadruplex folding and rearrangement, particularly molecular dynamics simulations. Here, we show that specific parameters, which are distinct from those commonly used in DNA conformational analyses, must be introduced for adequate interpretation and, most importantly, convenient visual representation of the quadruplex modelling results. We report a set of parameters that comprehensively and systematically describe GQ geometry in dynamics. The parameters include those related to quartet planarity, quadruplex twist, and quartet stacking; they are used to quantitatively characterise various types of quadruplexes and rearrangements, such as quartet distortion/disruption or deviation/bulging of a single nucleotide from the quartet plane. Our approach to describing conformational changes in quadruplexes using the new parameters is exemplified by telomeric quadruplex rearrangement, and the benefits of applying this approach to analyse other structures are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Tsvetkov
- a Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics , SRI of Physical-Chemical Medicine , Moscow , 119435 , Russia.,b Department of Polyelectrolytes and Surface-active Polymers , Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis , Moscow , 119991 , Russia
| | - Galina Pozmogova
- a Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics , SRI of Physical-Chemical Medicine , Moscow , 119435 , Russia
| | - Anna Varizhuk
- a Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics , SRI of Physical-Chemical Medicine , Moscow , 119435 , Russia.,c Department of Structure-Functional Analysis of Biopolymers , Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology , Vavilov str. 32, Moscow , 119991 , Russia
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Kim E, Yang C, Pak Y. Free-Energy Landscape of a Thrombin-Binding DNA Aptamer in Aqueous Environment. J Chem Theory Comput 2012; 8:4845-51. [DOI: 10.1021/ct300714u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eunae Kim
- BK-21 Project
Team, College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea
- Supercomputing Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of
Korea
| | - Changwon Yang
- Department of Chemistry
and Institute
of Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngshang Pak
- Department of Chemistry
and Institute
of Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
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Yang C, Jang S, Pak Y. Multiple stepwise pattern for potential of mean force in unfolding the thrombin binding aptamer in complex with Sr2+. J Chem Phys 2012; 135:225104. [PMID: 22168729 DOI: 10.1063/1.3669424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulation in conjunction with umbrella sampling, we obtained the unfolding free energy and the force extension profiles of the thrombin binding DNA aptamer (15-TBA) in complex with Sr(2+) (Protein Data Bank code: 1RDE). The resulting potential of mean force (PMF) displays a multiple stepwise pattern with distinct plateau regions. The detailed analysis of the simulation result indicated that each plateau was created by the interplay of the metal ion interacting with self-arranging guanine bases and the successive uptakes of water molecules. The current PMF simulation provides a quantitative description of the unfolding process of 15-TBA DNA driven by stretching and gives molecular insight on its detailed changes of base pair interactions in the presence of the metal cation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changwon Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Institute of Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, South Korea
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Cang X, Šponer J, Cheatham TE. Insight into G-DNA structural polymorphism and folding from sequence and loop connectivity through free energy analysis. J Am Chem Soc 2011; 133:14270-9. [PMID: 21761922 PMCID: PMC3168932 DOI: 10.1021/ja107805r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
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The lengths of G-tracts and their connecting loop sequences determine G-quadruplex folding and stability. Complete understanding of the sequence–structure relationships remains elusive. Here, single-loop G-quadruplexes were investigated using explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize the effect of loop length, loop sequence, and G-tract length on the folding topologies and stability of G-quadruplexes. Eight loop types, including different variants of lateral, diagonal, and propeller loops, and six different loop sequences [d0 (i.e., no intervening residues in the loop), dT, dT2, dT3, dTTA, and dT4] were considered through MD simulation and free energy analysis. In most cases the free energetic estimates agree well with the experimental observations. The work also provides new insight into G-quadruplex folding and stability. This includes reporting the observed instability of the left propeller loop, which extends the rules for G-quadruplex folding. We also suggest a plausible explanation why human telomere sequences predominantly form hybrid-I and hybrid-II type structures in K+ solution. Overall, our calculation results indicate that short loops generally are less stable than longer loops, and we hypothesize that the extreme stability of sequences with very short loops could possibly derive from the formation of parallel multimers. The results suggest that free energy differences, estimated from MD and free energy analysis with current force fields and simulation protocols, are able to complement experiment and to help dissect and explain loop sequence, loop length, and G-tract length and orientation influences on G-quadruplex structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Cang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Skaggs Hall 201, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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