1
|
Bingöl EN, Serçinoğlu O, Ozbek P. Unraveling the Allosteric Communication Mechanisms in T-Cell Receptor-Peptide-Loaded Major Histocompatibility Complex Dynamics Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations: An Approach Based on Dynamic Cross Correlation Maps and Residue Interaction Energy Calculations. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:2444-2453. [PMID: 33930270 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins to T-cell receptors (TCRs) plays a crucial role in triggering the adaptive immune response. Most of our knowledge on TCR-peptide-loaded major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) interaction stemmed from experiments yielding static structures, yet the dynamic aspects of this molecular interaction are equally important to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms and to develop treatment strategies against diseases such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. To this end, computational biophysics studies including all-atom molecular dynamics simulations have provided useful insights; however, we still lack a basic understanding of an overall allosteric mechanism that results in conformational changes in the TCR and subsequent T-cell activation. Previous hydrogen-deuterium exchange and nuclear magnetic resonance studies provided clues regarding these molecular mechanisms, including global rigidification and allosteric effects on the constant domain of TCRs away from the pMHC interaction site. Here, we show that molecular dynamics simulations can be used to identify how this overall rigidification may be related to the allosteric communication within TCRs upon pMHC interaction via essential dynamics and nonbonded residue-residue interaction energy analyses. The residues taking part in the rigidification effect are highlighted with an intricate analysis on residue interaction changes, which lead to a detailed outline of the complex formation event. Our results indicate that residues of the Cβ domain of TCRs show significant differences in their nonbonded interactions upon complex formation. Moreover, the dynamic cross correlations between these residues are also increased, in line with their nonbonded interaction energy changes. Altogether, our approach may be valuable for elucidating intramolecular allosteric changes in the TCR structure upon pMHC interaction in molecular dynamics simulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elif Naz Bingöl
- Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, Marmara University, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Onur Serçinoğlu
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli 41400, Turkey
| | - Pemra Ozbek
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul 34722, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tripathi SK, Salunke DM. Exploring the different states of wild-type T-cell receptor and mutant conformational changes towards understanding the antigen recognition. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:188-201. [PMID: 31870204 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1708795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Recognition of proteolytic peptide fragments presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on target cells by T-cell receptor (TCR) is among the most important interactions in the adaptive immune system. Several computational studies have been performed to investigate conformational and dynamical properties of TCRs for enhanced immunogenicity. Here, we present the large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies of the two comprehensive systems consisting of the wild-type and mutant IG4 TCR in complex with the tumor epitope NY-ESO peptide (SLLMWITQC) and analyzed for mapping conformational changes of TCR in the states prior to antigen binding, upon antigen binding and after the antigen was released. All of the simulations were performed with different states of TCRs for each 1000 ns of simulation time, providing six simulations for time duration of 6000 ns (6µs). We show that rather than undergoing most critical conformational changes upon antigen binding, the high proportion of complementarity-determining region (CDR) loops change by comparatively small amount. The hypervariable CDRα3 and CDRβ3 loops showed significant structural changes. Interestingly, the TCR β chain loops showed the least changes, which is reliable with recent implications that β domain of TCR may propel antigen interaction. The mutant shows higher rigidity than wild-type even in released state; expose an induced fit mechanism occurring from the re-structuring of CDRα3 loop and can allow enhanced binding affinity of the peptide antigen. Additionally, we show that CDRα3 loop and peptide contacts are an adaptive feature of affinity enhanced mutant TCR.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Tripathi
- Structural Immunology Group, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Dinakar M Salunke
- Structural Immunology Group, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India.,Structural Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Knapp B, van der Merwe PA, Dushek O, Deane CM. MHC binding affects the dynamics of different T-cell receptors in different ways. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007338. [PMID: 31498801 PMCID: PMC6752857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells use their T-cell receptors (TCRs) to scan other cells for antigenic peptides presented by MHC molecules (pMHC). If a TCR encounters a pMHC, it can trigger a signalling pathway that could lead to the activation of the T cell and the initiation of an immune response. It is currently not clear how the binding of pMHC to the TCR initiates signalling within the T cell. One hypothesis is that conformational changes in the TCR lead to further downstream signalling. Here we investigate four different TCRs in their free state as well as in their pMHC bound state using large scale molecular simulations totalling 26 000 ns. We find that the dynamical features within TCRs differ significantly between unbound TCR and TCR/pMHC simulations. However, apart from expected results such as reduced solvent accessibility and flexibility of the interface residues, these features are not conserved among different TCR types. The presence of a pMHC alone is not sufficient to cause cross-TCR-conserved dynamical features within a TCR. Our results argue against models of TCR triggering involving conserved allosteric conformational changes. The interaction between T-cells and other cells is one of the most important interactions in the human immune system. If T-cells are not triggered major parts of the immune system cannot be activated or are not working effectively. Despite many years of research the exact mechanism of how a T-cell is initially triggered is not clear. One hypothesis is that conformational changes within the T-cell receptor (TCR) can cause further downstream signalling within the T-cell. In this study we computationally investigate the dynamics of four different TCRs in their free and bound configuration. Our large scale simulations show that all four TCRs react to binding in different ways. In some TCRs mainly the areas close to the binding region are affected while in other TCRs areas further apart from the binding region are also affected. Our results argue against a conserved structural activation mechanism across different types of TCRs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Knapp
- Department of Basic Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Omer Dushek
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dominguez JL, Knapp B. How peptide/MHC presence affects the dynamics of the LC13 T-cell receptor. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2638. [PMID: 30804417 PMCID: PMC6389892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38788-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between T-cell receptors (TCRs) of T-cells and potentially immunogenic peptides presented by MHCs of antigen presenting cells is one of the most important mechanisms of the adaptive human immune system. A large number of structural simulations of the TCR/peptide/MHC system have been carried out. However, to date no study has investigated the differences of the dynamics between free TCRs and pMHC bound TCRs on a large scale. Here we present a study totalling 37 100 ns investigating the LC13 TCR in its free form as well as in complex with HLA-B*08:01 and different peptides. Our results show that the dynamics of the bound and unbound LC13 TCR differ significantly. This is reflected in (a) expected results such as an increased flexibility and increased solvent accessible surface of the CDRs of unbound TCR simulations but also in (b) less expected results such as lower CDR distances and compactness as well as alteration in the hydrogen bond network around CDR3α of unbound TCR simulations. Our study further emphasises the structural flexibility of TCRs and confirms the importance of the CDR3 loops for the adoption to MHC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Luis Dominguez
- Department of Basic Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bernhard Knapp
- Department of Basic Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Statistics, Protein Informatics Group, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Holland CJ, MacLachlan BJ, Bianchi V, Hesketh SJ, Morgan R, Vickery O, Bulek AM, Fuller A, Godkin A, Sewell AK, Rizkallah PJ, Wells S, Cole DK. In Silico and Structural Analyses Demonstrate That Intrinsic Protein Motions Guide T Cell Receptor Complementarity Determining Region Loop Flexibility. Front Immunol 2018; 9:674. [PMID: 29696015 PMCID: PMC5904202 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell immunity is controlled by T cell receptor (TCR) binding to peptide major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs). The nature of the interaction between these two proteins has been the subject of many investigations because of its central role in immunity against pathogens, cancer, in autoimmunity, and during organ transplant rejection. Crystal structures comparing unbound and pMHC-bound TCRs have revealed flexibility at the interaction interface, particularly from the perspective of the TCR. However, crystal structures represent only a snapshot of protein conformation that could be influenced through biologically irrelevant crystal lattice contacts and other factors. Here, we solved the structures of three unbound TCRs from multiple crystals. Superposition of identical TCR structures from different crystals revealed some conformation differences of up to 5 Å in individual complementarity determining region (CDR) loops that are similar to those that have previously been attributed to antigen engagement. We then used a combination of rigidity analysis and simulations of protein motion to reveal the theoretical potential of TCR CDR loop flexibility in unbound state. These simulations of protein motion support the notion that crystal structures may only offer an artifactual indication of TCR flexibility, influenced by crystallization conditions and crystal packing that is inconsistent with the theoretical potential of intrinsic TCR motions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Holland
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Immunocore, Abingdon, United Kingdom
| | - Bruce J MacLachlan
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Bianchi
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sophie J Hesketh
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Morgan
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Owen Vickery
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M Bulek
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Fuller
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Godkin
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre J Rizkallah
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Wells
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity and Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Immunocore, Abingdon, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Differential utilization of binding loop flexibility in T cell receptor ligand selection and cross-reactivity. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25070. [PMID: 27118724 PMCID: PMC4846865 DOI: 10.1038/srep25070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Complementarity determining region (CDR) loop flexibility has been suggested to play an important role in the selection and binding of ligands by T cell receptors (TCRs) of the cellular immune system. However, questions remain regarding the role of loop motion in TCR binding, and crystallographic structures have raised questions about the extent to which generalizations can be made. Here we studied the flexibility of two structurally well characterized αβ TCRs, A6 and DMF5. We found that the two receptors utilize loop motion very differently in ligand binding and cross-reactivity. While the loops of A6 move rapidly in an uncorrelated fashion, those of DMF5 are substantially less mobile. Accordingly, the mechanisms of binding and cross-reactivity are very different between the two TCRs: whereas A6 relies on conformational selection to select and bind different ligands, DMF5 uses a more rigid, permissive architecture with greater reliance on slower motions or induced-fit. In addition to binding site flexibility, we also explored whether ligand-binding resulted in common dynamical changes in A6 and DMF5 that could contribute to TCR triggering. Although binding-linked motional changes propagated throughout both receptors, no common features were observed, suggesting that changes in nanosecond-level TCR structural dynamics do not contribute to T cell signaling.
Collapse
|
7
|
Bello M, Correa-Basurto J. Energetic and flexibility properties captured by long molecular dynamics simulations of a membrane-embedded pMHCII-TCR complex. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2016; 12:1350-66. [PMID: 26926952 DOI: 10.1039/c6mb00058d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although crystallographic data have provided important molecular insight into the interactions in the pMHC-TCR complex, the inherent features of this structural approach cause it to only provide a static picture of the interactions. While unbiased molecular dynamics simulations (UMDSs) have provided important information about the dynamic structural behavior of the pMHC-TCR complex, most of them have modeled the pMHC-TCR complex as soluble, when in physiological conditions, this complex is membrane bound; therefore, following this latter UMDS protocol might hamper important dynamic results. In this contribution, we performed three independent 300 ns-long UMDSs of the pMHCII-TCR complex anchored in two opposing membranes to explore the structural and energetic properties of the recognition of pMHCII by the TCR. The conformational ensemble generated through UMDSs was subjected to clustering and Cartesian principal component analyses (cPCA) to explore the dynamical behavior of the pMHCII-TCR association. Furthermore, based on the conformational population sampled through UMDSs, the effective binding free energy, per-residue free energy decomposition, and alanine scanning mutations were explored for the native pMHCII-TCR complex, as well as for 12 mutations (p1-p12MHCII-TCR) introduced in the native peptide. Clustering analyses and cPCA provide insight into the rocking motion of the TCR onto pMHCII, together with the presence of new electrostatic interactions not observed through crystallographic methods. Energetic results provide evidence of the main contributors to the pMHC-TCR complex formation as well as the key residues involved in this molecular recognition process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martiniano Bello
- Laboratorio de Modelado Molecular, Bioinformática y Diseño de Fármacos de la Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis Y Diaz Mirón S/N, Col. Casco de Santo Tomas, Mexico City, CP: 11340, Mexico.
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Knapp B, Deane CM. T-Cell Receptor Binding Affects the Dynamics of the Peptide/MHC-I Complex. J Chem Inf Model 2015; 56:46-53. [PMID: 26633740 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The recognition of peptide/MHC by T-cell receptors is one of the most important interactions in the adaptive immune system. A large number of computational studies have investigated the structural dynamics of this interaction. However, to date only limited attention has been paid to differences between the dynamics of peptide/MHC with the T-cell receptor bound and unbound. Here we present the first large-scale molecular dynamics simulation study of this type investigating HLA-B*08:01 in complex with the Epstein-Barr virus peptide FLRGRAYGL and all possible single-point mutations (n = 172). All of the simulations were performed with and without the LC 13 T-cell receptor for a simulation time of 100 ns, yielding 344 simulations and a total simulation time of 34 400 ns. Our study is 2 orders of magnitude larger than the average T-cell receptor/peptide/MHC molecular dynamics simulation study. This data set provides reliable insights into alterations of the peptide/MHC-I dynamics caused by the presence of the T-cell receptor. We found that simulations in the presence of T-cell receptors have more hydrogen bonds between the peptide and MHC, altered flexibility patterns in the MHC helices and the peptide, a lower MHC groove width range, and altered solvent-accessible surface areas. This indicates that without a T-cell receptor the MHC binding groove can open and close, while the presence of the T-cell receptor inhibits these breathing-like motions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Knapp
- Department of Statistics, Protein Informatics Group, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte M Deane
- Department of Statistics, Protein Informatics Group, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hoffmann T, Krackhardt AM, Antes I. Quantitative Analysis of the Association Angle between T-cell Receptor Vα/Vβ Domains Reveals Important Features for Epitope Recognition. PLoS Comput Biol 2015; 11:e1004244. [PMID: 26185983 PMCID: PMC4505886 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell receptors (TCR) play an important role in the adaptive immune system as they recognize pathogen- or cancer-based epitopes and thus initiate the cell-mediated immune response. Therefore there exists a growing interest in the optimization of TCRs for medical purposes like adoptive T-cell therapy. However, the molecular mechanisms behind T-cell signaling are still predominantly unknown. For small sets of TCRs it was observed that the angle between their Vα- and Vβ-domains, which bind the epitope, can vary and might be important for epitope recognition. Here we present a comprehensive, quantitative study of the variation in the Vα/Vβ interdomain-angle and its influence on epitope recognition, performing a systematic bioinformatics analysis based on a representative set of experimental TCR structures. For this purpose we developed a new, cuboid-based superpositioning method, which allows a unique, quantitative analysis of the Vα/Vβ-angles. Angle-based clustering led to six significantly different clusters. Analysis of these clusters revealed the unexpected result that the angle is predominantly influenced by the TCR-clonotype, whereas the bound epitope has only a minor influence. Furthermore we could identify a previously unknown center of rotation (CoR), which is shared by all TCRs. All TCR geometries can be obtained by rotation around this center, rendering it a new, common TCR feature with the potential of improving the accuracy of TCR structure prediction considerably. The importance of Vα/Vβ rotation for signaling was confirmed as we observed larger variances in the Vα/Vβ-angles in unbound TCRs compared to epitope-bound TCRs. Our results strongly support a two-step mechanism for TCR-epitope: First, preformation of a flexible TCR geometry in the unbound state and second, locking of the Vα/Vβ-angle in a TCR-type specific geometry upon epitope-MHC association, the latter being driven by rotation around the unique center of rotation. The recognition of antigenic peptides by cytotoxic T-cells is one of the crucial steps during the adaptive immune response. Thus a detailed understanding of this process is not only important for elucidating the mechanism behind T-cell signaling, but also for various emerging new medical applications like T-cell based immunotherapies and designed bio-therapeutics. However, despite the fast growing interest in this field, the mechanistic basis of the immune response is still largely unknown. Previous qualitative studies suggested that the T-cell receptor (TCR) Vα/Vβ-interdomain angle plays a crucial role in epitope recognition as it predetermines the relative position of its antigen-recognizing CDR1-3 loops and thus TCR specificity. In the manuscript we present a systematic bioinformatic analysis of the structural characteristics of bound and unbound TCR molecules focusing on the Vα/Vβ-angle. Our results demonstrate the importance of this angle for signaling, as several distinct Vα/Vβ-angle based structural clusters could be observed and larger angle flexibilities exist for unbound TCRs than for bound TCRs, providing quantitative proof for a two-step locking mechanism upon epitope recognition. In this context, we could identify a unique rotational point, which allows a quantitative, yet intuitive description of all observed angle variations and the structural changes upon epitope binding.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Binding Sites
- Computer Simulation
- Epitope Mapping/methods
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/ultrastructure
- Models, Chemical
- Models, Immunological
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/chemistry
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/ultrastructure
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hoffmann
- Department of Biosciences and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich,Technische Universität München, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Angela M. Krackhardt
- Medizinische Klinik III, Innere Medizin mit Schwerpunkt Hämatologie und Onkologie, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Group, Antigen specific T cell therapy, Helmholtz Zentrum München (GmbH), German Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Munich, Germany
| | - Iris Antes
- Department of Biosciences and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich,Technische Universität München, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Knapp B, Demharter S, Esmaielbeiki R, Deane CM. Current status and future challenges in T-cell receptor/peptide/MHC molecular dynamics simulations. Brief Bioinform 2015; 16:1035-44. [DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
|
11
|
Large scale characterization of the LC13 TCR and HLA-B8 structural landscape in reaction to 172 altered peptide ligands: a molecular dynamics simulation study. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1003748. [PMID: 25101830 PMCID: PMC4125040 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The interplay between T cell receptors (TCRs) and peptides bound by major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) is one of the most important interactions in the adaptive immune system. Several previous studies have computationally investigated their structural dynamics. On the basis of these simulations several structural and dynamical properties have been proposed as effectors of the immunogenicity. Here we present the results of a large scale Molecular Dynamics simulation study consisting of 100 ns simulations of 172 different complexes. These complexes consisted of all possible point mutations of the Epstein Barr Virus peptide FLRGRAYGL bound by HLA-B*08:01 and presented to the LC13 TCR. We compare the results of these 172 structural simulations with experimental immunogenicity data. We found that simulations with more immunogenic peptides and those with less immunogenic peptides are in fact highly similar and on average only minor differences in the hydrogen binding footprints, interface distances, and the relative orientation between the TCR chains are present. Thus our large scale data analysis shows that many previously suggested dynamical and structural properties of the TCR/peptide/MHC interface are unlikely to be conserved causal factors for peptide immunogenicity.
Collapse
|