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Oliveira ASF, Edsall CJ, Woods CJ, Bates P, Nunez GV, Wonnacott S, Bermudez I, Ciccotti G, Gallagher T, Sessions RB, Mulholland AJ. A General Mechanism for Signal Propagation in the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Family. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:19953-19958. [PMID: 31805762 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b09055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) modulate synaptic activity in the central nervous system. The α7 subtype, in particular, has attracted considerable interest in drug discovery as a target for several conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Identifying agonist-induced structural changes underlying nAChR activation is fundamentally important for understanding biological function and rational drug design. Here, extensive equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, enabled by cloud-based high-performance computing, reveal the molecular mechanism by which structural changes induced by agonist unbinding are transmitted within the human α7 nAChR. The simulations reveal the sequence of coupled structural changes involved in driving conformational change responsible for biological function. Comparison with simulations of the α4β2 nAChR subtype identifies features of the dynamical architecture common to both receptors, suggesting a general structural mechanism for signal propagation in this important family of receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia F Oliveira
- School of Biochemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1DT , United Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TS , United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Edsall
- Research Software Engineering, Advanced Computing Research Centre , University of Bristol , Bristol BS1 5QD , United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Woods
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TS , United Kingdom
- Research Software Engineering, Advanced Computing Research Centre , University of Bristol , Bristol BS1 5QD , United Kingdom
| | - Phil Bates
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TR , United Kingdom
- Oracle Corporation, Oracle Cloud Development Centre , Bristol BS2 2JJ , United Kingdom
| | - Gerardo Viedma Nunez
- Oracle Corporation, Oracle Cloud Development Centre , Bristol BS2 2JJ , United Kingdom
| | - Susan Wonnacott
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry , University of Bath , Bath BA2 7AY , United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Bermudez
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences , Oxford Brookes University , Oxford OX30BP , United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Ciccotti
- Institute for Applied Computing "Mauro Picone" (IAC), CNR , Via dei Taurini 19 , 00185 Rome , Italy
- School of Physics , University College of Dublin UCD-Belfield , Dublin 4, Ireland
- Università di Roma La Sapienza , Ple. A. Moro 5 , 00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Timothy Gallagher
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TS , United Kingdom
| | - Richard B Sessions
- School of Biochemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1DT , United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TS , United Kingdom
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Oliveira ASF, Shoemark DK, Campello HR, Wonnacott S, Gallagher T, Sessions RB, Mulholland AJ. Identification of the Initial Steps in Signal Transduction in the α4β2 Nicotinic Receptor: Insights from Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Simulations. Structure 2019; 27:1171-1183.e3. [PMID: 31130483 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2019.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) modulate synaptic transmission in the nervous system. These receptors have emerged as therapeutic targets in drug discovery for treating several conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, pain, and nicotine addiction. In this in silico study, we use a combination of equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to map dynamic and structural changes induced by nicotine in the human α4β2 nAChR. They reveal a striking pattern of communication between the extracellular binding pockets and the transmembrane domains (TMDs) and show the sequence of conformational changes associated with the initial steps in this process. We propose a general mechanism for signal transduction for Cys-loop receptors: the mechanistic steps for communication proceed firstly through loop C in the principal subunit, and are subsequently transmitted, gradually and cumulatively, to loop F of the complementary subunit, and then to the TMDs through the M2-M3 linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sofia F Oliveira
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1DT, UK; Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | | | - Hugo Rego Campello
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Susan Wonnacott
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Timothy Gallagher
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | | | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
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Pieńko T, Trylska J. Computational Methods Used to Explore Transport Events in Biological Systems. J Chem Inf Model 2019; 59:1772-1781. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.8b00974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Pieńko
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy with the Laboratory Medicine Division, Medical University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Trylska
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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Rauh O, Hansen UP, Scheub DD, Thiel G, Schroeder I. Site-specific ion occupation in the selectivity filter causes voltage-dependent gating in a viral K + channel. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10406. [PMID: 29991721 PMCID: PMC6039446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28751-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many potassium channels show voltage-dependent gating without a dedicated voltage sensor domain. This is not fully understood yet, but often explained by voltage-induced changes of ion occupation in the five distinct K+ binding sites in the selectivity filter. To better understand this mechanism of filter gating we measured the single-channel current and the rate constant of sub-millisecond channel closure of the viral K+ channel KcvNTS for a wide range of voltages and symmetric and asymmetric K+ concentrations in planar lipid membranes. A model-based analysis employed a global fit of all experimental data, i.e., using a common set of parameters for current and channel closure under all conditions. Three different established models of ion permeation and various relationships between ion occupation and gating were tested. Only one of the models described the data adequately. It revealed that the most extracellular binding site (S0) in the selectivity filter functions as the voltage sensor for the rate constant of channel closure. The ion occupation outside of S0 modulates its dependence on K+ concentration. The analysis uncovers an important role of changes in protein flexibility in mediating the effect from the sensor to the gate.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Rauh
- Plant Membrane Biophysics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - U P Hansen
- Department of Structural Biology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - D D Scheub
- Plant Membrane Biophysics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - G Thiel
- Plant Membrane Biophysics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - I Schroeder
- Plant Membrane Biophysics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
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Zhekova HR, Ngo V, da Silva MC, Salahub D, Noskov S. Selective ion binding and transport by membrane proteins – A computational perspective. Coord Chem Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2017.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Salari V, Naeij H, Shafiee A. Quantum Interference and Selectivity through Biological Ion Channels. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41625. [PMID: 28134331 PMCID: PMC5278555 DOI: 10.1038/srep41625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of selectivity in ion channels is still an open question in biology for more than half a century. Here, we suggest that quantum interference can be a solution to explain the selectivity mechanism in ion channels since interference happens between similar ions through the same size of ion channels. In this paper, we simulate two neighboring ion channels on a cell membrane with the famous double-slit experiment in physics to investigate whether there is any possibility of matter-wave interference of ions via movement through ion channels. Our obtained decoherence timescales indicate that the quantum states of ions can only survive for short times, i.e. ≈100 picoseconds in each channel and ≈17-53 picoseconds outside the channels, giving the result that the quantum interference of ions seems unlikely due to environmental decoherence. However, we discuss our results and raise few points, which increase the possibility of interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Salari
- Department of Physics, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
- School of Physics, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), P.O. Box 19395-5531, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Naeij
- Research Group on Foundations of Quantum Theory and Information, Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11365-9516, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afshin Shafiee
- School of Physics, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), P.O. Box 19395-5531, Tehran, Iran
- Research Group on Foundations of Quantum Theory and Information, Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11365-9516, Tehran, Iran
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Oakes V, Furini S, Domene C. Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels: Mechanistic Insights From Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulations. CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2016; 78:183-214. [PMID: 27586285 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctm.2015.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The permeation of ions and other molecules across biological membranes is an inherent requirement of all cellular organisms. Ion channels, in particular, are responsible for the conduction of charged species, hence modulating the propagation of electrical signals. Despite the universal physiological implications of this property, the molecular functioning of ion channels remains ambiguous. The combination of atomistic structural data with computational methodologies, such as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, is now considered routine to investigate structure-function relationships in biological systems. A fuller understanding of conduction, selectivity, and gating, therefore, is steadily emerging due to the applicability of these techniques to ion channels. However, because their structure is known at atomic resolution, studies have consistently been biased toward K(+) channels, thus the molecular determinants of ionic selectivity, activation, and drug blockage in Na(+) channels are often overlooked. The recent increase of available crystallographic data has eminently encouraged the investigation of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels via computational methods. Here, we present an overview of simulation studies that have contributed to our understanding of key principles that underlie ionic conduction and selectivity in Na(+) channels, in comparison to the K(+) channel analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Oakes
- King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - S Furini
- University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - C Domene
- King's College London, London, United Kingdom; University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Giovannelli E, Cardini G, Chelli R. Elastic Barrier Dynamical Freezing in Free Energy Calculations: A Way To Speed Up Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations by Orders of Magnitude. J Chem Theory Comput 2016; 12:1029-39. [PMID: 26771534 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.5b01117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
An important issue concerning computer simulations addressed to free energy estimates via nonequilibrium work theorems, such as the Jarzynski equality [Phys. Rev. Lett. 1997, 78, 2690], is the computational effort required to achieve results with acceptable accuracy. In this respect, the dynamical freezing approach [Phys. Rev. E 2009, 80, 041124] has been shown to improve the efficiency of this kind of simulations, by blocking the dynamics of particles located outside an established mobility region. In this report, we show that dynamical freezing produces a systematic spurious decrease of the particle density inside the mobility region. As a consequence, the requirements to apply nonequilibrium work theorems are only approximately met. Starting from these considerations, we have developed a simulation scheme, called "elastic barrier dynamical freezing", according to which a stiff potential-energy barrier is enforced at the boundaries of the mobility region, preventing the particles from leaving this region of space during the nonequilibrium trajectories. The method, tested on the calculation of the distance-dependent free energy of a dimer immersed into a Lennard-Jones fluid, provides an accuracy comparable to the conventional steered molecular dynamics, with a computational speedup exceeding a few orders of magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Giovannelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Firenze , Via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Gianni Cardini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Firenze , Via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Riccardo Chelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Firenze , Via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Ngo V, Wang Y, Haas S, Noskov SY, Farley RA. K+ Block Is the Mechanism of Functional Asymmetry in Bacterial Na(v) Channels. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004482. [PMID: 26727271 PMCID: PMC4700994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Crystal structures of several bacterial Nav channels have been recently published and molecular dynamics simulations of ion permeation through these channels are consistent with many electrophysiological properties of eukaryotic channels. Bacterial Nav channels have been characterized as functionally asymmetric, and the mechanism of this asymmetry has not been clearly understood. To address this question, we combined non-equilibrium simulation data with two-dimensional equilibrium unperturbed landscapes generated by umbrella sampling and Weighted Histogram Analysis Methods for multiple ions traversing the selectivity filter of bacterial NavAb channel. This approach provided new insight into the mechanism of selective ion permeation in bacterial Nav channels. The non-equilibrium simulations indicate that two or three extracellular K+ ions can block the entrance to the selectivity filter of NavAb in the presence of applied forces in the inward direction, but not in the outward direction. The block state occurs in an unstable local minimum of the equilibrium unperturbed free-energy landscape of two K+ ions that can be ‘locked’ in place by modest applied forces. In contrast to K+, three Na+ ions move favorably through the selectivity filter together as a unit in a loose “knock-on” mechanism of permeation in both inward and outward directions, and there is no similar local minimum in the two-dimensional free-energy landscape of two Na+ ions for a block state. The useful work predicted by the non-equilibrium simulations that is required to break the K+ block is equivalent to large applied potentials experimentally measured for two bacterial Nav channels to induce inward currents of K+ ions. These results illustrate how inclusion of non-equilibrium factors in the simulations can provide detailed information about mechanisms of ion selectivity that is missing from mechanisms derived from either crystal structures or equilibrium unperturbed free-energy landscapes. In this paper we show that bacterial voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) conduct ions differently in the inward direction and in the outward direction because extracellular K+ blocks these channels. The mechanism of block by K+ is revealed in the simulations only when effects of applied forces in the inward direction are considered appropriately. The block of bacterial Nav channels by K+ explains the experimental findings that inward K+ current in bacterial Nav channels is very small under conditions where most mammalian Nav channels conduct significant K+ current. The block by K+ ions can occur in the bacterial Nav channels but is very unlikely to occur in mammalian channels due to differences in the amino acid sequences of the selectivity filters of the different channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van Ngo
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Molecular Simulations, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yibo Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Molecular Simulations, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stephan Haas
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Sergei Y. Noskov
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Molecular Simulations, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robert A. Farley
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Dondapati SK, Kreir M, Quast RB, Wüstenhagen DA, Brüggemann A, Fertig N, Kubick S. Membrane assembly of the functional KcsA potassium channel in a vesicle-based eukaryotic cell-free translation system. Biosens Bioelectron 2014; 59:174-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2014.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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