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Bodosa J, Pane AJ, Klauda JB. Modeling asymmetric cell membranes at all-atom resolution. Methods Enzymol 2024; 701:157-174. [PMID: 39025571 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are a useful tool when studying the properties of membranes as they allow for a molecular view of lipid interactions with proteins, nucleic acids, or small molecules. While model membranes are usually symmetric in their lipid composition between leaflets and include a small number of lipid components, physiological membranes are highly complex and vary in the level of asymmetry. Simulation studies have shown that changes in leaflet asymmetry can alter the properties of a membrane. It is therefore necessary to carefully build asymmetric membranes to accurately simulate membranes. This chapter carefully describes the different methods for building asymmetric membranes and the advantages/disadvantages of each method. The simplest methods involve building a membrane with either an equal number of lipids per leaflet or an equal initial surface area (SA) estimated by the area per lipid. More detailed methods include combining two symmetric membranes of equal SA or altering an asymmetric membrane and adjusting the number of lipids after equilibration to minimize an observable such as differential stress (0-DS). More complex methods that require specific simulation software are also briefly described. The challenges and assumptions are listed for each method which should help guide the researcher to choose the best method for their unique MD simulation of an asymmetric membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Bodosa
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Anthony J Pane
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Jeffery B Klauda
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College Park, MD, United States.
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2
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Santos N, Segura L, Lewis A, Pham T, Cheng KH. Multiscale Modeling of Macromolecular Interactions between Tau-Amylin Oligomers and Asymmetric Lipid Nanodomains That Link Alzheimer's and Diabetic Diseases. Molecules 2024; 29:740. [PMID: 38338484 PMCID: PMC10856442 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29030740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The molecular events of protein misfolding and self-aggregation of tau and amylin are associated with the progression of Alzheimer's and diabetes, respectively. Recent studies suggest that tau and amylin can form hetero-tau-amylin oligomers. Those hetero-oligomers are more neurotoxic than homo-tau oligomers. So far, the detailed interactions between the hetero-oligomers and the neuronal membrane are unknown. Using multiscale MD simulations, the lipid binding and protein folding behaviors of hetero-oligomers on asymmetric lipid nanodomains or raft membranes were examined. Our raft membranes contain phase-separated phosphatidylcholine (PC), cholesterol, and anionic phosphatidylserine (PS) or ganglioside (GM1) in one leaflet of the lipid bilayer. The hetero-oligomers bound more strongly to the PS and GM1 than other lipids via the hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions, respectively, in the raft membranes. The hetero-tetramer disrupted the acyl chain orders of both PC and PS in the PS-containing raft membrane, but only the GM1 in the GM1-containing raft membrane as effectively as the homo-tau-tetramer. We discovered that the alpha-helical content in the heterodimer was greater than the sum of alpha-helical contents from isolated tau and amylin monomers on both raft membranes, indicative of a synergetic effect of tau-amylin interactions in surface-induced protein folding. Our results provide new molecular insights into understanding the cross-talk between Alzheimer's and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Santos
- Neuroscience Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA; (N.S.); (L.S.); (A.L.)
| | - Luthary Segura
- Neuroscience Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA; (N.S.); (L.S.); (A.L.)
| | - Amber Lewis
- Neuroscience Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA; (N.S.); (L.S.); (A.L.)
| | - Thuong Pham
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA;
| | - Kwan H. Cheng
- Neuroscience Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA; (N.S.); (L.S.); (A.L.)
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA;
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3
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Biriukov D, Javanainen M. Efficient Simulations of Solvent Asymmetry Across Lipid Membranes Using Flat-Bottom Restraints. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:6332-6341. [PMID: 37651714 PMCID: PMC10537000 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The routinely employed periodic boundary conditions complicate molecular simulations of physiologically relevant asymmetric lipid membranes together with their distinct solvent environments. Therefore, separating the extracellular fluid from its cytosolic counterpart has often been performed using a costly double-bilayer setup. Here, we demonstrate that the lipid membrane and solvent asymmetry can be efficiently modeled with a single lipid bilayer by applying an inverted flat-bottom potential to ions and other solute molecules, thereby restraining them to only interact with the relevant leaflet. We carefully optimized the parameters of the suggested method so that the results obtained using the flat-bottom and double-bilayer approaches become mutually indistinguishable. Then, we apply the flat-bottom approach to lipid bilayers with various compositions and solvent environments, covering ions and cationic peptides to validate the approach in a realistic use case. We also discuss the possible limitations of the method as well as its computational efficiency and provide a step-by-step guide on how to set up such simulations in a straightforward manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denys Biriukov
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the
Czech Republic, Flemingovo
nam. 2, Prague 6 CZ-16610, Czech Republic
- Central
European Institute of Technology, Masaryk
University, Kamenice
5, Brno CZ-62500, Czech Republic
| | - Matti Javanainen
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the
Czech Republic, Flemingovo
nam. 2, Prague 6 CZ-16610, Czech Republic
- Institute
of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00790, Finland
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4
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Ivánczi M, Balogh B, Kis L, Mándity I. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Drug-Conjugated Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1251. [PMID: 37765059 PMCID: PMC10535489 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are small peptides capable of translocating through biological membranes carrying various attached cargo into cells and even into the nucleus. They may also participate in transcellular transport. Our in silico study intends to model several peptides and their conjugates. We have selected three CPPs with a linear backbone, including penetratin, a naturally occurring oligopeptide; two of its modified sequence analogues (6,14-Phe-penetratin and dodeca-penetratin); and three natural CPPs with a cyclic backbone: Kalata B1, the Sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFT1), and Momordica cochinchinensis trypsin inhibitor II (MCoTI-II). We have also built conjugates with the small-molecule drug compounds doxorubicin, zidovudine, and rasagiline for each peptide. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out with explicit membrane models. The analysis of the trajectories showed that the interaction of penetratin with the membrane led to spectacular rearrangements in the secondary structure of the peptide, while cyclic peptides remained unchanged due to their high conformational stability. Membrane-peptide and membrane-conjugate interactions have been identified and compared. Taking into account well-known examples from the literature, our simulations demonstrated the utility of computational methods for CPP complexes, and they may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism of penetration, which could serve as the basis for delivering conjugated drug molecules to their intracellular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Ivánczi
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Utca 7., H-1092 Budapest, Hungary (L.K.)
| | - Balázs Balogh
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Utca 7., H-1092 Budapest, Hungary (L.K.)
| | - Loretta Kis
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Utca 7., H-1092 Budapest, Hungary (L.K.)
| | - István Mándity
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Utca 7., H-1092 Budapest, Hungary (L.K.)
- Artificial Transporters Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
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5
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Chaisson EH, Heberle FA, Doktorova M. Building Asymmetric Lipid Bilayers for Molecular Dynamics Simulations: What Methods Exist and How to Choose One? MEMBRANES 2023; 13:629. [PMID: 37504995 PMCID: PMC10384462 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13070629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The compositional asymmetry of biological membranes has attracted significant attention over the last decade. Harboring more differences from symmetric membranes than previously appreciated, asymmetric bilayers have proven quite challenging to study with familiar concepts and techniques, leaving many unanswered questions about the reach of the asymmetry effects. One particular area of active research is the computational investigation of composition- and number-asymmetric lipid bilayers with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Offering a high level of detail into the organization and properties of the simulated systems, MD has emerged as an indispensable tool in the study of membrane asymmetry. However, the realization that results depend heavily on the protocol used for constructing the asymmetric bilayer models has sparked an ongoing debate about how to choose the most appropriate approach. Here we discuss the underlying source of the discrepant results and review the existing methods for creating asymmetric bilayers for MD simulations. Considering the available data, we argue that each method is well suited for specific applications and hence there is no single best approach. Instead, the choice of a construction protocol-and consequently, its perceived accuracy-must be based primarily on the scientific question that the simulations are designed to address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H. Chaisson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37916, USA
| | - Frederick A. Heberle
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37916, USA
| | - Milka Doktorova
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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6
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Nguyen N, Lewis A, Pham T, Sikazwe D, Cheng KH. Exploring the Role of Anionic Lipid Nanodomains in the Membrane Disruption and Protein Folding of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Oligomers on Lipid Membrane Surfaces Using Multiscale Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Molecules 2023; 28:4191. [PMID: 37241931 PMCID: PMC10223233 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28104191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (hIAPP) on cell membranes is linked to amyloid diseases. However, the physio-chemical mechanisms of how these hIAPP aggregates trigger membrane damage are unclear. Using coarse-grained and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the role of lipid nanodomains in the presence or absence of anionic lipids, phosphatidylserine (PS), and a ganglioside (GM1), in the membrane disruption and protein folding behaviors of hIAPP aggregates on phase-separated raft membranes. Our raft membranes contain liquid-ordered (Lo), liquid-disordered (Ld), mixed Lo/Ld (Lod), PS-cluster, and GM1-cluster nanosized domains. We observed that hIAPP aggregates bound to the Lod domain in the absence of anionic lipids, but also to the GM1-cluster- and PS-cluster-containing domains, with stronger affinity in the presence of anionic lipids. We discovered that L16 and I26 are the lipid anchoring residues of hIAPP binding to the Lod and PS-cluster domains. Finally, significant lipid acyl chain order disruption in the annular lipid shells surrounding the membrane-bound hIAPP aggregates and protein folding, particularly beta-sheet formation, in larger protein aggregates were evident. We propose that the interactions of hIAPP and both non-anionic and anionic lipid nanodomains represent key molecular events of membrane damage associated with the pathogenesis of amyloid diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Nguyen
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA; (N.N.); (T.P.)
| | - Amber Lewis
- Neuroscience Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA;
| | - Thuong Pham
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA; (N.N.); (T.P.)
| | - Donald Sikazwe
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Feik School of Pharmacy, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA;
| | - Kwan H. Cheng
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA; (N.N.); (T.P.)
- Neuroscience Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA;
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Lewis A, Pham T, Nguyen N, Graf A, Cheng KH. Lipid domain boundary triggers membrane damage and protein folding of human islet amyloid polypeptide in the early pathogenesis of amyloid diseases. Biophys Chem 2023; 296:106993. [PMID: 36898349 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.106993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The misfolding and self-aggregation of human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (hIAPP) are linked to the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the mechanism of how the disordered hIAPP aggregates trigger membrane damage leading to the loss of Islet cells in T2D is unknown. Using coarse-grained (CG) and all-atom (AA) molecular dynamics simulations, we have investigated the membrane-disruption behaviors of hIAPP oligomers on the phase-separated lipid nanodomains that mimic the highly heterogeneous lipid raft structures of cell membranes. Our results revealed that hIAPP oligomers preferentially bind to the liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered domain boundary around two hydrophobic residues at L16 and I26, and lipid acyl chain order disruption and beta-sheet formation occur upon hIAPP binding to the membrane surface. We propose that the lipid order disruption and surface-induced beta-sheet formation on the lipid domain boundary represent the early molecular events of membrane damage associated with the early pathogenesis of T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Lewis
- Neuroscience Dept., Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Thuong Pham
- Physics Dept., Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ngoc Nguyen
- Physics Dept., Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Angela Graf
- Physics Dept., Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kwan H Cheng
- Neuroscience Dept., Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA; Physics Dept., Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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8
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Barredo PA, Balanay MP. Recent Advances in Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Tau Fibrils and Oligomers. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:277. [PMID: 36984665 PMCID: PMC10052016 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13030277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The study of tau protein aggregation and interactions with other molecules or solvents using molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) is of interest to many researchers to propose new mechanism-based therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and other tauopathies. In this review, we present recent MD simulation studies of tau oligomers and fibrils such as tau-NPK, tau-PHF, tau-K18, and tau-R3-R4 monomers and dimers. All-atom simulations by replica exchange MDs and coarse-grained MDs in lipid bilayers and in solution were used. The simulations revealed different mechanisms in the binding of tau in bilayers and in solutions, depending on the peptide size. Phosphorylation is also an important factor in MD simulations. The use of steered MDs was also included to simulate the dissociation of tau fibrils. The exponential improvement in the computing power of computers has led to an increasing number of scientists and engineers using a cost-effective, high-performance computing platform to study how the tau protein interacts and the effects of changing its structure, such as the phosphorylation of tau fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prechiel A. Barredo
- Department of Chemistry, Mindanao State University, Marawi City 9700, Philippines
| | - Mannix P. Balanay
- Department of Chemistry, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
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9
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da Hora GCA, Nguyen JDM, Swanson JMJ. Can membrane composition traffic toxins? Mycolactone and preferential membrane interactions. Biophys J 2022; 121:4260-4270. [PMID: 36258678 PMCID: PMC9703097 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycolactone is a cytotoxic and immunosuppressive macrolide produced by Mycobacterium ulcerans and the sole causative agent of the neglected tropical skin disease Buruli ulcer. The toxin acts by invading host cells and interacting with intracellular targets to disrupt multiple fundamental cellular processes. Mycolactone's amphiphilic nature enables strong interactions with lipophilic environments, including cellular membranes; however, the specificity of these interactions and the role of membranes in the toxin's pathogenicity remain unknown. It is likely that preferential interactions with lipophilic carriers play a key role in the toxin's distribution in the host, which, if understood, could provide insights to aid in the development of needed diagnostics for Buruli ulcer disease. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations were combined with enhanced free-energy sampling to characterize mycolactone's association with and permeation through models of the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membranes (PMs). We find that increased order in the PMs not only leads to a different permeation mechanism compared with that in the ER membrane but also an energetic driving force for ER localization. Increased hydration, membrane deformation, and preferential interactions with unsaturated lipid tails stabilize the toxin in the ER membrane, while disruption of lipid packing is a destabilizing force in the PMs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John D M Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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10
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Cheng KH, Graf A, Lewis A, Pham T, Acharya A. Exploring Membrane Binding Targets of Disordered Human Tau Aggregates on Lipid Rafts Using Multiscale Molecular Dynamics Simulations. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12111098. [PMID: 36363654 PMCID: PMC9695534 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12111098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The self-aggregation of tau, a microtubule-binding protein, has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. Recent studies indicate that the disordered tau aggregates, or oligomers, are more toxic than the ordered fibrils found in the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of tau. At present, details of tau oligomer interactions with lipid rafts, a model of neuronal membranes, are not known. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the lipid-binding events, membrane-damage, and protein folding of tau oligomers on various lipid raft surfaces were investigated. Tau oligomers preferred to bind to the boundary domains (Lod) created by the coexisting liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) domains in the lipid rafts. Additionally, stronger binding of tau oligomers to the ganglioside (GM1) and phosphatidylserine (PS) domains, and subsequent protein-induced lipid chain order disruption and beta-sheet formation were detected. Our results suggest that GM1 and PS domains, located exclusively in the outer and inner leaflets, respectively, of the neuronal membranes, are specific membrane domain targets, whereas the Lod domains are non-specific targets, of tau oligomers binding to neurons. The molecular details of these specific and non-specific tau bindings to lipid rafts may provide new insights into understanding membrane-associated tauopathies leading to Alzheimer's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwan H. Cheng
- Neuroscience Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
| | - Angela Graf
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
| | - Amber Lewis
- Neuroscience Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
| | - Thuong Pham
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
| | - Aakriti Acharya
- Physics Department, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
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Naz Z, Moin ST. Investigation of the structural and dynamical properties of human uncoupling protein 2 through molecular dynamics simulations. J Mol Graph Model 2022; 114:108203. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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12
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Mao R, Li W, Jia P, Ding H, Teka T, Zhang L, Fu Z, Fu X, Kaushal S, Dou Z, Han L. An efficient and sensitive method on the identification of unsaturated fatty acids in biosamples: Total lipid extract from bovine liver as a case study. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1675:463176. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Basu S, Huynh L, Zhang S, Rabara R, Nguyen H, Velásquez Guzmán J, Hao G, Miles G, Shi Q, Stover E, Gupta G. Two Liberibacter Proteins Combine to Suppress Critical Innate Immune Defenses in Citrus. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:869178. [PMID: 35586217 PMCID: PMC9108871 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.869178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We adopted a systems-based approach to determine the role of two Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) proteins, LasP 235 and Effector 3, in Huanglongbing (HLB) pathogenesis. While a published work suggests the involvement of these CLas proteins HLB pathogenesis, the exact structure-based mechanism of their action has not been elucidated. We conducted the following experiments to determine the structure-based mechanisms of action. First, we immunoprecipitated the interacting citrus protein partners of LasP 235 and Effector 3 from the healthy and CLas-infected Hamlin extracts and identified them by Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Second, we performed a split green fluorescent protein (GFP) assay in tobacco to validate that the interactions observed in vitro are also retained in planta. The notable in planta citrus targets of LasP 235 and Effector 3 include citrus innate immune proteins. Third, in vitro and in planta studies were performed to show that LasP 235 and Effector 3 interact with and inhibit the functions of multiple citrus proteins belonging to the innate immune pathways. These inhibitory interactions led to a high level of reactive oxygen species, blocking of bactericidal lipid transfer protein (LTP), and induction of premature programed cell death (PCD), all of which are beneficial to CLas lifecycle and HLB pathogenesis. Finally, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to visualize the interactions of LasP 235 and Effector 3, respectively, with LTP and Kunitz protease inhibitor. This led to the design of an LTP mimic, which sequestered and blocked LasP 235 and rescued the bactericidal activity of LTP thereby proving that LasP 235 , indeed, participates in HLB pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supratim Basu
- Biolab, New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Loan Huynh
- Biolab, New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Shujian Zhang
- Biolab, New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Roel Rabara
- Biolab, New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Hau Nguyen
- Biolab, New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | | | - Guixia Hao
- Horticulture and Breeding, U. S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
| | - Godfrey Miles
- Horticulture and Breeding, U. S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
| | - Qingchun Shi
- Horticulture and Breeding, U. S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
| | - Ed Stover
- Horticulture and Breeding, U. S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL, United States
| | - Goutam Gupta
- Biolab, New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM, United States
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14
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Losasso V, Agarwal K, Waskar M, Majumdar A, Crain J, Winn M, Hoptroff M. Small molecules enhance the potency of natural antimicrobial peptides. Biophys J 2022; 121:491-501. [PMID: 34954157 PMCID: PMC8822605 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The skin-associated microbiome plays an important role in general well-being and in a variety of treatable skin conditions. In this regard, endogenous antimicrobial peptides have both a direct and indirect role in determining the composition of the microbiota. We demonstrate here that certain small molecular species can amplify the antimicrobial potency of naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides. In this study, we have used niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 naturally found in foods and widely used in cosmetic skincare products, and two of its structural analogs, to investigate their cooperativity with the human antimicrobial peptide LL37 on the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. We observed a clear synergistic effect of niacinamide and, to some extent, N-methylnicotinamide, whereas isonicotinamide showed no significant cooperativity with LL37. Adaptively biased molecular dynamics simulations using simplified model membrane substrates and single peptides revealed that these molecules partition into the headgroup region of an anionic bilayer used to mimic the bacterial membrane. The simulated effects on the physical properties of the simulated model membrane are well correlated with experimental activity observed in real biological assays despite the simplicity of the model. In contrast, these molecules have little effect on zwitterionic bilayers that mimic a mammalian membrane. We conclude that niacinamide and N-methylnicotinamide can therefore potentiate the activity of host peptides by modulating the physical properties of the bacterial membrane, and to a lesser extent through direct interactions with the peptide. The level of cooperativity is strongly dependent on the detailed chemistry of the additive, suggesting an opportunity to fine-tune the behavior of host peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Losasso
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Daresbury Laboratory, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Daresbury, UK
| | | | | | | | - Jason Crain
- IBM Research Europe, Hartree Centre, Daresbury, UK,Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Martyn Winn
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Daresbury Laboratory, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Daresbury, UK
| | - Michael Hoptroff
- Unilever Research and Development, Port Sunlight, UK,Corresponding author
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15
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Perez-Salas U, Garg S, Gerelli Y, Porcar L. Deciphering lipid transfer between and within membranes with time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering. CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2021; 88:359-412. [PMID: 34862031 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctm.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This review focuses on time-resolved neutron scattering, particularly time-resolved small angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS), as a powerful in situ noninvasive technique to investigate intra- and intermembrane transport and distribution of lipids and sterols in lipid membranes. In contrast to using molecular analogues with potentially large chemical tags that can significantly alter transport properties, small angle neutron scattering relies on the relative amounts of the two most abundant isotope forms of hydrogen: protium and deuterium to detect complex membrane architectures and transport processes unambiguously. This review discusses advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that sustain lipid asymmetry in membranes-a key feature of the plasma membrane of cells-as well as the transport of lipids between membranes, which is an essential metabolic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Perez-Salas
- Physics Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
| | - Sumit Garg
- Physics Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Yuri Gerelli
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Universita` Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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16
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Şterbuleac D. Molecular dynamics: a powerful tool for studying the medicinal chemistry of ion channel modulators. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1503-1518. [PMID: 34671734 PMCID: PMC8459385 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00140j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allow researchers to investigate the behavior of desired biological targets at ever-decreasing costs with ever-increasing precision. Among the biological macromolecules, ion channels are remarkable transmembrane proteins, capable of performing special biological processes and revealing a complex regulatory matrix, including modulation by small molecules, either endogenous or exogenous. Recently, given the developments in ion channel structure determination and accessibility of bio-computational techniques, MD and related tools are becoming increasingly popular in the intense research area regarding ligand-channel interactions. This review synthesizes and presents the most important fields of MD involvement in investigating channel-molecule interactions, including, but not limited to, deciphering the binding modes of ligands to their ion channel targets and the mechanisms through which chemical compounds exert their effect on channel function. Special attention is devoted to the importance of more elaborate methods, such as free energy calculations, while principles regarding drug design and discovery are highlighted. Several technical aspects involving the creation and simulation of channel-molecule MD systems (ligand parameterization, proper membrane setup, system building, etc.) are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Şterbuleac
- Department of Health and Human Development, "Ştefan cel Mare" University of Suceava Str. Universităţii 13, 720229, E Building Suceava Romania
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Protection, "Ştefan cel Mare" University of Suceava Str. Universităţii 13, 720229, E Building Suceava Romania
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies and Distributed Systems for Fabrication and Control (MANSiD), "Ştefan cel Mare" University of Suceava Str. Universităţii 13 720229 Suceava Romania
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17
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Cino EA, Borbuliak M, Hu S, Tieleman DP. Lipid distributions and transleaflet cholesterol migration near heterogeneous surfaces in asymmetric bilayers. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:103-113. [PMID: 34549760 DOI: 10.1039/d1fd00003a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Specific and nonspecific protein-lipid interactions in cell membranes have important roles in an abundance of biological functions. We have used coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to assess lipid distributions and cholesterol flipping dynamics around surfaces in a model asymmetric plasma membrane containing one of six structurally distinct entities: aquaporin-1 (AQP1), the bacterial β-barrel outer membrane proteins OmpF and OmpX, the KcsA potassium channel, the WALP23 peptide and a carbon nanotube (CNT). Our findings revealed varied lipid partitioning and cholesterol flipping times around the different solutes and putative cholesterol binding sites in AQP1 and KcsA. The results suggest that protein-lipid interactions can be highly variable, and that surface-dependent lipid profiles are effectively manifested in CG simulations with the Martini force field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elio A Cino
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Mariia Borbuliak
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Shangnong Hu
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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18
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Weigle AT, Carr M, Shukla D. Impact of Increased Membrane Realism on Conformational Sampling of Proteins. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:5342-5357. [PMID: 34339605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The realism and accuracy of lipid bilayer simulations through molecular dynamics (MD) are heavily dependent on the lipid composition. While the field is pushing toward implementing more heterogeneous and realistic membrane compositions, a lack of high-resolution lipidomic data prevents some membrane protein systems from being modeled with the highest level of realism. Given the additional diversity of real-world cellular membranes and protein-lipid interactions, it is still not fully understood how altering membrane complexity affects modeled membrane protein functions or if it matters over long-timescale simulations. This is especially true for organisms whose membrane environments have little to no computational study, such as the plant plasma membrane. Tackling these issues in tandem, a generalized, realistic, and asymmetric plant plasma membrane with more than 10 different lipid species is constructed herein. Classical MD simulations of pure membrane constructs were performed to evaluate how altering the compositional complexity of the membrane impacted the plant membrane properties. The apo form of a plant sugar transporter, OsSWEET2b, was inserted into membrane models where lipid diversity was calculated in either a size-dependent or size-independent manner. An adaptive sampling simulation regime validated by Markov-state models was performed to capture the gating dynamics of OsSWEET2b in each of these membrane constructs. In comparison to previous OsSWEET2b simulations performed in a pure POPC bilayer, we confirm that simulations performed within a native-like membrane composition alter the stabilization of apo OsSWEET2b conformational states by ∼1 kcal/mol. The free-energy barriers of intermediate conformational states decrease when realistic membrane complexity is simplified, albeit roughly within sampling error, suggesting that protein-specific responses to membranes differ due to altered packing caused by compositional fluctuations. This work serves as a case study where a more realistic bilayer composition makes unbiased conformational sampling easier to achieve than with simplified bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin T Weigle
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Matthew Carr
- Independent Software Development Provider310 East Marlette Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, United States
| | - Diwakar Shukla
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Center for Digital Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,NIH Center for Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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19
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Scott HL, Kennison KB, Enoki TA, Doktorova M, Kinnun JJ, Heberle FA, Katsaras J. Model Membrane Systems Used to Study Plasma Membrane Lipid Asymmetry. Symmetry (Basel) 2021; 13. [PMID: 35498375 PMCID: PMC9053528 DOI: 10.3390/sym13081356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that the lipid distribution in the bilayer leaflets of mammalian plasma membranes (PMs) is not symmetric. Despite this, model membrane studies have largely relied on chemically symmetric model membranes for the study of lipid–lipid and lipid–protein interactions. This is primarily due to the difficulty in preparing stable, asymmetric model membranes that are amenable to biophysical studies. However, in the last 20 years, efforts have been made in producing more biologically faithful model membranes. Here, we review several recently developed experimental and computational techniques for the robust generation of asymmetric model membranes and highlight a new and particularly promising technique to study membrane asymmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haden L. Scott
- Large Scale Structures Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Shull-Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Correspondence: (H.L.S.); (K.B.K.); (T.A.E.); (M.D.); (J.J.K.); (F.A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Kristen B. Kennison
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Correspondence: (H.L.S.); (K.B.K.); (T.A.E.); (M.D.); (J.J.K.); (F.A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Thais A. Enoki
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Correspondence: (H.L.S.); (K.B.K.); (T.A.E.); (M.D.); (J.J.K.); (F.A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Milka Doktorova
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Correspondence: (H.L.S.); (K.B.K.); (T.A.E.); (M.D.); (J.J.K.); (F.A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Jacob J. Kinnun
- Large Scale Structures Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Shull-Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Correspondence: (H.L.S.); (K.B.K.); (T.A.E.); (M.D.); (J.J.K.); (F.A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Frederick A. Heberle
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Correspondence: (H.L.S.); (K.B.K.); (T.A.E.); (M.D.); (J.J.K.); (F.A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - John Katsaras
- Shull-Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Sample Environment Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Correspondence: (H.L.S.); (K.B.K.); (T.A.E.); (M.D.); (J.J.K.); (F.A.H.); (J.K.)
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20
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Borocci S, Bozzuto G, Bombelli C, Ceccacci F, Formisano G, Stringaro A, Molinari A, Mancini G. How stereochemistry of lipid components can affect lipid organization and the route of liposome internalization into cells. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:11976-11993. [PMID: 34212969 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr02175c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Though liposome-based drugs are in clinical use, the mechanism of cell internalization of liposomes is yet an object of controversy. The present experimental investigation, carried out on human glioblastoma cells, indicated different internalization routes for two diastereomeric liposomes. Molecular dynamics simulations of the lipid bilayers of the two formulations indicated that the different stereochemistry of a lipid component controls some parameters such as area per lipid molecule and fluidity of lipid membranes, surface potential and water organization at the lipid/water interface, all of which affect the interaction with biomolecules and cell components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Borocci
- Dipartimento per la Innovazione nei sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, L.go dell'Università, s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
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21
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Karlsen ML, Bruhn DS, Pezeshkian W, Khandelia H. Long chain sphingomyelin depletes cholesterol from the cytoplasmic leaflet in asymmetric lipid membranes. RSC Adv 2021; 11:22677-22682. [PMID: 35480443 PMCID: PMC9034350 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra01464a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The transbilayer distribution of cholesterol (CHL) in complex asymmetric lipid membranes remains controversial, with contrasting investigations suggesting that there is more CHL either in the exoplasmic, outer leaflet (OL) or the cytoplasmic, inner leaflet (IL) depending on cell type or model, membrane composition, and method of investigation. Here, we launch systematic coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the impact of the sphingomyelin (SM) acyl chain length upon CHL distribution in asymmetric lipid membrane mixtures which account for the variation of the most abundant headgroups and acyl chain unsaturation in the two membrane leaflets. We find that there is always more CHL in the OL, but longer chain SM depletes more CHL from the IL than short chain SM in simple membrane mixtures containing SM and 16 : 0, 18 : 1 phospholipids. The difference between longer and shorter chain SM is neutralised in a more complex asymmetric membrane, where there are more saturated tails in the outer leaflet. We propose that interdigitation of long-chain SM into the opposing IL pushes cytoplasmic CHL towards the OL, but higher chain saturation of the outer leaflet compensates for the effect of SM chain length. Long acyl chain sphingomyelin and saturated phospholipid tails in the outer membrane leaflet deplete cholesterol from the inner leaflet in mammalian membranes.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lyngby Karlsen
- PHYLIFE: Physical Life Science
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy
- University of Southern Denmark
- Odense 5230 M
- Denmark
| | - Dennis S. Bruhn
- PHYLIFE: Physical Life Science
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy
- University of Southern Denmark
- Odense 5230 M
- Denmark
| | - Weria Pezeshkian
- PHYLIFE: Physical Life Science
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy
- University of Southern Denmark
- Odense 5230 M
- Denmark
| | - Himanshu Khandelia
- PHYLIFE: Physical Life Science
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy
- University of Southern Denmark
- Odense 5230 M
- Denmark
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