Role of phosphatidic acid lipids on plasma membrane association of the Ebola virus matrix protein VP40

The Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 is responsible for the formation of the viral matrix by localizing at the inner leaflet of the human plasma membrane (PM). Various lipid types, including PI(4,5)P2 (i.e. PIP2) and phosphatidylserine (PS), play active roles in this process. Specifically, the negatively charged headgroups of both PIP2 and PS interact with the basic residues of VP40 and stabilize it at the membrane surface, allowing for eventual egress. Phosphatidic acid (PA), resulting from the enzyme phospholipase D (PLD), is also known to play an active role in viral development. In this work, we performed a biophysical and computational analysis to investigate the effects of the presence of PA on the membrane localization and association of VP40. We used coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to quantify VP40 hexamer interactions with the inner leaflet of the PM. Analysis of the local distribution of lipids shows enhanced lipid clustering when PA is abundant in the membrane. We observed that PA lipids have a similar role to that of PS lipids in VP40 association due to the geometry and charge. Complementary experiments performed in cell culture demonstrate competition between VP40 and a canonical PA-binding protein for the PM. Also, inhibition of PA synthesis reduced the detectable budding of virus-like particles. These computational and experimental results provide new insights into the early stages of Ebola virus budding and the role that PA lipids have on the VP40-PM association.

PI(4,5)P2 binding sites in the Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 modulate assembly and budding

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and is lethal in a large percentage of those infected. The EBOV matrix protein viral protein 40 kDa (VP40) is a peripheral binding protein that forms a shell beneath the lipid bilayer in virions and virus-like particles (VLPs). VP40 is required for virus assembly and budding from the host cell plasma membrane. VP40 is a dimer that can rearrange into oligomers at the plasma membrane interface, but it is unclear how these structures form and how they are stabilized. We therefore investigated the ability of VP40 to form stable oligomers using in vitro and cellular assays. We characterized two lysine-rich regions in the VP40 C-terminal domain (CTD) that bind phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and play distinct roles in lipid binding and the assembly of the EBOV matrix layer. The extensive analysis of VP40 with and without lipids by hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry revealed that VP40 oligomers become extremely stable when VP40 binds PI(4,5)P2. The PI(4,5)P2-induced stability of VP40 dimers and oligomers is a critical factor in VP40 oligomerization and release of VLPs from the plasma membrane. The two lysine-rich regions of the VP40 CTD have different roles with respect to interactions with plasma membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) and PI(4,5)P2. CTD region 1 (Lys221, Lys224, and Lys225) interacts with PI(4,5)P2 more favorably than PS and is important for VP40 extent of oligomerization. In contrast, region 2 (Lys270, Lys274, Lys275, and Lys279) mediates VP40 oligomer stability via lipid interactions and has a more prominent role in release of VLPs.

Immunoinformatic screening of Marburgvirus epitopes and computational investigations of epitope-allele complexes

Marburgvirus (MARV), a member of the Filovirus family, causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or post exposure treatment methods available against MARV. With the aim of identifying vaccine candidates against MARV, we employ different sequence-based computational methods to predict the MHC-I and MHC-II T-cell epitopes as well as B-cell epitopes for the complete MARV genome. We analyzed the variations in the predicted epitopes among four MARV variants, the Lake Victoria, Angola, Musoke, and Ravn. We used a consensus approach to identify several epitopes, including novel epitopes, and narrowed down the selection based on different parameters such as antigenicity and IC₅₀ values. The selected epitopes can be used in various vaccine constructs that give effective antibody responses. The MHC-I epitope-allele complexes for GP and NP with favorably low IC₅₀ values were investigated using molecular dynamics computations to determine the molecular details of the epitope-allele complexes. This study provides information for further experimental validation of the potential epitopes and the design and development of MARV vaccines.

Ebola virus protein VP40 binding to Sec24c for transport to the plasma membrane

Outbreaks of the Ebola virus (EBOV) continue to occur and while a vaccine and treatment are now available, there remains a dearth of options for those who become sick with EBOV disease. An understanding at the atomic and molecular level of the various steps in the EBOV replication cycle can provide molecular targets for disrupting the virus. An important step in the EBOV replication cycle is the transport of EBOV structural matrix VP40 protein molecules to the plasma membrane inner leaflet, which involves VP40 binding to the host cell's Sec24c protein. Though some VP40 residues involved in the binding are known, the molecular details of VP40-Sec24c binding are not known. We use various molecular computational techniques to investigate the molecular details of how EBOV VP40 binds with the Sec24c complex of the ESCRT-I pathway. We employed different docking programs to identify the VP40-binding site on Sec24c and then performed molecular dynamics simulations to determine the atomic details and binding interactions of the complex. We also investigated how the inter-protein interactions of the complex are affected upon mutations of VP40 amino acids in the Sec24c-binding region. Our results provide a molecular basis for understanding previous coimmunoprecipitation experimental studies. In addition, we found that VP40 can bind to a site on Sec24c that can also bind Sec23 and suggests that VP40 may use the COPII transport mechanism in a manner that may not need the Sec23 protein in order for VP40 to be transported to the plasma membrane.

Significance of the RBD mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron: from spike opening to antibody escape and cell attachment

We computationally investigated the role of the Omicron RBD mutations on its structure and interactions with surrounding domains in the spike trimer as well as with ACE2. Our results suggest...

Lipid II Binding and Transmembrane Properties of Various Antimicrobial Lanthipeptides

There has been an alarming rise in antibacterial resistant infections in recent years due to the widespread use of antibiotics, and there is a dire need for the development of new antibiotics utilizing novel modes of action. Lantibiotics are promising candidates to engage in the fight against resistant strains of bacteria due to their unique modes of action, including interference with cell wall synthesis by binding to lipid II and creating pores in bacterial membranes. In this study, we use atomic-scale molecular dynamics computational studies to compare both the lipid II binding ability and the membrane interactions of five lanthipeptides that are commonly used in antimicrobial research: nisin, Mutacin 1140 (MU1140), gallidermin, NVB302, and NAI107. Among the five peptides investigated, nisin is found to be the most efficient at forming water channels through a membrane, whereas gallidermin and MU1140 are found to be better at binding the lipid II molecules. Nisin's effectiveness in facilitating water transport across the membrane is due to the creation of several different water trajectories along with no significant water delay points along the paths. The shorter peptide deoxyactagardine B (NVB302) was found to not form a water channel. These detailed observations provide insights into the dual mechanisms of the action of lantibiotic peptides and can facilitate the design and development of novel lanthipeptides by strategic placement of different residues.

Mutation-induced changes in the receptor-binding interface of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant B.1.617.2 and implications for immune evasion

Following the initial surges of the Alpha (B.1.1.7) and the Beta (B.1.351) variants, a more infectious Delta variant (B.1.617.2) is now surging, further deepening the health crises caused by the pandemic. The sharp rise in cases attributed to the Delta variant has made it especially disturbing and is a variant of concern. Fortunately, current vaccines offer protection against known variants of concern, including the Delta variant. However, the Delta variant has exhibited some ability to dodge the immune system as it is found that neutralizing antibodies from prior infections or vaccines are less receptive to binding with the Delta spike protein. Here, we investigated the structural changes caused by the mutations in the Delta variant's receptor-binding interface and explored the effects on binding with the ACE2 receptor as well as with neutralizing antibodies. We find that the receptor-binding β-loop-β motif adopts an altered but stable conformation causing separation in some of the antibody binding epitopes. Our study shows reduced binding of neutralizing antibodies and provides a possible mechanism for the immune evasion exhibited by the Delta variant.

Cysteine Mutations in the Ebolavirus Matrix Protein VP40 Promote Phosphatidylserine Binding by Increasing the Flexibility of a Lipid-Binding Loop

Ebolavirus (EBOV) is a negative-sense RNA virus that causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. The matrix protein VP40 facilitates viral budding by binding to lipids in the host cell plasma membrane and driving the formation of filamentous, pleomorphic virus particles. The C-terminal domain of VP40 contains two highly-conserved cysteine residues at positions 311 and 314, but their role in the viral life cycle is unknown. We therefore investigated the properties of VP40 mutants in which the conserved cysteine residues were replaced with alanine. The C311A mutation significantly increased the affinity of VP40 for membranes containing phosphatidylserine (PS), resulting in the assembly of longer virus-like particles (VLPs) compared to wild-type VP40. The C314A mutation also increased the affinity of VP40 for membranes containing PS, albeit to a lesser degree than C311A. The double mutant behaved in a similar manner to the individual mutants. Computer modeling revealed that both cysteine residues restrain a loop segment containing lysine residues that interact with the plasma membrane, but Cys311 has the dominant role. Accordingly, the C311A mutation increases the flexibility of this membrane-binding loop, changes the profile of hydrogen bonding within VP40 and therefore binds to PS with greater affinity. This is the first evidence that mutations in VP40 can increase its affinity for biological membranes and modify the length of Ebola VLPs. The Cys311 and Cys314 residues therefore play an important role in dynamic interactions at the plasma membrane by modulating the ability of VP40 to bind PS.

Structural and Dynamical Differences in the Spike Protein RBD in the SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic that started in late 2019 is responsible for hundreds of millions of cases worldwide and millions of fatalities. Though vaccines are available, the virus is mutating to form new strains among which are the variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 that demonstrate increased transmissivity and infectivity. In this study, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to explore the role of the mutations in the interaction of the virus spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) with the host receptor ACE2. We find that the hydrogen bond networks are rearranged in the variants and also that new hydrogen bonds are established between the RBD and ACE2 as a result of mutations. We investigated three variants: the wild-type (WT), B.1.1.7, and B.1.351. We find that the B.1.351 variant (also known as 501Y.V2) shows larger flexibility in the RBD loop segment involving residue K484, yet the RBD-ACE2 complex shows higher stability. Mutations that allow a more flexible interface that can result in a more stable complex may be a factor contributing to the increased infectivity of the mutated variants.

Lipid-specific oligomerization of the Marburg virus matrix protein VP40 is regulated by two distinct interfaces for virion assembly

Marburg virus (MARV) is a lipid-enveloped virus harboring a negative-sense RNA genome, which has caused sporadic outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever in sub-Saharan Africa. MARV assembles and buds from the host cell plasma membrane where MARV matrix protein (mVP40) dimers associate with anionic lipids at the plasma membrane inner leaflet and undergo a dynamic and extensive self-oligomerization into the structural matrix layer. The MARV matrix layer confers the virion filamentous shape and stability but how host lipids modulate mVP40 oligomerization is mostly unknown. Using in vitro and cellular techniques, we present a mVP40 assembly model highlighting two distinct oligomerization interfaces: the (N-terminal domain [NTD] and C-terminal domain [CTD]) in mVP40. Cellular studies of NTD and CTD oligomerization interface mutants demonstrate the importance of each interface in matrix assembly. The assembly steps include protein trafficking to the plasma membrane, homo-multimerization that induced protein enrichment, plasma membrane fluidity changes, and elongations at the plasma membrane. An ascorbate peroxidase derivative (APEX)-transmission electron microscopy method was employed to closely assess the ultrastructural localization and formation of viral particles for wildtype mVP40 and NTD and CTD oligomerization interface mutants. Taken together, these studies present a mechanistic model of mVP40 oligomerization and assembly at the plasma membrane during virion assembly that requires interactions with phosphatidylserine for NTD–NTD interactions and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate for proper CTD–CTD interactions. These findings have broader implications in understanding budding of lipid-enveloped viruses from the host cell plasma membrane and potential strategies to target protein–protein or lipid–protein interactions to inhibit virus budding.

Mutation of Hydrophobic Residues in the C-Terminal Domain of the Marburg Virus Matrix Protein VP40 Disrupts Trafficking to the Plasma Membrane

Marburg virus (MARV) is a lipid-enveloped negative sense single stranded RNA virus, which can cause a deadly hemorrhagic fever. MARV encodes seven proteins, including VP40 (mVP40), a matrix protein that interacts with the cytoplasmic leaflet of the host cell plasma membrane. VP40 traffics to the plasma membrane inner leaflet, where it assembles to facilitate the budding of viral particles. VP40 is a multifunctional protein that interacts with several host proteins and lipids to complete the viral replication cycle, but many of these host interactions remain unknown or are poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the role of a hydrophobic loop region in the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of mVP40 that shares sequence similarity with the CTD of Ebola virus VP40 (eVP40). These conserved hydrophobic residues in eVP40 have been previously shown to be critical to plasma membrane localization and membrane insertion. An array of cellular experiments and confirmatory in vitro work strongly suggests proper orientation and hydrophobic residues (Phe²⁸¹, Leu²⁸³, and Phe²⁸⁶) in the mVP40 CTD are critical to plasma membrane localization. In line with the different functions proposed for eVP40 and mVP40 CTD hydrophobic residues, molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate large flexibility of residues in the EBOV CTD whereas conserved mVP40 hydrophobic residues are more restricted in their flexibility. This study sheds further light on important amino acids and structural features in mVP40 required for its plasma membrane localization as well as differences in the functional role of CTD amino acids in eVP40 and mVP40.

Conformational Flexibility of the Protein-Protein Interfaces of the Ebola Virus VP40 Structural Matrix Filament

The Ebola virus (EBOV) is a virulent pathogen that causes severe hemorrhagic fever with a high fatality rate in humans. The EBOV transformer protein VP40 plays crucial roles in viral assembly and budding at the plasma membrane of infected cells. One of VP40's roles is to form the long, flexible, pleomorphic filamentous structural matrix for the virus. Each filament contains three unique interfaces: monomer NTD-NTD to form a dimer, dimer-to-dimer NTD-NTD oligomerization to form a hexamer, and end-to-end hexamer CTD-CTD to build the filament. However, the atomic-level details of conformational flexibility of the VP40 filament are still elusive. In this study, we have performed explicit-solvent, all-atom molecular dynamic simulations to explore the conformational flexibility of the three different interface structures of the filament. Using dynamic network analysis and other calculational methods, we find that the CTD-CTD hexamer interface with weak interdomain amino acid communities is the most flexible, and the NTD-NTD oligomer interface with strong interdomain communities is the least flexible. Our study suggests that the high flexibility of the CTD-CTD interface may be essential for the supple bending of the Ebola filovirus, and such flexibility may present a target for molecular interventions to disrupt the Ebola virus functioning.

Molecular mechanisms of pore formation and membrane disruption by the antimicrobial lantibiotic peptide Mutacin 1140

The emergence of antibiotic-resistance is a major concern to global human health and identification of novel antibiotics is critical to mitigate the threat.

Membrane pore formation and ion selectivity of the Ebola virus delta peptide

The Ebola virus delta peptide homo-oligomerizes in the host cell membrane to form amphipathic pores that alter the membrane properties.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Conformational Conversions in Transformer Proteins

A relatively recently discovered class of proteins known as transformer proteins undergo large-scale conformational conversions that change their supersecondary structure. These structural transformations lead to different configurations that perform different functions. We describe computational methods using molecular dynamics simulations that allow the determination of the specific amino acids that facilitate the conformational transformations. These investigations provide guidance on the location and type of amino acid mutations that can either enhance or inhibit the structural transitions that allow transformer proteins to perform multiple functions.

A cylindrical assembly model and dynamics of the Ebola virus VP40 structural matrix

The Ebola filovirus causes severe hemorrhagic fever with a high fatality rate in humans. The primary structural matrix protein VP40 displays transformer-protein characteristics and exists in different conformational and oligomeric states. VP40 plays crucial roles in viral assembly and budding at the plasma membrane of the infected cells and is capable of forming virus-like particles without the need for other Ebola proteins. However, no experimental three-dimensional structure for any filovirus VP40 cylindrical assembly matrix is currently available. Here, we use a protein-protein docking approach to develop cylindrical assembly models for an Ebola virion and also for a smaller structural matrix that does not contain genetic material. These models match well with the 2D averages of cryo-electron tomograms of the authentic virion. We also used all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the stability and dynamics of the cylindrical models and the interactions between the side-by-side hexamers to determine the amino acid residues that are especially important for stabilizing the hexamers in the cylindrical ring configuration matrix assembly. Our models provide helpful information to better understand the assembly processes of filoviruses and such structural studies may also lead to the design and development of antiviral drugs.

In Silico Investigations of Calcium Phosphate Mineralization in Extracellular Vesicles

Calcification in bone, cartilage, and cardiovascular tissues involves the release of specialized extracellular vesicles (EVs) that promote mineral nucleation. The small size of the EVs, however, makes molecular level studies difficult, and consequently uncertainty exists on the role and function of these structures in directing mineralization. The lack of mechanistic understanding associated with the initiators of ectopic mineral deposition has severely hindered the development of potential therapeutic options. Here, we used multiscale molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the calcification within the EVs. Results show that Ca²⁺-HPO₄^2- and phosphatidylserine complexes facilitate the early nucleation. Use of coarse-grained simulations allows investigations of Ca²⁺-PO₄^3- nucleation and crystallization in the EVs. Systematic variation in the ion-to-water ratio shows that the crystallization and growth strongly depend on the enrichment of the ions and dehydration inside the EVs. Our investigations provide insights into the role of EVs on calcium phosphate mineral nucleation and growth in both physiological and pathological mineralization.

A cationic, C-terminal patch and structural rearrangements in Ebola virus matrix VP40 protein control its interactions with phosphatidylserine

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a filamentous lipid-enveloped virus that causes hemorrhagic fever with a high fatality rate. Viral protein 40 (VP40) is the major EBOV matrix protein and regulates viral budding from the plasma membrane. VP40 is a transformer/morpheein that can structurally rearrange its native homodimer into either a hexameric filament that facilitates viral budding or an RNA-binding octameric ring that regulates viral transcription. VP40 associates with plasma-membrane lipids such as phosphatidylserine (PS), and this association is critical to budding from the host cell. However, it is poorly understood how different VP40 structures interact with PS, what essential residues are involved in this association, and whether VP40 has true selectivity for PS among different glycerophospholipid headgroups. In this study, we used lipid-binding assays, MD simulations, and cellular imaging to investigate the molecular basis of VP40-PS interactions and to determine whether different VP40 structures (i.e. monomer, dimer, and octamer) can interact with PS-containing membranes. Results from quantitative analysis indicated that VP40 associates with PS vesicles via a cationic patch in the C-terminal domain (Lys^{224, 225} and Lys^{274, 275}). Substitutions of these residues with alanine reduced PS-vesicle binding by >40-fold and abrogated VP40 localization to the plasma membrane. Dimeric VP40 had 2-fold greater affinity for PS-containing membranes than the monomer, whereas binding of the VP40 octameric ring was reduced by nearly 10-fold. Taken together, these results suggest the different VP40 structures known to form in the viral life cycle harbor different affinities for PS-containing membranes.

Graphene-VP40 interactions and potential disruption of the Ebola virus matrix filaments

Ebola virus infections cause hemorrhagic fever that often results in very high fatality rates. In addition to exploring vaccines, development of drugs is also essential for treating the disease and preventing the spread of the infection. The Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 exists in various conformational and oligomeric forms and is a potential pharmacological target for disrupting the virus life-cycle. Here we explored graphene-VP40 interactions using molecular dynamics simulations and graphene pelleting assays. We found that graphene sheets associate strongly with VP40 at various interfaces. We also found that the graphene is able to disrupt the C-terminal domain (CTD-CTD) interface of VP40 hexamers. This VP40 hexamer-hexamer interface is crucial in forming the Ebola viral matrix and disruption of this interface may provide a method to use graphene or similar nanoparticle based solutions as a disinfectant that can significantly reduce the spread of the disease and prevent an Ebola epidemic.

Detection of lipid-induced structural changes of the Marburg virus matrix protein VP40 using hydrogen/deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry

Marburg virus (MARV) is a lipid-enveloped virus from the Filoviridae family containing a negative sense RNA genome. One of the seven MARV genes encodes the matrix protein VP40, which forms a matrix layer beneath the plasma membrane inner leaflet to facilitate budding from the host cell. MARV VP40 (mVP40) has been shown to be a dimeric peripheral protein with a broad and flat basic surface that can associate with anionic phospholipids such as phosphatidylserine. Although a number of mVP40 cationic residues have been shown to facilitate binding to membranes containing anionic lipids, much less is known on how mVP40 assembles to form the matrix layer following membrane binding. Here we have used hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry to determine the solvent accessibility of mVP40 residues in the absence and presence of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. HDX analysis demonstrates that two basic loops in the mVP40 C-terminal domain make important contributions to anionic membrane binding and also reveals a potential oligomerization interface in the C-terminal domain as well as a conserved oligomerization interface in the mVP40 N-terminal domain. Lipid binding assays confirm the role of the two basic patches elucidated with HD/X measurements, whereas molecular dynamics simulations and membrane insertion measurements complement these studies to demonstrate that mVP40 does not appreciably insert into the hydrocarbon region of anionic membranes in contrast to the matrix protein from Ebola virus. Taken together, we propose a model by which association of the mVP40 dimer with the anionic plasma membrane facilitates assembly of mVP40 oligomers.

Plasma membrane association facilitates conformational changes in the Marburg virus protein VP40 dimer

The membrane binding interface of the Marburg virus protein mVP40 dimer differs from that of the Ebola virus eVP40 dimer but membrane binding allows conformational changes in mVP40 that makes it structurally similar to the eVP40 dimer.

Filovirus infections cause hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates that often results in high fatality rates. The Marburg virus is a lipid-enveloped virus from the Filoviridae family and is closely related to the Ebola virus. The viral matrix layer underneath the lipid envelope is formed by the matrix protein VP40 (VP40), which is also involved in other functions during the viral life-cycle. As in the Ebola virus VP40 (eVP40), the recently determined X-ray crystal structure of the Marburg virus VP40 (mVP40) features loops containing cationic residues that form a lipid binding basic patch. However, the mVP40 basic patch is significantly flatter with a more extended surface than in eVP40, suggesting the possibility of differences in the plasma membrane interactions and phospholipid specificity between the VP40 dimers. In this paper, we report on molecular dynamics simulations that investigate the roles of various residues and lipid types in PM association as well as the conformational changes of the mVP40 dimer facilitated by membrane association. We compared the structural changes of the mVP40 dimer with the mVP40 dimer in both lipid free and membrane associated conditions. Despite the significant structural differences in the crystal structure, the Marburg VP40 dimer is found to adopt a configuration very similar to the Ebola VP40 dimer after associating with the membrane. This conformational rearrangement upon lipid binding allows Marburg VP40 to localize and stabilize at the membrane surface in a manner similar to the Ebola VP40 dimer. Consideration of the structural information in its lipid-interacting condition may be important in targeting mVP40 for novel drugs to inhibit viral budding from the plasma membrane.

The Ebola virus protein VP40 hexamer enhances the clustering of PI(4,5)P2 lipids in the plasma membrane

The Ebola virus is a lipid-enveloped virus that obtains its lipid coat from the plasma membrane of the host cell it infects during the budding process. The Ebola virus protein VP40 localizes to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane and forms the viral matrix, which provides the major structure for the Ebola virus particles. VP40 is initially a dimer that rearranges to a hexameric structure that mediates budding. VP40 hexamers and larger filaments have been shown to be stabilized by PI(4,5)P2 in the plasma membrane inner leaflet. Reduction in the plasma membrane levels of PI(4,5)P2 significantly reduce formation of VP40 oligomers and virus-like particles. We investigated the lipid-protein interactions in VP40 hexamers at the plasma membrane. We quantified lipid-lipid self-clustering by calculating the fractional interaction matrix and found that the VP40 hexamer significantly enhances the PI(4,5)P2 clustering. The radial pair distribution functions suggest a strong interaction between PI(4,5)P2 and the VP40 hexamer. The cationic Lys side chains are found to mediate the PIP2 clustering around the protein, with cholesterol filling the space between the interacting PIP2 molecules. These computational studies support recent experimental data and provide new insights into the mechanisms by which VP40 assembles at the plasma membrane inner leaflet, alters membrane curvature, and forms new virus-like particles.

Fluorescence from Multiple Chromophore Hydrogen-Bonding States in the Far-Red Protein TagRFP675

Far-red fluorescent proteins are critical for in vivo imaging applications, but the relative importance of structure versus dynamics in generating large Stokes-shifted emission is unclear. The unusually red-shifted emission of TagRFP675, a derivative of mKate, has been attributed to the multiple hydrogen bonds with the chromophore N-acylimine carbonyl. We characterized TagRFP675 and point mutants designed to perturb these hydrogen bonds with spectrally resolved transient grating and time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) spectroscopies supported by molecular dynamics simulations. TRF results for TagRFP675 and the mKate/M41Q variant show picosecond time scale red-shifts followed by nanosecond time blue-shifts. Global analysis of the TRF spectra reveals spectrally distinct emitting states that do not interconvert during the S1 lifetime. These dynamics originate from photoexcitation of a mixed ground-state population of acylimine hydrogen bond conformers. Strategically tuning the chromophore environment in TagRFP675 might stabilize the most red-shifted conformation and result in a variant with a larger Stokes shift.

Interdomain salt-bridges in the Ebola virus protein VP40 and their role in domain association and plasma membrane localization

The Ebola virus protein VP40 is a transformer protein that possesses an extraordinary ability to accomplish multiple functions by transforming into various oligomeric conformations. The disengagement of the C-terminal domain (CTD) from the N-terminal domain (NTD) is a crucial step in the conformational transformations of VP40 from the dimeric form to the hexameric form or octameric ring structure. Here, we use various molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the dynamics of the VP40 protein and the roles of interdomain interactions that are important for the domain-domain association and dissociation, and report on experimental results of the behavior of mutant variants of VP40. The MD studies find that various salt-bridge interactions modulate the VP40 domain dynamics by providing conformational specificity through interdomain interactions. The MD simulations reveal a novel salt-bridge between D45-K326 when the CTD participates in a latch-like interaction with the NTD. The D45-K326 salt-bridge interaction is proposed to help domain-domain association, whereas the E76-K291 interaction is important for stabilizing the closed-form structure. The effects of the removal of important VP40 salt-bridges on plasma membrane (PM) localization, VP40 oligomerization, and virus like particle (VLP) budding assays were investigated experimentally by live cell imaging using an EGFP-tagged VP40 system. It is found that the mutations K291E and D45K show enhanced PM localization but D45K significantly reduced VLP formation.

DNA supercoiling, a critical signal regulating the basal expression of the lac operon in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli lac repressor (LacI) is a paradigmatic transcriptional factor that controls the expression of lacZYA in the lac operon. This tetrameric protein specifically binds to the O1, O2 and O3 operators of the lac operon and forms a DNA loop to repress transcription from the adjacent lac promoter. In this article, we demonstrate that upon binding to the O1 and O2 operators at their native positions LacI constrains three (−) supercoils within the 401-bp DNA loop of the lac promoter and forms a topological barrier. The stability of LacI-mediated DNA topological barriers is directly proportional to its DNA binding affinity. However, we find that DNA supercoiling modulates the basal expression from the lac operon in E. coli. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that LacI functions as a topological barrier to constrain free, unconstrained (−) supercoils within the 401-bp DNA loop of the lac promoter. These constrained (−) supercoils enhance LacI’s DNA-binding affinity and thereby the repression of the promoter. Thus, LacI binding is superhelically modulated to control the expression of lacZYA in the lac operon under varying growth conditions.

Pairwise amino acid secondary structural propensities

We investigate the propensities for amino acids to form a specific secondary structure when they are paired with other amino acids. Our investigations use molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations, and we compare the results to those from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Proper comparison requires weighting of the MD results in a manner consistent with the relative frequency of appearance in the PDB of each possible pair of amino acids. We find that the propensity for an amino acid to assume a secondary structure varies dramatically depending on the amino acid that is before or after it in the primary sequence. This cooperative effect means that when selecting amino acids to facilitate the formation of a secondary structure in peptide engineering experiments, the adjacent amino acids must be considered.

Ca2+ and Mg2+ modulate conformational dynamics and stability of downstream regulatory element antagonist modulator

Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonist Modulator (DREAM) belongs to the family of neuronal calcium sensors (NCS) that transduce the intracellular changes in Ca(2+) concentration into a variety of responses including gene expression, regulation of Kv channel activity, and calcium homeostasis. Despite the significant sequence and structural similarities with other NCS members, DREAM shows several features unique among NCS such as formation of a tetramer in the apo-state, and interactions with various intracellular biomacromolecules including DNA, presenilin, Kv channels, and calmodulin. Here we use spectroscopic techniques in combination with molecular dynamics simulation to study conformational changes induced by Ca(2+) /Mg(2+) association to DREAM. Our data indicate a minor impact of Ca(2+) association on the overall structure of the N- and C-terminal domains, although Ca(2+) binding decreases the conformational heterogeneity as evident from the decrease in the fluorescence lifetime distribution in the Ca(2+) bound forms of the protein. Time-resolved fluorescence data indicate that Ca(2+) binding triggers a conformational transition that is characterized by more efficient quenching of Trp residue. The unfolding of DREAM occurs through an partially unfolded intermediate that is stabilized by Ca(2+) association to EF-hand 3 and EF-hand 4. The native state is stabilized with respect to the partially unfolded state only in the presence of both Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) suggesting that, under physiological conditions, Ca(2+) free DREAM exhibits a high conformational flexibility that may facilitate its physiological functions.

Microfluidics-based selection of red-fluorescent proteins with decreased rates of photobleaching

Fluorescent proteins offer exceptional labeling specificity in living cells and organisms. Unfortunately, their photophysical properties remain far from ideal for long-term imaging of low-abundance cellular constituents, in large part because of their poor photostability. Despite widespread engineering efforts, improving the photostability of fluorescent proteins remains challenging due to lack of appropriate high-throughput selection methods. Here, we use molecular dynamics guided mutagenesis in conjunction with a recently developed microfluidic-based platform, which sorts cells based on their fluorescence photostability, to identify red fluorescent proteins with decreased photobleaching from a HeLa cell-based library. The identified mutant, named Kriek, has 2.5- and 4-fold higher photostability than its progenitor, mCherry, under widefield and confocal illumination, respectively. Furthermore, the results provide insight into mechanisms for enhancing photostability and their connections with other photophysical processes, thereby providing direction for ongoing development of fluorescent proteins with improved single-molecule and low-copy imaging capabilities.

Hydrogen bond flexibility correlates with Stokes shift in mPlum variants

Fluorescent proteins have revolutionized molecular biology research and provide a means of tracking subcellular processes with extraordinary spatial and temporal precision. Species with emission beyond 650 nm offer the potential for deeper tissue penetration and lengthened imaging times; however, the origin of their extended Stokes shift is not fully understood. We employed spectrally resolved transient grating spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the relationship between the flexibility of the chromophore environment and Stokes shift in mPlum. We examined excited state solvation dynamics in a panel of strategic point mutants of residues E16 and I65 proposed to participate in a hydrogen-bonding interaction thought responsible for its red-shifted emission. We observed two characteristic relaxation constants of a few picoseconds and tens of picoseconds that were assigned to survival times of direct and water-mediated hydrogen bonds at the 16-65 position. Moreover, variants of the largest Stokes shift (mPlum, I65V) exhibited significant decay on both time scales, indicating the bathochromic shift correlates with a facile switching between a direct and water-mediated hydrogen bond. This dynamic model underscores the role of environmental flexibility in the mechanism of excited state solvation and provides a template for engineering next-generation red fluorescent proteins.

Exploring the diffusion of molecular oxygen in the red fluorescent protein mCherry using explicit oxygen molecular dynamics simulations

The development of fluorescent proteins (FPs) has revolutionized cell biology research. The monomeric variants of red fluorescent proteins (RFPs), known as mFruits, have been especially valuable for tagging and tracking cellular processes in vivo. Determining oxygen diffusion pathways in FPs can be important for improving photostability and for understanding maturation of the chromophore. We use molecular dynamics (MD) calculations to investigate the diffusion of molecular oxygen in one of the most useful monomeric RFPs, mCherry. We describe a pathway that allows oxygen molecules to enter from the solvent and travel through the protein barrel to the chromophore. We calculate the free-energy of an oxygen molecule at points along the path. The pathway contains several oxygen hosting pockets, which are identified by the amino acid residues that form the pocket. We also investigate an RFP variant known to be significantly less photostable than mCherry and find much easier oxygen access in this variant. The results provide a better understanding of the mechanism of molecular oxygen access into the fully folded mCherry protein barrel and provide insight into the photobleaching process in these proteins.

Computational simulations of protein folding to engineer amino acid sequences to encourage desired supersecondary structure formation

The dynamics of protein folding are complicated because of the various types of amino acid interactions that create secondary, supersecondary, and tertiary interactions. Computational modeling can be used to simulate the biophysical and biochemical interactions that determine protein folding. Effective folding to a desired protein configuration requires a compromise between speed, stability, and specificity. If the primary sequence of amino acids emphasizes one of these characteristics, the others might suffer and the folding process may not be optimized. We provide an example of a model peptide whose primary sequence produces a highly stable supersecondary two-helix bundle structure, but at the expense of lower speed and specificity of the folding process. We show how computational simulations can be used to discover the configuration of the kinetic trap that causes the degradation in the speed and specificity of folding. We also show how amino acid sequences can be engineered by specific substitutions to optimize the folding to the desired supersecondary structure.

Structural propensities and entropy effects in peptide helix-coil transitions

The helix-coil transition in peptides is a critical structural transition leading to functioning proteins. Peptide chains have a large number of possible configurations that must be accounted for in statistical mechanical investigations. Using hydrogen bond and local helix propensity interaction terms, we develop a method for obtaining and incorporating the degeneracy factor that allows the exact calculation of the partition function for a peptide as a function of chain length. The partition function is used in calculations for engineered peptide chains of various lengths that allow comparison with a variety of different types of experimentally measured quantities, such as fraction of helicity as a function of both temperature and chain length, heat capacity, and denaturation studies. When experimental sensitivity in helicity measurements is properly accounted for in the calculations, the calculated curves fit well with the experimental curves. We determine values of interaction energies for comparison with known biochemical interactions, as well as quantify the difference in the number of configurations available to an amino acid in a random coil configuration compared to a helical configuration.

Free-energy landscapes and thermodynamic parameters of complex molecules from nonequilibrium simulation trajectories

Thermodynamic parameters such as free energies and heat capacities are important quantities for understanding processes involving structural transitions in complex molecules such as proteins. Computational investigations provide simulated data that can be used for calculating thermodynamic parameters. However, calculations give accurate results only if the simulations sample all of configuration space with the appropriate temperature-dependent Boltzmann equilibrium probabilities. For many systems, truly comprehensive sampling of configuration space is not computationally feasible. We present an approximation technique for the calculations that will give accurate values for thermodynamic parameters when the data is incomplete. Our work is applicable to systems in which there are two distinct, important regions of configuration space that must be sampled. Importantly, the results are also valid when the system is more complex than two-state systems. Transition pathways that involve intermediate configurations between two stable regions are allowed in this treatment, and therefore the results are valid for multistate systems.