Real-time dynamic single-molecule protein sequencing on an integrated semiconductor device

Studies of the proteome would benefit greatly from methods to directly sequence and digitally quantify proteins and detect posttranslational modifications with single-molecule sensitivity. Here, we demonstrate single-molecule protein sequencing using a dynamic approach in which single peptides are probed in real time by a mixture of dye-labeled N-terminal amino acid recognizers and simultaneously cleaved by aminopeptidases. We annotate amino acids and identify the peptide sequence by measuring fluorescence intensity, lifetime, and binding kinetics on an integrated semiconductor chip. Our results demonstrate the kinetic principles that allow recognizers to identify multiple amino acids in an information-rich manner that enables discrimination of single amino acid substitutions and posttranslational modifications. With further development, we anticipate that this approach will offer a sensitive, scalable, and accessible platform for single-molecule proteomic studies and applications.

Macromolecular modeling and design in Rosetta: recent methods and frameworks

The Rosetta software for macromolecular modeling, docking and design is extensively used in laboratories worldwide. During two decades of development by a community of laboratories at more than 60 institutions, Rosetta has been continuously refactored and extended. Its advantages are its performance and interoperability between broad modeling capabilities. Here we review tools developed in the last 5 years, including over 80 methods. We discuss improvements to the score function, user interfaces and usability. Rosetta is available at http://www.rosettacommons.org.

Systematic Comparison of Amber and Rosetta Energy Functions for Protein Structure Evaluation

An accurate energy function is an essential component of biomolecular structural modeling and design. The comparison of differently derived energy functions enables analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each energy function and provides independent benchmarks for evaluating improvements within a given energy function. We compared the molecular mechanics Amber empirical energy function to two versions of the Rosetta energy function (talaris2014 and REF2015) in decoy discrimination and loop modeling tests. In decoy discrimination tests, both Rosetta and Amber (ff14SBonlySC) energy functions performed well in scoring the native state as the lowest energy conformation in many cases, but several false minima were found in with both talaris2014 and Amber ff14SBonlySC scoring functions. The current default version of the Rosetta energy function, REF2015, which is parametrized on both small molecule and macromolecular benchmark sets to improve decoy discrimination, performs significantly better than talaris2014, highlighting the improvements made to the Rosetta scoring approach. There are no cases in Rosetta REF2015, and 8/140 cases in Amber, where a false minimum is found that is absent in the alternative landscape. In loop modeling tests, Amber ff14SBonlySC and REF2015 perform equivalently, although false minima are detected in several cases for both. The balance between dihedral, electrostatic, solvation and hydrogen bonding scores contribute to the existence of false minima. To take advantage of the semi-orthogonal nature of the Rosetta and Amber energy functions, we developed a technique that combines Amber and Rosetta conformational rankings to predict the most near-native model for a given protein. This algorithm improves upon predictions from either energy function in isolation and should aid in model selection for structure evaluation and loop modeling tasks.

Computational modeling of allosteric regulation in the hsp90 chaperones: a statistical ensemble analysis of protein structure networks and allosteric communications

A fundamental role of the Hsp90 chaperone in regulating functional activity of diverse protein clients is essential for the integrity of signaling networks. In this work we have combined biophysical simulations of the Hsp90 crystal structures with the protein structure network analysis to characterize the statistical ensemble of allosteric interaction networks and communication pathways in the Hsp90 chaperones. We have found that principal structurally stable communities could be preserved during dynamic changes in the conformational ensemble. The dominant contribution of the inter-domain rigidity to the interaction networks has emerged as a common factor responsible for the thermodynamic stability of the active chaperone form during the ATPase cycle. Structural stability analysis using force constant profiling of the inter-residue fluctuation distances has identified a network of conserved structurally rigid residues that could serve as global mediating sites of allosteric communication. Mapping of the conformational landscape with the network centrality parameters has demonstrated that stable communities and mediating residues may act concertedly with the shifts in the conformational equilibrium and could describe the majority of functionally significant chaperone residues. The network analysis has revealed a relationship between structural stability, global centrality and functional significance of hotspot residues involved in chaperone regulation. We have found that allosteric interactions in the Hsp90 chaperone may be mediated by modules of structurally stable residues that display high betweenness in the global interaction network. The results of this study have suggested that allosteric interactions in the Hsp90 chaperone may operate via a mechanism that combines rapid and efficient communication by a single optimal pathway of structurally rigid residues and more robust signal transmission using an ensemble of suboptimal multiple communication routes. This may be a universal requirement encoded in protein structures to balance the inherent tension between resilience and efficiency of the residue interaction networks.

Functional versatility and structural adaptability of the Hsp90 chaperones are regulated by allosteric interactions that allow for diverse functions including modulation of ATP hydrolysis and binding with cochaperones and client proteins. By integrating molecular simulations and network-based approaches we have characterized conformational dynamics and allosteric interactions in different functional forms of Hsp90. The network centrality analysis and structural mapping of allosteric communications have revealed a small-world organization of the interaction network that is mediated by functionally important residues of the Hsp90 activity. We have found that effective allosteric communications in the Hsp90 chaperone may be provided by structurally stable residues that exhibit high centrality properties. Nucleotide-specific rewiring of the network topology and assortative organization of functional residues may protect the active form of the chaperone from random perturbations and detrimental mutations. These results have confirmed that allosteric interactions in the Hsp90 chaperone may be determined by a small-world network of functional residues that can regulate the network efficiency and resiliency by modulating the statistical ensemble of communication pathways in response to functional requirements of the ATPase cycle.

Allosteric regulation of the Hsp90 dynamics and stability by client recruiter cochaperones: protein structure network modeling

The fundamental role of the Hsp90 chaperone in supporting functional activity of diverse protein clients is anchored by specific cochaperones. A family of immune sensing client proteins is delivered to the Hsp90 system with the aid of cochaperones Sgt1 and Rar1 that act cooperatively with Hsp90 to form allosterically regulated dynamic complexes. In this work, functional dynamics and protein structure network modeling are combined to dissect molecular mechanisms of Hsp90 regulation by the client recruiter cochaperones. Dynamic signatures of the Hsp90-cochaperone complexes are manifested in differential modulation of the conformational mobility in the Hsp90 lid motif. Consistent with the experiments, we have determined that targeted reorganization of the lid dynamics is a unifying characteristic of the client recruiter cochaperones. Protein network analysis of the essential conformational space of the Hsp90-cochaperone motions has identified structurally stable interaction communities, interfacial hubs and key mediating residues of allosteric communication pathways that act concertedly with the shifts in conformational equilibrium. The results have shown that client recruiter cochaperones can orchestrate global changes in the dynamics and stability of the interaction networks that could enhance the ATPase activity and assist in the client recruitment. The network analysis has recapitulated a broad range of structural and mutagenesis experiments, particularly clarifying the elusive role of Rar1 as a regulator of the Hsp90 interactions and a stability enhancer of the Hsp90-cochaperone complexes. Small-world organization of the interaction networks in the Hsp90 regulatory complexes gives rise to a strong correspondence between highly connected local interfacial hubs, global mediator residues of allosteric interactions and key functional hot spots of the Hsp90 activity. We have found that cochaperone-induced conformational changes in Hsp90 may be determined by specific interaction networks that can inhibit or promote progression of the ATPase cycle and thus control the recruitment of client proteins.

Differential modulation of functional dynamics and allosteric interactions in the Hsp90-cochaperone complexes with p23 and Aha1: a computational study

Allosteric interactions of the molecular chaperone Hsp90 with a large cohort of cochaperones and client proteins allow for molecular communication and event coupling in signal transduction networks. The integration of cochaperones into the Hsp90 system is driven by the regulatory mechanisms that modulate the progression of the ATPase cycle and control the recruitment of the Hsp90 clientele. In this work, we report the results of computational modeling of allosteric regulation in the Hsp90 complexes with the cochaperones p23 and Aha1. By integrating protein docking, biophysical simulations, modeling of allosteric communications, protein structure network analysis and the energy landscape theory we have investigated dynamics and stability of the Hsp90-p23 and Hsp90-Aha1 interactions in direct comparison with the extensive body of structural and functional experiments. The results have revealed that functional dynamics and allosteric interactions of Hsp90 can be selectively modulated by these cochaperones via specific targeting of the regulatory hinge regions that could restrict collective motions and stabilize specific chaperone conformations. The protein structure network parameters have quantified the effects of cochaperones on conformational stability of the Hsp90 complexes and identified dynamically stable communities of residues that can contribute to the strengthening of allosteric interactions. According to our results, p23-mediated changes in the Hsp90 interactions may provide "molecular brakes" that could slow down an efficient transmission of the inter-domain allosteric signals, consistent with the functional role of p23 in partially inhibiting the ATPase cycle. Unlike p23, Aha1-mediated acceleration of the Hsp90-ATPase cycle may be achieved via modulation of the equilibrium motions that facilitate allosteric changes favoring a closed dimerized form of Hsp90. The results of our study have shown that Aha1 and p23 can modulate the Hsp90-ATPase activity and direct the chaperone cycle by exerting the precise control over structural stability, global movements and allosteric communications in Hsp90.