Interactions of a DNA G-quadruplex with TMAO and urea: a molecular dynamics study on co-solute compensation mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Anna Oprzeska-Zingrebe ◽  
Jens Smiatek
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Compensation Mechanisms ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
The Individual

We study the individual and combined influence of TMAO and urea on a basket-type DNA G-quadruplex by means of atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

scholarly journals Forever Young: Structural Stability of Telomeric Guanine-Quadruplexes in Presence of Oxidative DNA Lesions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Miclot ◽  
Camille Corbier ◽  
Alessio Terenzi ◽  
Cécilia Hognon ◽  
Stéphanie Grandemange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Structural Stability ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Computational Investigation ◽  
Telomeric Dna ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
The Stability

AbstractHuman telomeric DNA (h-Telo), in G-quadruplex (G4) conformation, is characterized by a remarkable structural stability that confers it the capacity to resist to oxidative stress producing one or even clustered 8-oxoguanine lesions. We present a combined experimental/computational investigation, by using circular dichroism in aqueous solutions, cellular immunofluorescence assays and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, that identifies the crucial role of the stability of G4s to oxidative lesions, related also to their biological role as inhibitors of telomerase, an enzyme overexpressed in most cancers associated to oxidative stress.

Adsorption and Conformational Evolution of Alpha-Helical BSA Segments on Graphene: A Molecular Dynamics Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 1650021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjie Yeo ◽  
Yuan Cheng ◽  
You Ting Han ◽  
Yingyan Zhang ◽  
Guijian Guan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Single Layer Graphene ◽  
Strong Interactions ◽  
Helical Structures ◽  
Single Segment ◽  
Helical Content ◽  
The Individual

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed to investigate the adsorption mechanics and conformational dynamics of single and multiple bovine serum albumin (BSA) peptide segments on single-layer graphene through analysis of parameters such as the root-mean-square displacements, number of hydrogen bonds, helical content, interaction energies, and motions of mass center of the peptides. It is found that for the single segment system, destabilization of the helical structures in the form of the reduction in hydrogen bond numbers and [Formula: see text]-helical content of the peptides occurred due to the strong interactions between BSA peptides and graphene. Similar destabilizations of the individual segments in the multi-segment system can occur as well, albeit with greater complexity and in a lesser degree due to the inter-segment interactions. Alleviation of decreases in the total helical content in the multi-segment system indicates protective capabilities of segment–segment interactions, which weaken their interactions with graphene. Diffusive motion upon adsorption of the segment(s) onto graphene is found to be highly confined, and the distance traversed by each segment in the multi-segment system was more significant than that in the single segment system, similarly attributable to reductions in their interactions with graphene due to inter-segment interactions.

scholarly journals Phosphorothioate Substitutions in RNA Structure Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations, QM/MM Calculations and NMR Experiments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengyue Zhang ◽  
Jennifer Vögele ◽  
Klaudia Mráziková ◽  
Holger Kruse ◽  
Xiaohui Cang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Force Field ◽  
Rna Structure ◽  
Rna Stability ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Dispersion Component ◽  
Rna Backbone ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
The Individual

AbstractPhosphorothioates (PTs) are important chemical modifications of the RNA backbone where a single non-bridging oxygen of the phosphate is replaced with a sulphur atom. PT can stabilize RNAs by protecting them from hydrolysis and is commonly used as tool to explore their function. It is, however, unclear what basic physical effects PT has on RNA stability and electronic structure. Here, we present Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, quantum mechanical (QM) calculations, and NMR spectroscopy measurements, exploring the effects of PT modifications in the structural context of the Neomycin-sensing riboswitch (NSR). The NSR is the smallest biologically functional riboswitch with a well-defined structure stabilized by a U-turn motif. Three of the signature interactions of the U-turn; an H-bond, an anion-π interaction and a potassium binding site; are formed by RNA phosphates, making the NSR an ideal model for studying how PT affects RNA structure and dynamics. By comparing with high-level QM calculations, we reveal the distinct physical properties of the individual interactions facilitated by the PT. The sulphur substitution, besides weakening the direct H-bond interaction, reduces the directionality of H-bonding while increasing its dispersion and induction components. It also reduces the induction and increases dispersion component of the anion-π stacking. The sulphur force-field parameters commonly employed in the literature do not reflect these distinctions, leading to unsatisfactory description of PT in simulations of the NSR. We show that it is not possible to accurately describe the PT interactions using one universal set of van der Waals sulphur parameters and provide suggestions for improving the force-field performance.

Umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations reveal concerted ion movement through G-quadruplex DNA channels

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (18) ◽  
pp. 11017-11025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parisa Akhshi ◽  
Gang Wu
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ion Transport ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Umbrella Sampling ◽  
Potential Of Mean Force ◽  
Quadruplex Dna ◽  
Ion Movement ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

We have applied the umbrella sampling (US) method in all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to obtain potential of mean force (PMF) profiles for ion transport through three representative G-quadruplex DNA channels: [d(TG4T)]4, [d(G3T4G4)]2, and d[G4(T4G4)3].

scholarly journals Nanoindentation of Graphene-Reinforced Silica Aerogel: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Patil
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Silica Aerogel ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Silica Aerogels ◽  
Single Layer Graphene ◽  
Combined System ◽  
Indentation Force ◽  
Indentation Tests ◽  
The Individual

In the present work, we performed nanoindentation tests using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on graphene, native silica aerogels, and single- and multi-layered graphene-reinforced silica aerogel nanocomposites. This work mainly focused on the two aspects of nanoindentation simulations: first, the resultant indentation force–depth curves, and second, the associated mechanical deformation behavior. We found that in the single-layer graphene-reinforced silica aerogel nanocomposite, the indentation resistance was four-fold that of native silica aerogels. Moreover, the combined system proved to be higher in stiffness compared to the individual material. Furthermore, the indentation resistance was increased significantly as we proceeded from single- to two-layered graphene-reinforced silica aerogel nanocomposites. The results of the study provide a detailed understanding of the mechanical behavior during the indentation tests of nanocomposites, which helps to design advanced nanoscale multi-layered materials.

Binding modes and pathway of RHPS4 to human telomeric G-quadruplex and duplex DNA probed by all-atom molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvent

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (28) ◽  
pp. 18685-18694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Mulholland ◽  
Farzana Siddiquei ◽  
Chun Wu
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Duplex Dna ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Dna Duplex ◽  
Explicit Solvent ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Binding modes ofRHPS4to DNA duplex and human teloemeric G-quadruplexes from MD simulations.

Efficient Treatment of Fixed and Induced Dipolar Interactions

2000 ◽  
Vol 653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celeste Sagui ◽  
Thoma Darden
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Lagrangian Formalism ◽  
Dipolar Interactions ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Efficient Treatment ◽  
Particle Mesh Ewald ◽  
Fixed Charges ◽  
Self Consistency ◽  
Induced Dipoles

AbstractFixed and induced point dipoles have been implemented in the Ewald and Particle-Mesh Ewald (PME) formalisms. During molecular dynamics (MD) the induced dipoles can be propagated along with the atomic positions either by interation to self-consistency at each time step, or by a Car-Parrinello (CP) technique using an extended Lagrangian formalism. The use of PME for electrostatics of fixed charges and induced dipoles together with a CP treatment of dipole propagation in MD simulations leads to a cost overhead of only 33% above that of MD simulations using standard PME with fixed charges, allowing the study of polarizability in largemacromolecular systems.

Split the Charge Difference in Two! a Rule of Thumb for Adding Proper Amounts of Ions in MD Simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matías R. Machado ◽  
Sergio Pantano
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Rule Of Thumb ◽  
Ionic Concentrations

<p> Despite the relevance of properly setting ionic concentrations in Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, methods or practical rules to set ionic strength are scarce and rarely documented. Based on a recently proposed thermodynamics method we provide an accurate rule of thumb to define the electrolytic content in simulation boxes. Extending the use of good practices in setting up MD systems is promptly needed to ensure reproducibility and consistency in molecular simulations.</p>

Assessing the Antimalarial Potentials of Phytochemicals: Virtual Screening, Molecular Dynamics and In-Vitro Investigations

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-300
Author(s):  
Saumya K. Patel ◽  
Mohd Athar ◽  
Prakash C. Jha ◽  
Vijay M. Khedkar ◽  
Yogesh Jasrai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Tylophora Indica ◽  
Multidrug Resistance Protein 1 ◽  
Receptor Complexes ◽  
Resistance Protein ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Stable Trajectory

Background: Combined in-silico and in-vitro approaches were adopted to investigate the antiplasmodial activity of Catharanthus roseus and Tylophora indica plant extracts as well as their isolated components (vinblastine, vincristine and tylophorine). </P><P> Methods: We employed molecular docking to prioritize phytochemicals from a library of 26 compounds against Plasmodium falciparum multidrug-resistance protein 1 (PfMDR1). Furthermore, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for a duration of 10 ns to estimate the dynamical structural integrity of ligand-receptor complexes. </P><P> Results: The retrieved bioactive compounds viz. tylophorine, vinblastin and vincristine were found to exhibit significant interacting behaviour; as validated by in-vitro studies on chloroquine sensitive (3D7) as well as chloroquine resistant (RKL9) strain. Moreover, they also displayed stable trajectory (RMSD, RMSF) and molecular properties with consistent interaction profile in molecular dynamics simulations. </P><P> Conclusion: We anticipate that the retrieved phytochemicals can serve as the potential hits and presented findings would be helpful for the designing of malarial therapeutics.

scholarly journals On the Use of the Discrete Constant pH Molecular Dynamics to Describe the Conformational Space of Peptides

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Cristian Privat ◽  
Sergio Madurga ◽  
Francesc Mas ◽  
Jaime Rubio-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Conformational Space ◽  
Conformational Sampling ◽  
Protonation State ◽  
Constant Ph ◽  
Biochemical Systems ◽  
Constant Ph Molecular Dynamics

Solvent pH is an important property that defines the protonation state of the amino acids and, therefore, modulates the interactions and the conformational space of the biochemical systems. Generally, this thermodynamic variable is poorly considered in Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Fortunately, this lack has been overcome by means of the Constant pH Molecular Dynamics (CPHMD) methods in the recent decades. Several studies have reported promising results from these approaches that include pH in simulations but focus on the prediction of the effective pKa of the amino acids. In this work, we want to shed some light on the CPHMD method and its implementation in the AMBER suitcase from a conformational point of view. To achieve this goal, we performed CPHMD and conventional MD (CMD) simulations of six protonatable amino acids in a blocked tripeptide structure to compare the conformational sampling and energy distributions of both methods. The results reveal strengths and weaknesses of the CPHMD method in the implementation of AMBER18 version. The change of the protonation state according to the chemical environment is presumably an improvement in the accuracy of the simulations. However, the simulations of the deprotonated forms are not consistent, which is related to an inaccurate assignment of the partial charges of the backbone atoms in the CPHMD residues. Therefore, we recommend the CPHMD methods of AMBER program but pointing out the need to compare structural properties with experimental data to bring reliability to the conformational sampling of the simulations.

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