Molecular dynamics: a powerful tool for studying the medicinal chemistry of ion channel modulators

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Șterbuleac
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ion Channels ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Medicinal Chemistry ◽  
Transmembrane Proteins ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Biological Macromolecules ◽  
Biological Targets ◽  
Ion Channel Modulators

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,...

scholarly journals Computational Ion Channel Research: from the Application of Artificial Intelligence to Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (S3) ◽  
pp. 14-45
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ion Channels ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Computational Methods ◽  
Homology Modelling ◽  
Channel Structure ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Qsar Analysis ◽  
Wide Range

Although ion channels are crucial in many physiological processes and constitute an important class of drug targets, much is still unclear about their function and possible malfunctions that lead to diseases. In recent years, computational methods have evolved into important and invaluable approaches for studying ion channels and their functions. This is mainly due to their demanding mechanism of action where a static picture of an ion channel structure is often insufficient to fully understand the underlying mechanism. Therefore, the use of computational methods is as important as chemical-biological based experimental methods for a better understanding of ion channels. This review provides an overview on a variety of computational methods and software specific to the field of ion-channels. Artificial intelligence (or more precisely machine learning) approaches are applied for the sequence-based prediction of ion channel family, or topology of the transmembrane region. In case sufficient data on ion channel modulators is available, these methods can also be applied for quantitative structureactivity relationship (QSAR) analysis. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with computational molecular design methods such as docking can be used for analysing the function of ion channels including ion conductance, different conformational states, binding sites and ligand interactions, and the influence of mutations on their function. In the absence of a three-dimensional protein structure, homology modelling can be applied to create a model of your ion channel structure of interest. Besides highlighting a wide range of successful applications, we will also provide a basic introduction to the most important computational methods and discuss best practices to get a rough idea of possible applications and risks.

scholarly journals The structure of a potassium-selective ion channel reveals a hydrophobic gate regulating ion permeation

IUCrJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 835-843
Author(s):  
Patricia S. Langan ◽  
Venu Gopal Vandavasi ◽  
Wojciech Kopec ◽  
Brendan Sullivan ◽  
Pavel V. Afonne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Conformational Transition ◽  
Transmembrane Proteins ◽  
Selectivity Filter ◽  
Ion Permeation ◽  
Hydrophobic Residue ◽  
Ion Flow ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Resolution Structure

Protein dynamics are essential to function. One example of this is the various gating mechanisms within ion channels, which are transmembrane proteins that act as gateways into the cell. Typical ion channels switch between an open and closed state via a conformational transition which is often triggered by an external stimulus, such as ligand binding or pH and voltage differences. The atomic resolution structure of a potassium-selective ion channel named NaK2K has allowed us to observe that a hydrophobic residue at the bottom of the selectivity filter, Phe92, appears in dual conformations. One of the two conformations of Phe92 restricts the diameter of the exit pore around the selectivity filter, limiting ion flow through the channel, while the other conformation of Phe92 provides a larger-diameter exit pore from the selectivity filter. Thus, it can be concluded that Phe92 acts as a hydrophobic gate, regulating the flow of ions through the selectivity filter.

Modeling complex biological systems: From solution chemistry to membranes and channels

2012 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoist Laurent ◽  
Samuel Murail ◽  
Franck Da Silva ◽  
Pierre-Jean Corringer ◽  
Marc Baaden
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Solution Chemistry ◽  
Complex Solution ◽  
Functional Importance ◽  
Fluid Membranes ◽  
Major Target ◽  
Receptor Family

Complex biological systems are intimately linked to their environment, a very crowded and equally complex solution compartmentalized by fluid membranes. Modeling such systems remains challenging and requires a suitable representation of these solutions and their interfaces. Here, we focus on particle-based modeling at an atomistic level using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. As an example, we discuss important steps in modeling the solution chemistry of an ion channel of the ligand-gated ion channel receptor family, a major target of many drugs including anesthetics and addiction treatments. The bacterial pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC) called GLIC provides clues about the functional importance of solvation, in particular for mechanisms such as permeation and gating. We present some current challenges along with promising novel modeling approaches.

scholarly journals High-Throughput Screening for Ion Channel Modulators

2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Falconer ◽  
Fiona Smith ◽  
Sandha Surah-Narwal ◽  
Gill Congrave ◽  
Zhen Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Pharmacological Characterization ◽  
Core System ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Ion Channel Modulators

Ion channels present a group of targets for major clinical indications, which have been difficult to address due to the lack of suitable rapid but biologically significant methodologies. To address the need for increased throughput in primary screening, the authors have set up a Beckman/Sagian core system to fully automate functional fluorescence-based assays that measure ion channel function. They apply voltage-sensitive fluorescent probes, and the activity of channels is monitored using Aurora's Voltage/Ion Probe Reader (VIPR). The system provides a platform for fully automated high-throughput screening as well as pharmacological characterization of ion channel modulators. The application of voltage-sensitive fluorescence dyes coupled with fluorescence resonance energy transfer is the basis of robust assays, which can be adapted to the study of a variety of ion channels to screen for both inhibitors and activators of voltage-gated and other ion channels.

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.

scholarly journals Unveiling Carbon Dioxide and Ethanol Diffusion in Carbonated Water-Ethanol Mixtures by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1711
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ahmed Khaireh ◽  
Marie Angot ◽  
Clara Cilindre ◽  
Gérard Liger-Belair ◽  
David A. Bonhommeau
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Diffusion Coefficients ◽  
Hydrodynamic Radius ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Molecular Models ◽  
Experimental Values ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Apparent Disagreement

The diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) and ethanol (EtOH) is a fundamental transport process behind the formation and growth of CO2 bubbles in sparkling beverages and the release of organoleptic compounds at the liquid free surface. In the present study, CO2 and EtOH diffusion coefficients are computed from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and compared with experimental values derived from the Stokes-Einstein (SE) relation on the basis of viscometry experiments and hydrodynamic radii deduced from former nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. These diffusion coefficients steadily increase with temperature and decrease as the concentration of ethanol rises. The agreement between theory and experiment is suitable for CO2. Theoretical EtOH diffusion coefficients tend to overestimate slightly experimental values, although the agreement can be improved by changing the hydrodynamic radius used to evaluate experimental diffusion coefficients. This apparent disagreement should not rely on limitations of the MD simulations nor on the approximations made to evaluate theoretical diffusion coefficients. Improvement of the molecular models, as well as additional NMR measurements on sparkling beverages at several temperatures and ethanol concentrations, would help solve this issue.

Mechanism of stacking fault annihilation in 3C-SiC epitaxially grown on Si(001) by molecular dynamics simulations

CrystEngComm ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Sarikov ◽  
Anna Marzegalli ◽  
Luca Barbisan ◽  
Massimo Zimbone ◽  
Corrado Bongiorno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Stacking Faults ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Stacking Fault ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

In this work, annihilation mechanism of stacking faults (SFs) in epitaxial 3C-SiC layers grown on Si(001) substrates is studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The evolution of SFs located in...

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