scholarly journals Divalent cations bind to phosphoinositides to induce ion and isomer specific propensities for nano-cluster initiation in bilayer membranes

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 192208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan P. Bradley ◽  
David R. Slochower ◽  
Paul A. Janmey ◽  
Ravi Radhakrishnan
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Peripheral Proteins ◽  
Diffusion Rates ◽  
Lipid Diffusion ◽  
Lipid Surface ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Nano Cluster ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Insight Into

We report all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of asymmetric bilayers containing phosphoinositides in the presence of monovalent and divalent cations. We have characterized the molecular mechanism by which these divalent cations interact with phosphoinositides. Ca 2+ desolvates more readily, consistent with single-molecule calculations, and forms a network of ionic-like bonds that serve as a ‘molecular glue’ that allows a single ion to coordinate with up to three phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4, 5)P 2 ) lipids. The phosphatidylinositol-(3,5)-bisphosphate isomer shows no such effect and neither does PI(4, 5)P 2 in the presence of Mg 2+ . The resulting network of Ca 2+ -mediated lipid-lipid bonds grows to span the entire simulation space and therefore has implications for the lateral distribution of phosophoinositides in the bilayer. We observe context-specific differences in lipid diffusion rates, lipid surface densities and bilayer structure. The molecular-scale delineation of ion-lipid arrangements reported here provides insight into similar nanocluster formation induced by peripheral proteins to regulate the formation of functional signalling complexes on the membrane.

Extensional Response and Equilibrium Kinetics of Torsionally Relaxed dsDNA Under Tension: A Brownian Dynamics Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikenna D. Ivenso
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Brownian Dynamics ◽  
Thermal Fluctuations ◽  
Aqueous Environment ◽  
Chain Model ◽  
Full Extension ◽  
Applied Tension ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Insight Into

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a long flexible polyelectrolyte that is housed in the aqueous environment within the cell of an organism. When a length of torsionally relaxed (untwisted) DNA is held in tension, such as is the case in many single molecule experiments, the thermal fluctuations arising from the constant bombardment of the DNA by the surrounding fluid molecules induce bending in it, while the applied tension tends to keep it extended. The combined effect of these influences is that DNA is never at its full extension but eventually attains an equilibrium value of end-to-end extension under these influences. An analytical model was developed to estimate the tension-dependent value of this extension. This model, however, does not provide any insight into the dynamics of the extensional response of DNA to applied tension nor the kinetics of DNA at equilibrium under said tension. This paper reports the results of Brownian dynamics simulations using a discrete wormlike-chain model of DNA that provide some insight into these dynamics and kinetics.

Structural dynamics of P-type ATPase ion pumps

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1247-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateusz Dyla ◽  
Sara Basse Hansen ◽  
Poul Nissen ◽  
Magnus Kjaergaard
Keyword(s):  
Structural Dynamics ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
P Type

Abstract P-type ATPases transport ions across biological membranes against concentration gradients and are essential for all cells. They use the energy from ATP hydrolysis to propel large intramolecular movements, which drive vectorial transport of ions. Tight coordination of the motions of the pump is required to couple the two spatially distant processes of ion binding and ATP hydrolysis. Here, we review our current understanding of the structural dynamics of P-type ATPases, focusing primarily on Ca2+ pumps. We integrate different types of information that report on structural dynamics, primarily time-resolved fluorescence experiments including single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer and molecular dynamics simulations, and interpret them in the framework provided by the numerous crystal structures of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase. We discuss the challenges in characterizing the dynamics of membrane pumps, and the likely impact of new technologies on the field.

Parameterization of Divalent Cations for Coarse-Grained Simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florencia Klein ◽  
Daniela Cáceres-Rojas ◽  
Monica Carrasco ◽  
Juan Carlos Tapia ◽  
Julio Caballero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Interaction Parameters ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Dynamical Description

<p>Although molecular dynamics simulations allow for the study of interactions among virtually all biomolecular entities, metal ions still pose significant challenges to achieve an accurate structural and dynamical description of many biological assemblies. This is particularly the case for coarse-grained (CG) models. Although the reduced computational cost of CG methods often makes them the technique of choice for the study of large biomolecular systems, the parameterization of metal ions is still very crude or simply not available for the vast majority of CG- force fields. Here, we show that incorporating statistical data retrieved from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to set specific Lennard-Jones interactions can produce structurally accurate CG molecular dynamics simulations. Using this simple approach, we provide a set of interaction parameters for Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc ions, which cover more than 80% of the metal-bound structures reported on the PDB. Simulations performed using the SIRAH force field on several proteins and DNA systems show that using the present approach it is possible to obtain non-bonded interaction parameters that obviate the use of topological constraints. </p>

scholarly journals Insight into the origin of SARS-CoV-2 through structural analysis of receptor recognition: a molecular simulation study

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 8718-8729
Author(s):  
Jixue Sun ◽  
Meijiang Liu ◽  
Na Yang
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Molecular Simulation ◽  
Simulation Study ◽  
Receptor Recognition ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Insight Into

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 through structural analysis of receptor recognition was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations.

scholarly journals Computational Design of Radical Recognition Assay with the Possible Application of Cyclopropyl Vinyl Sulfides as Tunable Sensors

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7637
Author(s):  
Liliya T. Sahharova ◽  
Evgeniy G. Gordeev ◽  
Dmitry B. Eremin ◽  
Valentine P. Ananikov
Keyword(s):  
Uv Light ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Energy Profiles ◽  
Vinyl Sulfides ◽  
Tunable Sensors ◽  
Radical Generation ◽  
Metal Catalyzed ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Simulations And Modeling ◽  
Insight Into

The processes involving the capture of free radicals were explored by performing DFT molecular dynamics simulations and modeling of reaction energy profiles. We describe the idea of a radical recognition assay, where not only the presence of a radical but also the nature/reactivity of a radical may be assessed. The idea is to utilize a set of radical-sensitive molecules as tunable sensors, followed by insight into the studied radical species based on the observed reactivity/selectivity. We utilize this approach for selective recognition of common radicals—alkyl, phenyl, and iodine. By matching quantum chemical calculations with experimental data, we show that components of a system react differently with the studied radicals. Possible radical generation processes were studied involving model reactions under UV light and metal-catalyzed conditions.

scholarly journals Structural and mechanistic basis for translation inhibition by macrolide and ketolide antibiotics

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Beckert ◽  
Elodie C. Leroy ◽  
Shanmugapriya Sothiselvam ◽  
Lars V. Bock ◽  
Maxim S. Svetlov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Specific Sequence ◽  
Bacterial Ribosome ◽  
Translational Arrest ◽  
Exit Tunnel ◽  
Mechanistic Basis ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Context Specific

AbstractMacrolides and ketolides comprise a family of clinically important antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis by binding within the exit tunnel of the bacterial ribosome. While these antibiotics are known to interrupt translation at specific sequence motifs, with ketolides predominantly stalling at Arg/Lys-X-Arg/Lys motifs and macrolides displaying a broader specificity, a structural basis for their context-specific action has been lacking. Here, we present structures of ribosomes arrested during the synthesis of an Arg-Leu-Arg sequence by the macrolide erythromycin (ERY) and the ketolide telithromycin (TEL). Together with deep mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations, the structures reveal how ERY and TEL interplay with the Arg-Leu-Arg motif to induce translational arrest and illuminate the basis for the less stringent sequence-specific action of ERY over TEL. Because programmed stalling at the Arg/Lys-X-Arg/Lys motifs is used to activate expression of antibiotic resistance genes, our study also provides important insights for future development of improved macrolide antibiotics.

scholarly journals Optimal Relabeling of Water Molecules and Single-Molecule Entropy Estimation

Biophysica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-296
Author(s):  
Federico Fogolari ◽  
Gennaro Esposito
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Maximum Information ◽  
Nearest Neighbours ◽  
Biomolecular Simulations ◽  
Solvent Molecules ◽  
Solvation Entropy ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Internal Degrees Of Freedom

Estimation of solvent entropy from equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations is a long-standing problem in statistical mechanics. In recent years, methods that estimate entropy using k-th nearest neighbours (kNN) have been applied to internal degrees of freedom in biomolecular simulations, and for the rigorous computation of positional-orientational entropy of one and two molecules. The mutual information expansion (MIE) and the maximum information spanning tree (MIST) methods were proposed and used to deal with a large number of non-independent degrees of freedom, providing estimates or bounds on the global entropy, thus complementing the kNN method. The application of the combination of such methods to solvent molecules appears problematic because of the indistinguishability of molecules and of their symmetric parts. All indistiguishable molecules span the same global conformational volume, making application of MIE and MIST methods difficult. Here, we address the problem of indistinguishability by relabeling water molecules in such a way that each water molecule spans only a local region throughout the simulation. Then, we work out approximations and show how to compute the single-molecule entropy for the system of relabeled molecules. The results suggest that relabeling water molecules is promising for computation of solvation entropy.

Advances in the study of the mechanochemical coupling of kinesin

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (18) ◽  
pp. 1840001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Li ◽  
Zhong-Can Ou-Yang ◽  
Yao-Gen Shu
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Intracellular Transport ◽  
Coordination Mechanism ◽  
Personal Perspective ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Mechanochemical Coupling ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Made In

Kinesin is a two-headed linear motor for intracellular transport. It can walk a long distance in a hand-over-hand manner along the track before detaching (i.e., high processivity), and it consumes one ATP molecule for each step (i.e., tight mechanochemical coupling). The mechanisms of the coordination of its two heads and the mechanochemical coupling are the central issues of numerous researches. A few advances have been made in recent decades, thanks to the development of single-molecule technologies and molecular dynamics simulations. In this paper, we review some progress of the studies on the kinematics, energetics, coordination mechanism, mechanochemical mechanism of kinesin. We also present a personal perspective on the future studies of kinesin.

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