scholarly journals Computational modeling reveals a hydrophobic force-induced pore-forming mechanism for cholesterol-dependent cytolysins

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shichao Pang ◽  
Junchen Yang ◽  
Jingfang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Hydrophobic Force ◽  
Forming Mechanism ◽  
Hydrophobic Pore ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

ABSTRACTDuring the pore-forming process, cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) bind to cholesterol-rich membranes and subsequently undergo a series of conformational changes, predominantly involving in the collapse of the protein and the transformation from α helices to β-hairpins to form a large hydrophobic pore. In the current study, we reconstructed a structural model for both the prepore and pore-forming complexes of PFO based on the cryo-EM data of pneumolysin and performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations to study the conformational changes in the PFO prepore-to-pore conversion. Our simulations indicate that D2 cannot collapse spontaneously due to the hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interactions between domains D2 and D3, which are partially weakened by binding to cell membranes and oligomerization. The free energy landscape for the prepore-to-pore conversion reveals that an additional force is required for the collapse of D2 to overcome an energy barrier of ∼ 24 kcal/mol. Based on these computational results, we proposed a hydrophobic force-induced pore-forming mechanism to explain the pore-forming process of CDCs. In this mechanism, the hydrophobic interactions between the TMHs and membranes are essential for the prepore-to-pore conversion. The hydrophobic force generated by the TMHs-membrane interactions drives the conformational changes in domains D2 and D3. These findings well explain how the conformational changes within two distant domains synergistically occur, and fits well for the previous biophysical and biochemical data.

Molecular Basis of Glucose Transport Mechanism in Plants

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaji Selvam ◽  
Ya-Chi Yu ◽  
Liqing Chen ◽  
Diwakar Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Free Energy ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Transport Mechanism ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Free Energy Barrier ◽  
Transport Cycle ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

<p>The SWEET family belongs to a class of transporters in plants that undergoes large conformational changes to facilitate transport of sugar molecules across the cell membrane. However, the structures of their functionally relevant conformational states in the transport cycle have not been reported. In this study, we have characterized the conformational dynamics and complete transport cycle of glucose in OsSWEET2b transporter using extensive molecular dynamics simulations. Using Markov state models, we estimated the free energy barrier associated with different states as well as 1 for the glucose the transport mechanism. SWEETs undergoes structural transition to outward-facing (OF), Occluded (OC) and inward-facing (IF) and strongly support alternate access transport mechanism. The glucose diffuses freely from outside to inside the cell without causing major conformational changes which means that the conformations of glucose unbound and bound snapshots are exactly same for OF, OC and IF states. We identified a network of hydrophobic core residues at the center of the transporter that restricts the glucose entry to the cytoplasmic side and act as an intracellular hydrophobic gate. The mechanistic predictions from molecular dynamics simulations are validated using site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Our simulation also revealed hourglass like intermediate states making the pore radius narrower at the center. This work provides new fundamental insights into how substrate-transporter interactions actively change the free energy landscape of the transport cycle to facilitate enhanced transport activity.</p>

Insights into the roles of charged residues in substrate binding and mode of action of mannuronan C-5 epimerase AlgE4

Glycobiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margrethe Gaardløs ◽  
Sergey A Samsonov ◽  
Marit Sletmoen ◽  
Maya Hjørnevik ◽  
Gerd Inger Sætrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Tweezers ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Substrate Binding ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Product Formation ◽  
Titration Calorimetry ◽  
Binding Groove ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Abstract Mannuronan C-5 epimerases catalyse the epimerization of monomer residues in the polysaccharide alginate, changing the physical properties of the biopolymer. The enzymes are utilized to tailor alginate to numerous biological functions by alginate-producing organisms. The underlying molecular mechanisms that control the processive movement of the epimerase along the substrate chain is still elusive. To study this, we have used an interdisciplinary approach combining molecular dynamics simulations with experimental methods from mutant studies of AlgE4, where initial epimerase activity and product formation were addressed with NMR spectroscopy, and characteristics of enzyme-substrate interactions were obtained with isothermal titration calorimetry and optical tweezers. Positive charges lining the substrate-binding groove of AlgE4 appear to control the initial binding of poly-mannuronate, and binding also seems to be mediated by both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. After the catalytic reaction, negatively charged enzyme residues might facilitate dissociation of alginate from the positive residues, working like electrostatic switches, allowing the substrate to translocate in the binding groove. Molecular simulations show translocation increments of two monosaccharide units before the next productive binding event resulting in MG-block formation, with the epimerase moving with its N-terminus towards the reducing end of the alginate chain. Our results indicate that the charge pair R343-D345 might be directly involved in conformational changes of a loop that can be important for binding and dissociation. The computational and experimental approaches used in this study complement each other, allowing for a better understanding of individual residues’ roles in binding and movement along the alginate chains.

scholarly journals Molecular dynamics shows complex interplay and long-range effects of post-translational modifications in yeast protein interactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. e1008988
Author(s):  
Nikolina ŠoŠtarić ◽  
Vera van Noort
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Cellular Protein ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Protein Properties ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) play a vital, yet often overlooked role in the living cells through modulation of protein properties, such as localization and affinity towards their interactors, thereby enabling quick adaptation to changing environmental conditions. We have previously benchmarked a computational framework for the prediction of PTMs’ effects on the stability of protein-protein interactions, which has molecular dynamics simulations followed by free energy calculations at its core. In the present work, we apply this framework to publicly available data on Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein structures and PTM sites, identified in both normal and stress conditions. We predict proteome-wide effects of acetylations and phosphorylations on protein-protein interactions and find that acetylations more frequently have locally stabilizing roles in protein interactions, while the opposite is true for phosphorylations. However, the overall impact of PTMs on protein-protein interactions is more complex than a simple sum of local changes caused by the introduction of PTMs and adds to our understanding of PTM cross-talk. We further use the obtained data to calculate the conformational changes brought about by PTMs. Finally, conservation of the analyzed PTM residues in orthologues shows that some predictions for yeast proteins will be mirrored to other organisms, including human. This work, therefore, contributes to our overall understanding of the modulation of the cellular protein interaction networks in yeast and beyond.

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