scholarly journals An Effective MM/GBSA Protocol for Absolute Binding Free Energy Calculations: A Case Study on SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and the Human ACE2 Receptor

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2383
Author(s):  
Negin Forouzesh ◽  
Nikita Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Normal Mode Analysis ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Upper And Lower Bounds ◽  
Mode Analysis ◽  
Implicit Solvent ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Generalized Born

The binding free energy calculation of protein–ligand complexes is necessary for research into virus–host interactions and the relevant applications in drug discovery. However, many current computational methods of such calculations are either inefficient or inaccurate in practice. Utilizing implicit solvent models in the molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) framework allows for efficient calculations without significant loss of accuracy. Here, GBNSR6, a new flavor of the generalized Born model, is employed in the MM/GBSA framework for measuring the binding affinity between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the human ACE2 receptor. A computational protocol is developed based on the widely studied Ras–Raf complex, which has similar binding free energy to SARS-CoV-2/ACE2. Two options for representing the dielectric boundary of the complexes are evaluated: one based on the standard Bondi radii and the other based on a newly developed set of atomic radii (OPT1), optimized specifically for protein–ligand binding. Predictions based on the two radii sets provide upper and lower bounds on the experimental references: −14.7(ΔGbindBondi)<−10.6(ΔGbindExp.)<−4.1(ΔGbindOPT1) kcal/mol. The consensus estimates of the two bounds show quantitative agreement with the experiment values. This work also presents a novel truncation method and computational strategies for efficient entropy calculations with normal mode analysis. Interestingly, it is observed that a significant decrease in the number of snapshots does not affect the accuracy of entropy calculation, while it does lower computation time appreciably. The proposed MM/GBSA protocol can be used to study the binding mechanism of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, as well as other relevant structures.

Application of the ESMACS Binding Free Energy Protocol to a Highly Varied Ligand Dataset: Lactate Dehydogenase A

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Wright ◽  
Fouad Husseini ◽  
Shunzhou Wan ◽  
Christophe Meyer ◽  
Herman Van Vlijmen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Normal Mode Analysis ◽  
Binding Mode ◽  
Accessible Surface Area ◽  
Solvent Accessible Surface Area ◽  
Mode Analysis ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Accessible Surface

<div>Here, we evaluate the performance of our range of ensemble simulation based binding free energy calculation protocols, called ESMACS (enhanced sampling of molecular dynamics with approximation of continuum solvent) for use in fragment based drug design scenarios. ESMACS is designed to generate reproducible binding affinity predictions from the widely used molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MMPBSA) approach. We study ligands designed to target two binding pockets in the lactate dehydogenase A target protein, which vary in size, charge and binding mode. When comparing to experimental results, we obtain excellent statistical rankings across this highly diverse set of ligands. In addition, we investigate three approaches to account for entropic contributions not captured by standard MMPBSA calculations: (1) normal mode analysis, (2) weighted solvent accessible surface area (WSAS) and (3) variational entropy. </div>

Application of the ESMACS Binding Free Energy Protocol to a Highly Varied Ligand Dataset: Lactate Dehydogenase A

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Wright ◽  
Fouad Husseini ◽  
Shunzhou Wan ◽  
Christophe Meyer ◽  
Herman Van Vlijmen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Normal Mode Analysis ◽  
Binding Mode ◽  
Accessible Surface Area ◽  
Solvent Accessible Surface Area ◽  
Mode Analysis ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Accessible Surface

<div>Here, we evaluate the performance of our range of ensemble simulation based binding free energy calculation protocols, called ESMACS (enhanced sampling of molecular dynamics with approximation of continuum solvent) for use in fragment based drug design scenarios. ESMACS is designed to generate reproducible binding affinity predictions from the widely used molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MMPBSA) approach. We study ligands designed to target two binding pockets in the lactate dehydogenase A target protein, which vary in size, charge and binding mode. When comparing to experimental results, we obtain excellent statistical rankings across this highly diverse set of ligands. In addition, we investigate three approaches to account for entropic contributions not captured by standard MMPBSA calculations: (1) normal mode analysis, (2) weighted solvent accessible surface area (WSAS) and (3) variational entropy. </div>

Large-Scale Assessment of Binding Free Energy Calculations in Active Drug Discovery Projects

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Schindler ◽  
Hannah Baumann ◽  
Andreas Blum ◽  
Dietrich Böse ◽  
Hans-Peter Buchstaller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Active Drug ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Large Scale Assessment ◽  
New Public ◽  
Binding Free Energy Calculations

Here we present an evaluation of the binding affinity prediction accuracy of the free energy calculation method FEP+ on internal active drug discovery projects and on a large new public benchmark set.<br>

Large-Scale Assessment of Binding Free Energy Calculations in Active Drug Discovery Projects

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Schindler ◽  
Hannah Baumann ◽  
Andreas Blum ◽  
Dietrich Böse ◽  
Hans-Peter Buchstaller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Active Drug ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Large Scale Assessment ◽  
New Public ◽  
Binding Free Energy Calculations

Here we present an evaluation of the binding affinity prediction accuracy of the free energy calculation method FEP+ on internal active drug discovery projects and on a large new public benchmark set.<br>

scholarly journals Nelfinavir was predicted to be a potential inhibitor of 2019-nCov main protease by an integrative approach combining homology modelling, molecular docking and binding free energy calculation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhijian Xu ◽  
Cheng Peng ◽  
Yulong Shi ◽  
Zhengdan Zhu ◽  
Kaijie Mu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Homology Modelling ◽  
Binding Mode ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Potential Inhibitor ◽  
Small Molecule Drugs ◽  
Main Protease

Abstract2019-nCov has caused more than 80 deaths as of 27 January 2020 in China, and infection cases have been reported in more than 10 countries. However, there is no approved drug to treat the disease. 2019-nCov Mpro is a potential drug target to combat the virus. We built homology models based on SARS Mpro structures, and docked 1903 small molecule drugs to the models. Based on the docking score and the 3D similarity of the binding mode to the known Mpro ligands, 4 drugs were selected for binding free energy calculations. Both MM/GBSA and SIE methods voted for nelfinavir, with the binding free energy of −24.69±0.52 kcal/mol and −9.42±0.04 kcal/mol, respectively. Therefore, we suggested that nelfinavir might be a potential inhibitor against 2019-nCov Mpro.

scholarly journals D614G substitution at the hinge region enhances the stability of trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-445
Author(s):  
Arangasamy Yazhini ◽  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Thermodynamic Stability ◽  
Normal Mode Analysis ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Energy Difference ◽  
Hinge Region ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Mode Analysis ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Domain Motions

Mutations in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are the major causes for the modulation of ongoing COVID-19 infection. Currently, the D614G substitution in the spike protein has become dominant worldwide. It is associated with higher infectivity than the ancestral (D614) variant. We demonstrate using Gaussian network model-based normal mode analysis that the D614G substitution occurs at the hinge region that facilitates domain-domain motions between receptor binding domain and S2 region of the spike protein. Computer-aided mutagenesis and inter-residue energy calculations reveal that contacts involving D614 are energetically frustrated. However, contacts involving G614 are energetically favourable, implying the substitution strengthens residue contacts that are formed within as well as between protomers. We also find that the free energy difference (ΔΔG) between two variants is -2.6 kcal/mol for closed and -2.0 kcal/mol for 1-RBD up conformation. Thus, the hermodynamic stability has increased upon D614G substitution. Whereas the reverse mutation in spike protein structures having G614 substitution has resulted in the free energy differences of 6.6 kcal/mol and 6.3 kcal/mol for closed and 1-RBD up conformations, respectively, indicating that the overall thermodynamic stability has decreased. These results suggest that the D614G substitution modulates the flexibility of spike protein and confers enhanced thermodynamic stability irrespective of conformational states. This data concurs with the known information demonstrating increased availability of the functional form of spike protein trimer upon D614G substitution.

scholarly journals Identification of Potential Binders of the SARS-Cov-2 Spike Protein via Molecular Docking, Dynamics Simulation and Binding Free Energy Calculation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Chirag N. Patel ◽  
Dr. Prasanth Kumar S. ◽  
Dr. Himanshu A. Pandya ◽  
Dr. Rakesh M. Rawal
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Free Energy ◽  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Energy Calculations ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

<p>The pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) has become critical global health issue. The biophysical and structural evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein possesses higher binding affinity towards angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and hemagglutinin-acetylesterase (HE) glycoprotein receptor. Hence, it was selected as a target to generate the potential candidates for the inhibition of HE glycoprotein. The present study focuses on extensive computational approaches which contains molecular docking, ADMET prediction followed by molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations. Furthermore, virtual screening of NPACT compounds identified 3,4,5-Trihydroxy-1,8-bis[(2R,3R)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-2-yl]benzo[7]annulen-6-one, Silymarin, Withanolide D, Spirosolane and Oridonin were interact with high affinity. The ADMET prediction revealed pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties of top-ranked compounds. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations affirmed that these five NPACT compounds were robust HE inhibitor.</p>

scholarly journals Predicting the Potential Effect of E484K Mutation on the Binding of 28 Antibodies to the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 by Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Free Energy Calculation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leyun Wu ◽  
Cheng Peng ◽  
Zhijian Xu ◽  
weiliang zhu
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Binding Affinity ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Potential Impact

Vaccines and antibody therapeutic are needed to fight the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has spread since 2020. Experimental studies have shown that the E484K variant may escape the neutralization of antibodies. To explore the potential impact of E484K mutation on the antibody binding affinity, we calculated the binding free energy of 28 antibodies to the wild type and K484 mutant of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. We found that 71% of the antibodies show lower binding affinity to the E484K mutant, indicating the highly possible immune escape risk of the mutated virus. Further analysis revealed that the other mutations, e.g. F490 and V483, are also likely to cause immune escape.

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