不同温度下水溶液中树胶醛糖与HCl相互作用的体积性质

采用密度法研究了在278.15—318.15 K(间隔10 K)下树胶醛糖+HCl+水三元溶液的密度、树胶醛糖在盐酸(0.2—2.1087 mol/kg)中的表观摩尔体积VΦ,A、标准表观摩尔体积VΦ,A0和树胶醛糖与HCl的体积相互作用参数. 研究结果表明, 树胶醛糖在盐酸中的VΦ,A和VΦ,A0均随HCl浓度的增加而线性增大. 在一定温度下, 树胶醛糖从纯水到盐酸水溶液的标准转移表观摩尔体积均为正值, 且随盐酸浓度的增加而增大. 在所测温度范围内, 树胶醛糖在盐酸中的VΦ,A0随温度T的变化关系可表示为VΦ,A0=b0+b1(T-273.15)0.84. 树胶醛糖与HCl对体积相互作用参数VEN大于零, 但数值很小且对温度变化不甚敏感.     

Exendin-4中13号残基的分子动力学模拟

Exendin-4作为胰腺GLP-1受体上的一种有效的激活剂, 是一种含有39个氨基酸残基的多肽, 其第13号氨基酸Gln突变为Tyr, 使活性增强. 应用分子动力学模拟方法, 分别优化了突变前后, Exendin-4与蛋白的复合物结构, 并对整体结构的性质、静电势、相互作用模式及能量进行了分析. 阐明了Gln突变为Tyr的活性增强的内在原因, 结果表明, 突变的Exendin-4能够通过改变自身结构的局部柔性调整与蛋白受体相互作用, 从而可以改善Exendin-4与其蛋白受体的结合能力.     

分子动力学模拟残基突变对芳香烃受体配体结合区的影响

芳香烃受体(Aryl hydrocarbon receptor,AhR)属于配体依赖性的转录因子蛋白。本文通过对AhR配体结合区域(Ligand binding domain,LBD)的结构功能及物种特异性分析,发现在其结合腔口有一些关键残基可能起到"门控"作用,进一步将野生型(WT)和3个突变模型(Phe289Ala、Tyr316Ala、Ile319Ala)进行分子动力学模拟,从蛋白稳定性、蛋白结构变化、蛋白结合腔变化及蛋白和配体结合能力4个方面分析3个残基的门控作用。研究发现,Phe289、Tyr316、Ile319氨基酸残基通过形成疏水作用为AhR LBD起到"门控"作用;而将这些氨基酸分别突变后,其蛋白稳定性降低,整体运动性增加,配体亲和力减弱,其中Tyr316、Ile319对腔内体积影响较大,Phe289使腔内环境稳定性降低。本研究可为基于芳香烃受体的药物设计提供相关理论指导。     

人类2-氨基3-羧基粘康酸6-半醛脱羧酶(ACMSD)与底物及抑制剂作用模型的理论研究

利用同源模建和分子动力学模拟方法构建了人类2-氨基3-羧基粘康酸6-半醛脱羧酶(hACMSD)的三维结构, 并利用Profile-3D和Procheck等方法评估了模型的可靠性. 在此基础上, 用分子对接程序(Affinity), 将其底物2-氨基3-羧基粘康酸6-半醛(ACMS)和抑制剂喹啉酸(QA)分别与hACMSD进行对接, 获得了复合物结构的理论模型. 通过配体与受体之间相互作用能和结构分析给出了底物和抑制剂的具体结合方式, 明确了hACMSD与底物和抑制剂结合时起重要作用的氨基酸残基.     

氨基酸突变对GABAa受体结合能力的影响

采用同源建模技术构建了大鼠γ-氨基丁酸a型受体(GABAaR)模型, 并将氨基酸残基β157Tyr和β205Tyr突变为相应的突变受体模型. 使用分子对接方法计算了γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)与突变前后受体的相互作用. 对接计算结果显示, Tyr突变为Phe后, 两种突变受体的对接能量大幅提高, GABA生物活性降低; 当Phe的对位引入氟原子后, 对接能量与未突变受体相比更低. 另外, 与β205Tyr突变相比, 与配体距离较近的β157Tyr突变, 对受体与配体作用的影响更大.     

γ-氨基丁酸与其突变受体的相互作用

采用同源建模技术构建了大鼠γ-氨基丁酸a型受体(GABAaR)模型及β97Tyr突变受体模型. 采用分子对接技术研究了γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)与突变前后受体的相互作用. 计算结果显示, 突变及未突变受体之间在氢键作用和对接能量方面存在显著差异, 配体与突变受体的结合能力随突变残基中氟原子数目的增加而降低.     

CDK2-抑制剂结合自由能计算

细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶Ⅱ(cyclin-dependent kinase 2,CDK2)是一种重要的治疗癌症的靶标.本文中采用分子动力学取样,运用MM-PBSA/GBSA两种方法计算了CDK2-NU6102复合物的绝对结合自由能.通过能量分解的方法考察了CDK2大分子主要残基与配体NU6102之间的相互作用和识别.     

鼠脑红蛋白突变体F106L与氰根的结合作用

构建了鼠脑红蛋白(Mouse neuroglobin)的突变体F106L, 以探求近端残基对脑红蛋白血红素口袋结构的贡献. 通过溶液核磁共振方法研究了外来配体氰根离子与NgbF106L蛋白的结合作用, 结果显示, 此结合存在动力学过程, 并且NgbF106LCN 突变蛋白氰根络合物可以可逆地释放氰根离子, 并使原来的第6配体His64(E7)又结合回到血红素铁上. 研究结果揭示, G5(Phe106)残基对脑红蛋白血红素构象而言较为保守; QM/MM结构优化结果表明, 位于G5 和FG5的近端残基对蛋白结构稳定性具有重要作用, 并可调控外来配体与蛋白作用的配位平衡与热动力学性质.     

人顶体酶活性腔性质及与抑制剂的结合模式

顶体酶是目前抗生育药物的一个潜在靶点. 在前期同源模建人顶体酶三维结构复合物的基础上, 采用多重拷贝同时搜寻(MCSS)等方法对人顶体酶活性腔进行分析. 结果显示, 活性腔的P1,P2和G 3个区域均具有较大极性, 且P1对抑制剂结合尤为重要. 另外, G和P1边缘及P2底部还具有一定疏水性, 且其中的部分重要残基还能与配体形成氢键作用和静电作用. MCSS计算结果确定的关键配体结合位点与人顶体酶复合物结构和定点突变实验结果相吻合. 在此基础上用分子对接方法将6个人顶体酶代表性抑制剂对接入活性腔, 阐明其结合模式, 确定与配体结合相关的关键残基.     

胰高血糖素样肽-1受体胞外区域突变体复合物的动力学研究

采用分子动力学模拟方法研究了胰高血糖素样肽-1(GLP-1)与GLP-1受体(GLP-1R)胞外区域的相互作用.结果表明,配体的结合导致受体的构象发生改变,Loop2区域的氨基酸Pro90和Trp91以及C末端的Glu128向配体移动.根据保守位点突变受体(P73A,V81L,Y88A,P90A和W91A)后所得多肽模拟数据,发现Loop2区域在突变体中的结构和柔性均发生了明显变化,Trp91和Tyr88的突变将导致配体亲和力丧失.研究结果证明,P73A突变型受体和野生型受体分别与配体相互作用后,二者数值差别不大,因此Pro73不是关键残基;V81L突变体则会导致配体亲和力的丧失.该结果为GLP-1药物设计提供了重要理论依据.     

Calculation of relative binding affinities of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase mutants with adenosine monophosphate using free energy perturbation method

The free energy perturbation (FEP) methodology is the most accurate means of estimating relative binding affinities between inhibitors and protein variants. In this article, the importance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues to the binding of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to the fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), a target enzyme for type-II diabetes, was examined by FEP method. Five mutations were made to the FBPase enzyme with AMP inhibitor bound: 113Tyr --> 113Phe, 31Thr --> 31Ala, 31Thr --> 31Ser, 177Met --> 177Ala, and 30Leu --> 30Phe. These mutations test the strength of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions between the ligand and enzyme. The calculated relative free energies indicated that: 113Tyr and 31Thr play an important role, each via two hydrogen bonds affecting the binding affinity of inhibitor AMP to FBPase, and any changes in these hydrogen bonds due to mutations on the protein will have significant effect on the binding affinity of AMP to FBPase, consistent to experimental results. Also, the free energy calculations clearly show that the hydrophilic interactions are more important than the hydrophobic interactions of the binding pocket of FBPase.     

Pi-interaction tuning of the active site properties of metalloproteins

The influence of pi-interactions with a His ligand have been investigated in a family of copper-containing redox metalloproteins. The Met16Phe and Met16Trp pseudoazurin, and Leu12Phe spinach and Leu14Phe Phormidium laminosum plastocyanin variants possess active-site pi-contacts between the introduced residue and His81 and His87/92 respectively. The striking overlap of the side chain of Phe16 in the Met16Phe variant and that of Met16 in wild type pseudoazurin identifies that this position provides an important second coordination sphere interaction in both cases. His-ligand protonation and dissociation from Cu(I) occurs in the wild type proteins resulting in diminished redox activity, providing a [H(+)]-driven switch for regulating electron transfer. The introduced pi-interaction has opposing effects on the pKa for the His ligand in pseudoazurin and plastocyanin due to subtle differences in the pi-contact, stabilizing the coordinated form of pseudoazurin whereas in plastocyanin protonation and dissociation is favored. Replacement of Pro36, a residue that has been suggested to facilitate structural changes upon His ligand protonation, with a Gly, has little effect on the pKa of His87 in spinach plastocyanin. The mutations at Met16 have a significant influence on the reduction potential of pseudoazurin. Electron self-exchange is enhanced, whereas association with the physiological partner, nitrite reductase, is only affected by the Met16Phe mutation, but kcat is halved in both the Met16Phe and Met16Trp variants. Protonation of the His ligand is the feature most affected by the introduction of a pi-interaction.     

Exploring the inter-molecular interactions in amyloid-β protofibril with molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area free energy calculations

Aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides correlates with the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. However, the inter-molecular interactions between Aβ protofibril remain elusive. Herein, molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area analysis based on all-atom molecular dynamics simulations was performed to study the inter-molecular interactions in Aβ(17-42) protofibril. It is found that the nonpolar interactions are the important forces to stabilize the Aβ(17-42) protofibril, while electrostatic interactions play a minor role. Through free energy decomposition, 18 residues of the Aβ(17-42) are identified to provide interaction energy lower than -2.5 kcal/mol. The nonpolar interactions are mainly provided by the main chain of the peptide and the side chains of nine hydrophobic residues (Leu17, Phe19, Phe20, Leu32, Leu34, Met35, Val36, Val40, and Ile41). However, the electrostatic interactions are mainly supplied by the main chains of six hydrophobic residues (Phe19, Phe20, Val24, Met35, Val36, and Val40) and the side chains of the charged residues (Glu22, Asp23, and Lys28). In the electrostatic interactions, the overwhelming majority of hydrogen bonds involve the main chains of Aβ as well as the guanidinium group of the charged side chain of Lys28. The work has thus elucidated the molecular mechanism of the inter-molecular interactions between Aβ monomers in Aβ(17-42) protofibril, and the findings are considered critical for exploring effective agents for the inhibition of Aβ aggregation.     

Spectroscopic characterization of the Leu513His variant of fungal laccase: effect of increased axial ligand interaction on the geometric and electronic structure of the type 1 Cu site

A variety of spectroscopic techniques, combined with density functional calculations, are used to describe the electronic structure of the Leu513His variant of the type 1 Cu site in Myceliophthora thermophila laccase. This mutation changes the type 1 Cu from a blue to a green site. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical absorption, circular dichroism, and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies reveal that, relative to the trigonal planar blue type 1 Cu site in wild-type fungal laccase, the covalency and the ligand field strength at the Leu513His green type 1 Cu center decrease. Additionally, there is a significant reorientation of the d(x)()()2(-)(y)()()2( )singly occupied MO, such that the overlap with the Cys sulfur valence orbital changes from pi to sigma. A density functional study in which internal coordinates are systematically altered reveals that these changes are due to the increased strength of the axial ligand (none to His), leading to a tetragonal distortion and elongation of the equatorial Cu-ligand bonds. These calculations provide insight into the experimental differences in the EPR parameters, charge-transfer absorption spectrum, and ligand-field MCD spectrum between the axial-His variant and blue Cu centers (plastocyanin and the type 1 site in fungal laccase). There are also significant differences between the green site in the Leu513His variant and other naturally occurring, green type 1 Cu sites such as in nitrite reductase, which have short axial Cu-S(Met) bonds. The large difference in EPR parameters between these green type 1 sites derives from a change in ligand field excitation energies observed by MCD, which reflects a decrease in ligand field strength. This is associated with different steric interactions of a His vs an axial Met ligand in a tetragonally distorted type 1 site. Changes in the electronic structure of the Cu site correlate with the difference in reactivity of the green His variant relative to blue wild-type fungal laccase.     

Reduction potential tuning at a type 1 copper site does not compromise electron transfer reactivity

Type 1 (T1) copper sites promote biological electron transfer (ET) and typically possess a weakly coordinated thioether sulfur from an axial Met [Cu(II)-Sdelta approximately 2.6 to 3.3 A] along with the conserved His2Cys equatorial ligands. A strong axial bond [Cu(II)-Oepsilon1 approximately 2.2 A] is sometimes provided by a Gln (as in the stellacyanins), and the axial ligand can be absent (a Val, Leu or Phe in the axial position) as in ceruloplasmin, Fet3p, fungal laccases and some plantacyanins (PLTs). Cucumber basic protein (CBP) is a PLT which has a relatively short Cu(II)-S(Met89) axial bond (2.6 A). The Met89Gln variant of CBP has an electron self-exchange (ESE) rate constant (k(ese), a measure of intrinsic ET reactivity) approximately 7 times lower than that of the wild-type protein. The Met89Val mutation to CBP results in a 2-fold increase in k(ese). As the axial interaction decreases from strong Oepsilon1 of Gln to relatively weak Sdelta of Met to no ligand (Val), ESE reactivity is therefore enhanced by approximately 1 order of magnitude while the reduction potential increases by approximately 350 mV. The variable coordination position at this ubiquitous ET site provides a mechanism for tuning the driving force to optimize ET with the correct partner without significantly compromising intrinsic reactivity. The enhanced reactivity of a three-coordinate T1 copper site will facilitate intramolecular ET in fungal laccases and Fet3p.     

Quantum mechanical studies of residue-specific hydrophobic interactions in p53-MDM2 binding

Quantum chemistry calculations at the levels of MP2/cc-pVDZ and MP2/cc-PVTZ have been carried out to study residue-specific interactions at the hydrophobic p53-MDM2 binding interface. The result of the calculation, based on structures from nanosecond molecular dynamics simulation, revealed that (19)Phe, (22)Leu, and (23)Trp of p53 have the strongest binding interaction with MDM2 followed by (26)Leu and (27)Pro. The specific residues of MDM2 that have dominant binding interactions with p53 are specifically identified to be (51)Lys, (54)Leu, (62)Met, (67)Tyr, (72)Gln, (94)Lys, (96)His, and (100)Tyr. The p53-MDM2 binding interaction is dominated by van der Waals interaction and to a lesser degree by electrostatic interaction. The MP2 results are in generally good agreement with those from the force field calculation while the DFT/B3LYP calculation failed to give attractive interaction energies for certain residue-residue interactions due to the lack of dispersion energy.     

Development of a unique 3D interaction model of endogenous and synthetic peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands

Different classes of Peripheral-type Benzodiazepine Receptor (PBR) ligands were examined and common structural elements were detected and used to develop a rational binding model based on energetically allowed ligand conformations. Two lipophilic regions and one electrostatic interaction site are essential features for high affinity ligand binding, while a further lipophilic region plays an important modulator role. A comparative molecular field analysis, performed over 130 PBR ligands by means of the GRID/GOLPE methodology, led to a PLS model with both high fitting and predictive values (r² = 0.898, Q² = 0.761). The outcome from the 3D QSAR model and the GRID interaction fields computed on the putative endogenous PBR ligands DBI (Diazepam Binding Inhibitor) and TTN (Tetracontatetraneuropeptide) was used to identify the amino acids most probably involved in PBR binding. Three amino acids, bearing lipophilic side chains, were detected in DBI (Phe49, Leu47 and Met46) and in TTN (Phe33, Leu31 and Met30) as likely residues underlying receptor binding. Moreover, a qualitative comparison of the molecular electrostatic potentials of DBI, TTN and selected synthetic ligands indicated also similar electronic properties. Convergent results from the modeling studies of synthetic and endogenous ligands suggest a common binding mode to PBRs. This may help the rational design of new high affinity PBR ligands.     

Interactions between 12-EOx-12 gemini surfactants and pluronic ABA block copolymers (F108 and P103) studied by isothermal titration calorimetry

The interactions between triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide), P103 and F108, EO(n)PO(m)EO(n), m = 56 and n = 17 and 132, respectively, and gemini surfactants (oligooxa)-alkanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(dimethyldodecylammonium bromide) (12-EO(x)-12), x = 0-3, have been studied in aqueous solution using isothermal titration calorimetry. The thermograms of F108 as a function of surfactant concentration show one broad peak at polymer concentrations, Cp, < or =0.50 wt %, below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the copolymer at 25 degrees C. It is attributed to interactions between the surfactant and the triblock copolymer monomer. The critical aggregation concentration (cac) remains constant while deltaHmax2 and the saturation concentration, C2, increase with increasing copolymer concentration. Analysis of the cac data offers semiquantitative support that the degree of ionization of the surfactant aggregates bound to polymers is likely to be larger than that at the surfactant cmc. In P103 solutions at Cp > or = 0.05 wt %, two peaks appear in the thermograms and they are attributed to the interactions between the gemini surfactant and the micelle or monomeric forms of the copolymer. An origin-based nonlinear fitting program was employed to deconvolute the two peaks and to obtain estimates of peak properties. An estimate of the fraction of copolymer in aggregated form was also obtained. The enthalpy change due to interactions between the surfactants and P103 aggregates is very large compared to values obtained for traditional surfactants. This suggests that extensive reorganization of copolymer aggregates and surrounding solvent occurs during the interaction. Dehydration of the copolymers by the surfactant may also play an important step in the interaction. The endothermic enthalpy change reflecting interactions between the surfactant and polymer decreases more rapidly as the length and hydrophilic character of the spacer increases, suggesting that more favorable interactions occur with the P103 monomers having shorter PEO segments.     

Ligand and loop variations at type 1 copper sites: influence on structure and reactivity

Type 1 (T1) copper sites promote biological electron transfer and are found in the cupredoxins and a number of copper-containing enzymes including the multi-copper oxidases. A T1 copper site usually has a distorted tetrahedral geometry with strong ligands provided by the thiolate sulfur of a Cys and the imidazole nitrogens of two His residues. The active site structure is typically completed by a weak axial Met ligand (a second weak axial interaction is found in azurin resulting in a trigonal bipyramidal geometry). The axial Met is not conserved and Gln, Phe, Leu and Val are also found in this position. Three of the four ligands at a T1 copper site are situated on a single C-terminal loop whose length and structure varies. Studies are discussed which investigate both the influence of physiologically relevant axial ligand alterations, and also of mutations to the length and structure of the ligand-containing loop, on the properties of T1 copper sites.     

Contributions of methionine to recognition of trimethyllysine in aromatic cage of PHD domains: implications of polarizability,hydrophobicity, and charge on binding

Recognition of trimethyllysine (Kme3) by reader proteins is an important regulator of gene expression. This recognition event is mediated by an aromatic cage made up of 2–4 aromatic residues in the reader proteins that bind Kme3 via cation–π interactions. A small subset of reader proteins contain a methionine (Met) residue in place of an aromatic sidechain in the binding pocket. The unique role of sulfur in molecular recognition has been demonstrated in a number of noncovalent interactions recently, including interactions of thiols, thioethers, and sulfoxides with aromatic rings. However, the interaction of a thioether with an ammonium ion has not previously been investigated and the role of Met in binding Kme3 has not yet been explored. Herein, we systematically vary the Met in two reader proteins, DIDO1 and TAF3, and the ligand, Kme3 or its neutral analog tert-butyl norleucine (tBuNle), to determine the role of Met in the recognition of the cationic Kme3. Our studies demonstrate that Met contributes to binding via dispersion forces, with about an equal contribution to binding Kme3 and tBuNle, indicating that electrostatic interactions do not play a role. During the course of these studies, we also discovered that DIDO1 exhibits equivalent binding to tBuNle and Kme3 through a change in the mechanism of binding.

A conserved methionine in a trimethyllysine (Kme3) reader protein interacts via dispersion forces rather than ion-dipole interactions or the hydrophobic effect. Differences in selectivity for Kme3 versus its neutral analog were also discovered.