白腐菌漆酶耐盐性的生物信息学研究及氯离子、氧气和水分子输运通道分析

运用生物信息学方法分析了各物种漆酶的耐盐性差异,并利用随机加速动力学模拟计算揭示了白腐菌漆酶内部连接三铜活性中心(TNC)的氯离子、氧气和水分子的可能输运通路.生物信息学系统发生树和结构比对分析表明,担子真菌、子囊真菌与细菌漆酶具有较高的结构保守性;通过随机加速动力学模拟发现,白腐菌T.versicolor漆酶内部有5条小分子输运通道(p1~p5),其中p2和p5为新的输运通道;与氧气和水分子输运不同,氯离子在漆酶内部输运时受到明显约束,以较高的几率通过p1和p4输运通道.高耐盐漆酶的p1通道周边富集了更多酸性和芳香性氨基酸残基,降低了氯离子的输运效率,从而提高其耐盐性.     

蛋白质表面模块划分及其在结合位点预测中的应用

蛋白质-蛋白质复合物的结合位点预测是计算分子生物学的一个难题. 本文对蛋白质-蛋白质复合物数据集Benchmark 3.0 中的双链蛋白质复合物进行了研究, 计算了单体的残基溶剂可接近表面积和残基间的接触面积, 并据此提出了蛋白质表面模块划分方法. 发现模块的溶剂可接近表面积与其内部接触面积的乘积(PSAIA)值能够提供结合位点的信息. 在78 个双链蛋白质复合物中, 有74 个体系其受体或配体上具有最大或次大PSAIA值的模块是界面模块. 将该方法获得的结合位点信息应用在CAPRI竞赛Target 39 的复合物结构预测中取得了较好的结果. 本文提出的基于模块的蛋白质结合位点预测方法不同于以残基为基础且仅考虑表面残基的传统预测方法, 为蛋白质-蛋白质复合物结合位点预测提供了新思路.     

分子模拟中的增强抽样方法

分子模拟在化学、物理、生物、材料等多学科的发展中起着越来越重要的作用。然而,受到当前计算机处理速度的限制,分子模拟计算所能够达到的时间尺度同实验或实际应用中要求的时间尺度相比还存在着巨大的差距。增强抽样方法的发展和应用可以有效地拓宽分子模拟所能研究体系的时间尺度,极大地提高分子模拟的热力学和动力学计算能力。本文中先简单介绍增强抽样方法的发展以及几类增强抽样方法的优缺点,然后重点介绍了我们研究组所发展的温度积分抽样方法(Integrated Tempering Sampling, ITS)的基本思路及其在蛋白质折叠研究中的应用。文章最后总结了增强抽样方法发展的新需求,同时也对此研究方向的广阔发展前景进行了展望。     

防晒化合物咖啡酸的直接-非绝热动力学（英文）

作为防晒霜中一种广泛使用的成分,咖啡酸具有很强的紫外线吸收能力.本文通过研究咖啡酸的光诱导动力学,探讨其光保护机制.在半经验电子结构理论水平上使用直接面跳跃模拟方法研究最稳定的咖啡酸异构体非绝热动力学.从不同电子态开始进行动力学模拟,探讨光诱导反应通道对激发波长的依赖性.结果表明,氢原子解离和环变形驱动的通道主导了咖啡酸的非绝热动力学.同时改变激发波长会调控通道的分支比例,本研究揭示了咖啡酸化合物光保护原理的分子机制.     

基于分子模拟方法预测PIP2在双孔钾通道TREK-1上结合位点的研究

磷脂酰肌醇4,5-二磷酸酯(PIP₂)是一类分布在质膜内层的信号磷脂分子, 对钾、 钠和氯等离子通道和转运蛋白等多种跨膜蛋白具有调节作用. TREK-1是一类重要的背景钾通道, 受温度、 机械拉伸及胞内pH等多种因素调节, PIP₂在特定浓度范围内可激活TREK-1通道, 在内面向外膜片钳记录TREK-1通道电流中使用PIP₂抗结剂(如多聚赖氨酸)可导致TREK-1通道关闭. 利用分子对接和全原子分子动力学模拟探索了PIP₂与双孔钾通道TREK-1的相互作用. 分子对接计算结果表明, PIP₂在TREK-1通道上有两个可能的结合位点. 进一步的分子动力学模拟和均力势(PMF)计算结果表明, 其中位于螺旋M4和螺旋M1的位点可能是PIP₂激活TREK-1的优先结合位点. 模拟展示了PIP₂与TREK-1结合的可能构象. PIP₂的肌醇头部磷酸根与位于M1和M4上的碱性残基K45, K304和R311形成稳定盐桥; M1螺旋上的一系列疏水残基对稳定PIP₂的脂肪长链具有关键作用.     

氧气在碱溶液中结构与扩散系数的分子动力学模拟

采用分子动力学方法对不同温度(25-120 ℃)及碱浓度(1:100-1:5, 摩尔比)下NaOH和KOH溶液中的氧气进行了模拟. 本文考察了NaOH及KOH溶液中溶剂-溶剂、氧气-溶剂及氧气-溶质的径向分布函数, 并采用爱因斯坦方程从均方位移曲线中计算得到了氧气及溶质离子的扩散系数. 结果显示随着碱浓度的升高, 氧气扩散系数逐渐减少; 在相同条件下, 氧气在NaOH溶液中扩散系数小于在KOH溶液中的扩散系数; 溶质离子扩散系数的变化规律与氧气一致. 通过与现有实验结果对比, 发现了分子动力学方法的可靠性及用于研究实验受限领域的优越性.     

H2O(HOD) + Cl→HCl(DCl) + OH(OD)反应动态学的理论研究

用从头算方法, 获得了H2O + Cl→HCl + OH(R1), HOD +Cl→DCl + OH(R2), HOD + Cl→HCl + OD(R3)反应的内禀反应坐标(IRC)。根据传统过渡态、变分过渡态理论及相应的隧道效应校正, 计算了反应的速率常数。对已有实验速率常数值的R1反应, 我们计算的结果和实验一致。根据Truhlar的振动选态公式, 分别讨论了激发HOD中OH, OD振动模式对反应速率的影响,得到激发HOD中的OH振动模式将有利于产物OD + HCl生成, 和实验的结论相一致。     

流场驱动高分子链迁移穿过微通道的耗散粒子动力学模拟

利用耗散粒子动力学模拟方法研究了高分子链在流场驱动作用下迁移穿过微通道过程中的链构象变化和动力学行为.在足够大的流场力驱动作用下,高分子链在沿着流场方向逐渐被拉伸,从而能够穿过管径小于其自身尺寸的微通道.耗散粒子动力学模拟结果表明高分子链的迁移过程主要分为3个步骤:(1)在流场驱动作用下,高分子链漂移并逐渐靠近微通道入口;(2)高分子链逐渐调整自身构象,并使其部分进入微通道;(3)高分子链成功穿过微通道.同时,模拟还发现当高分子链尺寸大于微通道细管道管径时,高分子链穿过微通道所需的平均迁移时间随着流量的增加而逐渐减小.此外,为了研究高分子链刚性对高分子链穿过微通道的影响,模型中还引入了蠕虫状高分子链模型.模拟结果发现,高分子链的链刚性越强,其迁移穿过微通道的时间越长.     

重要性采样方法与自由能计算

分子动力学模拟与自由能计算已经在化学、生物学与材料学等领域得到广泛的应用。然而,由于在传统分子动力学模拟的时间尺度内,体系很难跨越较高的自由能能垒,在相空间内的采样大大受限,采样困难使自由能计算难以收敛。增强采样是解决这一问题的有效途径,重要性采样方法就是其中一类。本文综述了四种广泛应用的重要性采样方法--伞状采样方法、metadynamics方法、自适应偏置力方法和温度加速分子动力学方法的原理和进展,其中重点概述了自适应偏置力方法的最新发展--扩展自适应偏置力方法和扩展广义自适应偏置力方法,并对这四种重要性采样方法的优缺点进行了比较。最后,讨论和展望了重要性采样与自由能计算方法面临的挑战和前景,并提出了对自适应偏置力方法可能的改进,如与加速分子动力学（aMD）或弦方法结合以提高在高维度空间中的采样效率。     

全氟丙酸与人血清白蛋白结合作用机制的计算模拟与光谱法研究

通过分子对接和动力学模拟的计算方法模拟人血清白蛋白(HSA)的三维空间结构,建立了HSA与全氟丙酸(IPC-PFFA-3)相互作用的模型,研究了HSA与全氟丙酸复合物在水溶液中的稳定性以及在结合位点中的动力学性质。在模拟人体生理的实验条件下,采用荧光光谱法和同步荧光光谱法研究了HSA与IPCPFFA-3的相互作用。实验结果表明,IPC-PFFA-3与HSA形成的复合物HSA-IPC-PFFA-3对HSA产生荧光猝灭作用,其猝灭机理是静态猝灭;热力学参数计算得出两者结合的主要作用力为氢键作用力;竞争实验的结果表明IPC-PFFA-3与HSA的结合位点位于HSA的SiteⅡ,与分子对接的模拟结果相吻合。同步荧光光谱实验与动力学模拟的结果证明IPC-PFFA-3与HSA能够稳定结合,并使HSA的构象发生变化。     

Determination of free energy profiles by repository based adaptive umbrella sampling: bridging nonequilibrium and quasiequilibrium simulations

We propose a new adaptive sampling approach to determine free energy profiles with molecular dynamics simulations, which is called as "repository based adaptive umbrella sampling" (RBAUS). Its main idea is that a sampling repository is continuously updated based on the latest simulation data, and the accumulated knowledge and sampling history are then employed to determine whether and how to update the biasing umbrella potential for subsequent simulations. In comparison with other adaptive methods, a unique and attractive feature of the RBAUS approach is that the frequency for updating the biasing potential depends on the sampling history and is adaptively determined on the fly, which makes it possible to smoothly bridge nonequilibrium and quasiequilibrium simulations. The RBAUS method is first tested by simulations on two simple systems: a double well model system with a variety of barriers and the dissociation of a NaCl molecule in water. Its efficiency and applicability are further illustrated in ab initio quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics simulations of a methyl-transfer reaction in aqueous solution.     

Increasing the time step with mass scaling in Born‐Oppenheimer ab initio QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations

Born‐Oppenheimer ab initio QM/MM molecular dynamics simulation with umbrella sampling is a state‐of‐the‐art approach to calculate free energy profiles of chemical reactions in complex systems. To further improve its computational efficiency, a mass‐scaling method with the increased time step in MD simulations has been explored and tested. It is found that by increasing the hydrogen mass to 10 amu, a time step of 3 fs can be employed in ab initio QM/MM MD simulations. In all our three test cases, including two solution reactions and one enzyme reaction, the resulted reaction free energy profiles with 3 fs time step and mass scaling are found to be in excellent agreement with the corresponding simulation results using 1 fs time step and the normal mass. These results indicate that for Born‐Oppenheimer ab initio QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations with umbrella sampling, the mass‐scaling method can significantly reduce its computational cost while has little effect on the calculated free energy profiles. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009     

Self-healing umbrella sampling: a non-equilibrium approach for quantitative free energy calculations

We propose a new approach for the umbrella sampling method in molecular dynamics simulations of complex systems. An accelerated sampling of the slow degrees of freedom is achieved by generating a single self-adaptive trajectory that tends to span uniformly the reaction coordinate using a time dependent bias potential derived from the preceding history of the system. To show the convergent behavior and the efficiency of the method, we present the free energy surface of alanine dipeptide in water as a function of the backbone dihedral angles.     

Configuration Flipping in Distal Pocket of Multidrug Transporter MexB Impacts the Efflux Inhibitory Mechanism

MexAB-OprM efflux pumps, found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, play a major role in drug resistance by extruding out drugs and antibiotic molecules from cells. Inhibitors are used to cease the potency of the efflux pumps. In this study, in-silico models are used to investigate the nature of the binding pocket of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. First, we have performed classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to shed light on different aspects of protein–inhibitor interaction in the binding pocket of the pump. Using classical MD simulations, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM), and various types of analyses, it is found that D13-9001 has a higher binding affinity towards the binding pocket compared to D1 and D2; the results are in sync with the experimental dat. Two stable configurations of D13-9001 are discovered inside the distal pocket which could be one of the primary reasons for the greater efficacy of D13-9001. The free energy barrier upon changing one state to another is calculated by employing umbrella sampling method. Finally, F178 is mutated to have the complete picture as it contributes significantly to the binding energy irrespective of the three inhibitors. Our results may help to design a new generation of inhibitors for such an efflux pump.     

谷胱甘肽分子伞的构象分析及VolSurf表征

使用分子动力学模拟迟火和半经验AMl方法对谷胱甘肽分子伞进行了构象分析 ，结果表明，真空下屏蔽构象和暴露构象的最低能量值相差很小(26.00kJ/mol)。 考虑溶剂效应后，屏蔽构象的能量值最高，暴露构象的能量值最低。屏蔽构象的能 量最低值高于暴露构象的能量最低值89.24kJ/mol，从理论上解释了谷胱甘肽分子 伞在水溶液中呈现暴露构象的原因。利用VolSurf参数分析了分子伞以屏蔽构象穿 透磷脂双分子层的影响因素，结果表明屏蔽构象较小的两亲矩及较大的分子褶皱程 度是其能够穿透细胞膜的主要影响因素，与构象的绝对疏水区域无关。     

Essential energy space random walk via energy space metadynamics method to accelerate molecular dynamics simulations

To overcome the possible pseudoergodicity problem, molecular dynamic simulation can be accelerated via the realization of an energy space random walk. To achieve this, a biased free energy function (BFEF) needs to be priori obtained. Although the quality of BFEF is essential for sampling efficiency, its generation is usually tedious and nontrivial. In this work, we present an energy space metadynamics algorithm to efficiently and robustly obtain BFEFs. Moreover, in order to deal with the associated diffusion sampling problem caused by the random walk in the total energy space, the idea in the original umbrella sampling method is generalized to be the random walk in the essential energy space, which only includes the energy terms determining the conformation of a region of interest. This essential energy space generalization allows the realization of efficient localized enhanced sampling and also offers the possibility of further sampling efficiency improvement when high frequency energy terms irrelevant to the target events are free of activation. The energy space metadynamics method and its generalization in the essential energy space for the molecular dynamics acceleration are demonstrated in the simulation of a pentanelike system, the blocked alanine dipeptide model, and the leucine model.     

Protecting High Energy Barriers: A New Equation to Regulate Boost Energy in Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Molecular dynamics (MD) is one of the most common tools in computational chemistry. Recently, our group has employed accelerated molecular dynamics (aMD) to improve the conformational sampling over conventional molecular dynamics techniques. In the original aMD implementation, sampling is greatly improved by raising energy wells below a predefined energy level. Recently, our group presented an alternative aMD implementation where simulations are accelerated by lowering energy barriers of the potential energy surface. When coupled with thermodynamic integration simulations, this implementation showed very promising results. However, when applied to large systems, such as proteins, the simulation tends to be biased to high energy regions of the potential landscape. The reason for this behavior lies in the boost equation used since the highest energy barriers are dramatically more affected than the lower ones. To address this issue, in this work, we present a new boost equation that prevents oversampling of unfavorable high energy conformational states. The new boost potential provides not only better recovery of statistics throughout the simulation but also enhanced sampling of statistically relevant regions in explicit solvent MD simulations.     

Supercomputer technologies for structural-kinetic study of mechanisms of enzyme catalysis: A quantum-chemical description of aspartoacylase catalysis

The results of modeling of the complete catalytic cycle of aspartoacylase-catalyzed N-acetylaspartate hydrolysis by the combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics method and with the use of umbrella sampling replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations are reported. It has been shown that the decrease in the high-energy barriers of rate-limiting stages is achieved through the preceding equilibrium stages, such as proton transfer and conformational changes. General features of the catalytic behavior of enzymes have been formulated.     

Multidimensional adaptive umbrella sampling: Applications to main chain and side chain peptide conformations

A new adaptive umbrella sampling technique for molecular dynamics simulations is described. The high efficiency of the technique renders multidimensional adaptive umbrella sampling possible and thereby enables uniform sampling of the conformational space spanned by several degrees of freedom. The efficiency is achieved by using the weighted histogram analysis method to combine the results from different simulations, by a suitable extrapolation scheme to define the umbrella potential for regions that have not been sampled, and by a criterion to identify simulations during which the system was not in equilibrium. The technique is applied to two test systems, the alanine dipeptide and the threonine dipeptide, to sample the configurational space spanned by one or two dihedral angles. The umbrella potentials applied at the end of each adaptive umbrella sampling run are equal to the negative of the corresponding potentials of mean force. The trajectories obtained in the simulations can be used to calculate dynamical variables that are of interest. An example is the distribution of the distance between the HN and the Hβ proton that can be important for the interpretation of NMR experiments. Factors influencing the accuracy of the calculated quantities are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18 : 1450–1462, 1997     

Adaptive Accelerated Molecular Dynamics (Ad-AMD) Revealing the Molecular Plasticity of P450cam

An extended accelerated molecular dynamics (AMD) methodology called adaptive AMD is presented. Adaptive AMD (Ad-AMD) is an efficient and robust conformational space sampling algorithm that is particularly-well suited to proteins with highly structured potential energy surfaces exhibiting complex, large-scale collective conformational transitions. Ad-AMD simulations of substrate-free P450cam reveal that this system exists in equilibrium between a fully and partially open conformational state. The mechanism for substrate binding depends on the size of the ligand. Larger ligands enter the P450cam binding pocket, and the resulting substrate-bound system is trapped in an open conformation via a population shift mechanism. Small ligands, which fully enter the binding pocket, cause an induced-fit mechanism, resulting in the formation of an energetically stable closed conformational state. These results are corroborated by recent experimental studies and potentially provide detailed insight into the functional dynamics and conformational behavior of the entire cytochrome-P450 superfamily.