两种昆虫抗冻蛋白抗冻活性差异的分子基础

云杉蚜虫(Choristoneura fumiferana)体内可产生一种抗冻蛋白(AFP), 能够保护其在寒冷的冬季安全越冬, 这类昆虫抗冻蛋白(简称 CfAFP)存在多种异构体, 其中CfAFP-501和CfAFP-337均呈现相似的左手β-螺旋结构. 实验测定, 相比CfAFP-337仅多出两个插入螺旋环的CfAFP-501的抗冻活性竟然是CfAFP-337的3倍左右. 蛋白异构体CfAFP-501显著增强的抗冻活性和它的插入环数不成比例, 当然也不能简单归因于两个插入环所导致的与冰晶作用部位及接触面积的增加. 为了探讨两种昆虫抗冻蛋白异构体抗冻活性差异的分子基础, 深入了解抗冻蛋白作用特点的普遍规律, 分别使用分子力学、分子动力学模拟和量子力学方法来系统研究蛋白及其切割体与冰晶结合的结构特征及相互作用. 结果表明, CfAFP-501中多数螺旋环比CfAFP-337具有更强的冰晶相互作用和破坏冰晶中水分子的成键的能力, 由于螺旋长度增加导致CfAFP-501中各b-螺旋环之间协同效应的增强, 是其具有显著增强的抗冻活性的主要来源. 这种协同作用对具有b-螺旋结构的抗冻蛋白起十分关键的作用和重要贡献.     

自由能计算揭示苏氨酸对抗冻蛋白与冰晶结合能力的影响

采用分子动力学模拟和自由能计算研究了中等活性黑麦草抗冻蛋白(Lolium perenne antifreeze protein, LpAFP)冰结合位点(Ice-binding site, IBS)上苏氨酸(Thr)含量对其吸附冰晶能力的影响. 构建了一系列LpAFP突变体结构, 使其IBS上苏氨酸含量逐步增加, 其中包括一个对IBS上11个位点的突变, 使每个β片段均具有Thr-x-Thr基序(x是非保守的氨基酸, 主要是疏水氨基酸). 利用重要性采样算法(WTM-eABF)计算了LpAFP及其突变体与冰晶结合过程的自由能变化, 该算法结合了Well-tempering metadynamics的“填谷”和扩展拉格朗日自适应偏置力方法的“削峰”的优点, 显著提高了算法的采样效率. 结果表明, LpAFP突变体的IBS苏氨酸含量越高, 其与冰的结合在能量上越有利. 当突变体具有重复Thr-x-Thr基序时, 其与冰的结合能力最强. 进一步分析表明, 苏氨酸含量越高, IBS结合的液态水分子越多, 与冰晶结合时锚定包合水稳定存在的时间就越长, 抗冻蛋白的IBS与冰面之间的氢键网络也越稳定, 从而提高了抗冻蛋白与冰的结合能力. 增加苏氨酸残基的含量是提高中等活性抗冻蛋白抗冻活性的方法.     

抗冻蛋白抗冻机制的分子模拟研究

抗冻蛋白能使生物体在寒冷环境下生存,具有极大的潜在应用价值。近年来,人们对抗冻蛋白开展了广泛的研究,但其抗冻机理还未明确。本文阐述了抗冻蛋白的功能特性和结构特征,并从结构的角度对其抗冻机制方面的分子模拟研究成果进行了综述。另一方面,对目前已知晶体结构的29个野生型抗冻蛋白的结构特性进行了分析,发现在整个抗冻蛋白表面和在冰结合位点处都存在亲水残基与水形成氢键和疏水残基与类冰结构特异性结合的特点。然后,探讨了抗冻蛋白的二级结构、冰结合位点残基的疏水性与抗冻活性之间的关系。最后,从结构的角度讨论了抗冻蛋白的机制和影响抗冻活性的因素并简要总结了仿生抗冻材料设计和应用的研究进展。     

沙冬青抗冻蛋白热滞活性的DSC研究

在某些极地鱼类的血清以及某些昆虫和植物中 ,人们发现了一类特殊的物质 .它们的共同特点是能通过直接与冰晶核相互作用,抑制冰晶核的形成和生长,从而降低溶液冰点 .现已发现的这类抗冻物质都属于蛋白质,被统称为抗冻蛋白（ Antifreeze Proteins, AFPs） .抗冻蛋白能以非依数性形式大大降低溶液的冰点,但对熔点的影响很微弱,而且遵从依数性的原则,使冰点低于平衡态的熔点,溶液处于反常的非平衡相变状态 .这种冰点低于熔点的特性称为热滞 (Hysteresis).因此,抗冻蛋白也叫热滞蛋白或温度迟滞蛋白（ Thermal Hysteresis Proteins, …     

操控冰水:仿生抗冻蛋白研究进展*

抗冻蛋白是自然界娴熟操控(冰)水的分子识别的典范之一。抗冻蛋白的抗冻活性与其特殊结构有着十分密切的关系。作为目前最高效的生物抗冻剂,抗冻蛋白因其含量低、易变性失活,导致产量过低,亟待开发新的来源。近年来,模拟抗冻蛋白的研究工作吸引了科学家们的广泛关注,抗冻蛋白关键的结构特质:氢键作用、疏水性、冰晶吸附、“结构水”在各类仿生抗结冰材料中相继得以体现,对深入理解抗冻蛋白作用机制起到了重要的推动作用。综述了仿生抗冻蛋白在仿生抗结冰材料领域的研究进展,对基于仿生抗冻蛋白的仿生抗结冰材料的发展做出了展望。     

静电和疏水效应对SARS冠状病毒3CL蛋白酶二聚体稳定性的影响

从TGEV3CL蛋白酶二聚体结构出发,研究了TGEV3CL蛋白酶二聚体单体之间的静电和疏水相互作用.蛋白质的静电相互作用通过有限差分方法求解Poisson-Boltzmann方程得到,疏水相互作用通过分析溶剂可及性表面模型得到.考察了不同pH值对SARS3CL蛋白酶二聚体静电和疏水相互作用的影响,在pH=5.5～8.5时,二聚体静电相互作用能、静电去溶剂化能和疏水自由能都具有较小的数值,表明在该条件下静电和疏水相互作用有利于二聚体的稳定存在.由于SARS3CL蛋白酶活性模式为二聚体,因此,在该pH值范围内,有利于蛋白酶保持活性.在pH=7.0条件下,蛋白酶单体之间具有最强的静电和疏水相互作用,从而使蛋白酶具有最强的活性,这与实验结果相一致.pH值对静电去溶剂化能的影响大于疏水自由能,表明静电作用是造成强酸或强碱条件下二聚体不能稳定存在的主要原因.     

PTPlB和1，2-萘醌类抑制剂的分子动力学模拟

采用分子动力学和分子力学相结合的方法，研究了一类1，2-萘醌类抑制剂与酪氨酸蛋白磷酸酯酶PTP1B之间的相互作用模式．计算得到的抑制剂和靶酶之间的相互作用模式显示范德华相互作用、疏水相互作用以及氢键作用是主要的作用模式．计算结果还表明抑制剂和PTP1B的相互作用能△E越低，抑制剂活性越高．通过计算各种能量对△E的贡献，以及对复合物结构参数的分析，发现抑制剂和受体之间疏水相互作用是造成抑制剂活性差别的主要原因．这为设计其他非酸类抑制剂提供了信息．     

PTP1B和1,2-萘醌类抑制剂的分子动力学模拟

采用分子动力学和分子力学相结合的方法 ,研究了一类 1,2 萘醌类抑制剂与酪氨酸蛋白磷酸酯酶PTP1B之间的相互作用模式 .计算得到的抑制剂和靶酶之间的相互作用模式显示范德华相互作用、疏水相互作用以及氢键作用是主要的作用模式 .计算结果还表明抑制剂和PTP1B的相互作用能ΔE越低 ,抑制剂活性越高 .通过计算各种能量对ΔE的贡献 ,以及对复合物结构参数的分析 ,发现抑制剂和受体之间疏水相互作用是造成抑制剂活性差别的主要原因 .这为设计其他非酸类抑制剂提供了信息     

p53突变体Y220C小分子稳定剂的虚拟筛选

为了获得p53突变体的稳定剂,依次利用利宾斯基五原则,通过2次分子对接和全原子分子动力学(MD)模拟从Drug Bank 4.0数据库中筛选获得了潜在的稳定剂他克林.利用MD模拟进一步验证他克林和目标蛋白质之间的亲和作用.结果表明,他克林能够紧密结合到Y220C突变所形成的疏水空腔之中;他克林和目标蛋白质之间的主要作用力为疏水和静电相互作用,其中疏水相互作用占主导地位.此外,他克林分别与目标蛋白质的残基Leu145,Val147和Asp228形成3个氢键.基于MD模拟轨迹分析了他克林与p53CY220C的结合过程.由硫黄素T荧光光谱进一步证明他克林能够提高p53C-Y220C突变体的稳定性.     

表皮生长因子受体和抑制剂之间分子对接的研究

研究了表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)和4-苯胺喹唑啉类抑制剂之间的相互作用模式，表皮生长因子受体的三维结构通过同源蛋白模建的方法得到，而抑制剂和靶酶结合复合物结构则通过分子力学和分子动力学结合的方法计算得到。从模拟结果得到的抑制剂和靶酶之间的相互作用模式表明范德华相互作用、疏水相互作用以及氢键相互作用对抑制剂的活性都有重要的影响，抑制剂的苯胺部分位于活性口袋的底部，能够与受体残基的非极性侧链产生很强的范德华和疏水相互作用，抑制剂双环上的取代基团也能和活性口袋外部的部分残基形成一定的范德华和疏水性相互作用，而抑制剂喹唑啉环上的氮原子能和周围的残基形成较强的氢键相互作用，对抑制剂的活性有较大的影响，计算得到抑制剂和靶酶之间的非键相互作用能以及抑制剂和靶酶之间的相互作用信息能够很好地解释抑制剂活性和结构的关系，为全新抑制剂的设计提供了重要的结构信息。     

Impact of Borate on Structure of Antifreeze Glycoproteins

Antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) facilitate the survival of various organisms in the polar region by preventing internal ice accumulation via an adsorption-inhibition mechanism. Inhibition of AFGP antifreeze activity by the borate buffers has been widely acknowledged as the direct experimental evidence supporting the hydroxyl, rather than methyl, binding mechanism. On the other hand, perturbation of borate binding on the AFGP configuration, which might have considerable influence on the binding efficiency of not only the hydroxyl but also the methyl groups, has rarely been quantitatively examined. Herein we studied, using molecular dynamics simulations, the perturbation on the configuration of a solvated AFGP8 protein induced by the binding of one single borate anion. Near the freezing point, this binding not only makes the disaccharide groups adjacent to the borate-binding disaccharide close to each other but also affects the entire AFGP8 conformation. The structural changes induced by the binding of borate on different disaccharide sidechains exhibit clear site-specificities and the effect of borate binding on the structural changes is significantly reduced at higher temperatures. Our study is valuable for further understanding the relationship between the structure and antifreeze activity of these antifreeze glycoproteins.     

Effect of antifreeze proteins on the nucleation, growth, and the memory effect during tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrate formation

The inhibition activities of two antifreeze proteins (AFPs) on the formation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) clathrate hydrate have been tested. AFPs from fish (wfAFP) and insect (CfAFP) changed the morphology of growing THF hydrate crystals. Also, both AFPs showed higher activities in inhibiting the formation THF hydrate than a commercial kinetic inhibitor, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Strikingly, both AFPs also showed the ability to eliminate the "memory effect" in which the crystallization of hydrate occurs more quickly after the initial formation. This is the first report of molecules that can inhibit the memory effect. Since the homogeneous nucleation temperature for THF hydrate was measured to be 237 K, close to that observed for ice itself, the action of kinetic inhibitors must involve heterogeneous nucleation. On the basis of our results, we postulate a mechanism for heterogeneous nucleation, the memory effect and its elimination by antifreeze proteins.     

Molecular dynamics studies show solvation structure of type III antifreeze protein is disrupted at low pH

Antifreeze proteins are a class of biological molecules of interest in many research and industrial applications due to their highly specialized function, but there is little information of their stability and properties under varied pH derived from computational studies. To gain novel insights in this area, we conducted molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the antifreeze protein 1KDF at varied temperatures and pH. Water solvation and H-bond formation around specific residues – ASN14, THR18 and GLN44 – involved in its antifreeze activity were extensively studied. We found that at pH1 there was a disruption in water solvation around the basal and the ice binding surfaces of the molecule. This was induced by a small change in the secondary structure propensities of some titrable residues, particularly GLU35. This change explains the experimentally observed reduction in antifreeze activity previously reported for this protein at pH1. We also found that THR18 showed extremely low H-bond formation, and that the three antifreeze residues all had very low average H-bond lifetimes. Our results confirm long-standing assumptions that these small, compact molecules can maintain their antifreeze activity in a wide range of pH, while demonstrating the mechanism that may reduce antifreeze activity at low pH. This aspect is useful when considering industrial and commercial use of antifreeze proteins subject to extreme pH environments, in particular in food industrial applications.     

Antifreeze Properties of Polyglycidol Block Copolymers

In this paper, we describe a new biomimetic approach to the synthesis of block copolymers with antifreeze properties. Our approach focuses on the design of block copolymers that mimic the structure and functionality of antifreeze proteins. Hyperbranched copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide)‐polyethyleneimine blocks and polyglycidol side chains were synthesized and their antifreeze properties were studied. It is shown that these block copolymers can lower the freezing point of water up to 0.8 °C at a relatively low concentration (1 mg · mL⁻¹). From DSC measurements it is proven that polyglycidol block copolymers slow down the crystallization kinetics of ice and lead to changes in the ice crystal morphology, as observed by cryo‐optical microscopy.

     

Microwave‐Assisted Solid‐Phase Synthesis of Antifreeze Glycopeptides

Microwave‐assisted solid‐phase synthesis allows for the rapid and large‐scale preparation and structure–activity characterization of tandem repeating glycopeptides, namely monodispersed synthetic antifreeze glycopeptides (syAFGPs, H‐[Ala‐Thr(Galβ1,3GalNAcα1→)‐Ala]_n‐OH, n=2–6). By employing novel AFGP analogues, we have demonstrated that of the monodispersed syAFGP_n (n=2–6, degree of polymerization, DP=2–6, M_w=1257–3690 Da), syAFGP₅ (DP=5, M_w=3082 Da) and syAFGP₆ (DP=6, M_w=3690 Da) exhibit the ability to form typical hexagonal bipyramidal ice crystals and satisfactory thermal hysteresis activity. Structural characterization by NMR and CD spectroscopy revealed that syAFGP₆ forms a typical poly‐L ‐proline type II helix‐like structure in aqueous solution whereas enzymatic modification by sialic acid of the residues at the C‐3 positions of the nonreducing Gal residues disturbs this conformation and eliminates the antifreeze activity.     

Comparative Analysis of Hydration Layer Reorientation Dynamics of Antifreeze Protein and Protein Cytochrome P450

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) inhibit ice recrystallization by a mechanism remaining largely elusive. Dynamics of AFPs' hydration water and its involvement in the antifreeze activity have not been identified conclusively. We herein, by simulation and theory, examined the water reorientation dynamics in the first hydration layer of an AFP from the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana, compared with a protein cytochrome P450 (CYP). The increase of potential acceptor water molecules around donor water molecules leads to the acceleration of hydrogen bond exchange between water molecules. Therefore, the jump reorientation of water molecules around the AFP active region is accelerated. Due to the mutual coupling and excitation of hydrogen bond exchange, with the acceleration of hydrogen bond exchange, the rearrangement of the hydrogen bond network and the frame reorientation of water are accelerated. Therefore, the water reorientation dynamics of AFP is faster than that of CYP. The results of this study provide a new physical image of antifreeze protein and a new understanding of the antifreeze mechanism of antifreeze proteins.     

Mirror image forms of snow flea antifreeze protein prepared by total chemical synthesis have identical antifreeze activities

The recently discovered glycine-rich snow flea antifreeze protein (sfAFP) has no sequence homology with any known proteins. No experimental structure has been reported for this interesting protein molecule. Here we report the total chemical synthesis of the mirror image forms of sfAFP (i.e., L-sfAFP, the native protein, and D-sfAFP, the native protein's enantiomer). The predicted 81 amino acid residue polypeptide chain of sfAFP contains Cys residues at positions 1, 13, 28, and 43 and was prepared from four synthetic peptide segments by sequential native chemical ligation. After purification, the full-length synthetic polypeptide was folded at 4 degrees C to form the sfAFP protein containing two disulfides. Chemically synthesized sfAFP had the expected antifreeze activity in an ice recrystallization inhibition assay. Mirror image D-sfAFP protein was prepared by the same synthetic strategy, using peptide segments made from d-amino acids, and had an identical but opposite-sign CD spectrum. As expected, D-sfAFP displays the same antifreeze properties as L-sfAFP, because ice presents an achiral surface for sfAFP binding. Facile synthetic access to sfAFP will enable determination of its molecular structure and systematic elucidation of the molecular basis of the antifreeze properties of this unique protein.     

Molecular dynamics study of the interactions of ice inhibitors on the ice {001} surface

The interactions of antifreeze protein (AFP) type I, antifreeze glycoproteins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and various amino acids with ice are investigated using Cerius2, a molecular modelling tool. Binding energies of these additives to a major ice crystal face {001} are computed. Binding energy comparison of threonine molecules (by themselves) and as threonine residues within AFP type I demonstrate their role in improving AFP's binding ability to the ice crystal face. The shifts in onset points of ice crystallization with AFP type I, PVP, and amino acids are measured using differential scanning calorimetry. These values when correlated with their respective binding energies reveal a direct proportionality and demonstrate AFP's effectiveness in inhibiting growth and nucleation of ice, over amino acids.