苯磺酰胺从碳酸酐酶II中脱离过程的分子动力学模拟

综合运用分子动力学模拟和自由能计算方法研究了苯磺酰胺分子从碳酸酐酶II (CA II)的活性位点脱离过程中底物与酶之间的动态相互作用. 脱离过程的平均力势(PMF)显示, 底物脱离时存在一个特殊的结合状态. 其中, 静电相互作用占据了主导地位. 轨迹分析显示, 除了金属离子的配位作用之外, 底物脱离路径上的关键残基Leu198、Thr199和Thr200通过与底物磺胺基的氢键作用阻碍了底物从酶中的脱离. 当前的研究对于深入认识磺胺类药物与CA II的详细结合过程和相关的药物改良与设计具有重要的指导意义.     

HIV-1整合酶与芳香二酮酸类抑制剂相互作用的分子模拟研究

用分子对接方法研究了一系列芳香二酮酸类抑制剂与HIV-1整合酶的识别及相互作用. 结果表明, 抑制剂结合到整合酶Asp64～Leu68, Thr115～Phe121, Gln148～Lys159和Mg2＋所构成的口袋区, 抑制机理与5CITEP相似. 采用分子动力学模拟和MM/PBSA方法计算了芳香二酮酸类抑制剂与整合酶之间的结合自由能, 计算结果与实验值相吻合, 平均绝对偏差为3.6 kJ/mol, 体系范德华相互作用和溶剂化效应的非极性项是利于形成复合物的主要因素. 相关性分析结果表明, 结合自由能值与疏水相互作用有较强的线性相关(R＝0.61), 基于此, 用多元线性回归方法给出了一个能较强预测芳香二酮酸类抑制剂与HIV-1整合酶的结合自由能预测模型, 为后续基于抑制剂结构的抗HIV-1药物分子设计提供指导.     

基于计算模拟与光谱法研究细胞色素CYP2C9与双酚A的相互作用

基于分子对接、分子动力学模拟、紫外吸收光谱法、荧光光谱法与红外光谱法,研究了细胞色素CYP2C9与双酚A (BPA)之间的相互作用。分子对接研究表明,对接位点位于Thr364附近的空腔,结合能为-7. 51 kcal/mol;分子动力学模拟观察了10 ns内蛋白的整体构象变化,发现Thr364也是BPA与CYP2C9发生相互作用时的结合位点。光谱学研究发现CYP2C9与双酚A结合发生荧光增强现象,并且它们间的相互作用力主要为疏水作用力;二级结构中β-转角、无规则卷曲与β-折叠等也发生明显变化;随着底物浓度增加紫外吸收峰有明显上升且伴随红移。模拟计算与光谱检测均表明CYP2C9与BPA间存在较强的相互作用。     

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.     

Bcl-2蛋白结合底物时的诱导契合及高效抑制剂的柔性对接研究

Bcl-2蛋白是目前抗肿瘤药物研究很具前景的新靶点. Bcl-2蛋白与底物作用的活性腔生理情况下是蛋白与蛋白作用接触面大而平坦, 与底物结合时发生明显的诱导契合. 通过分析和比较Bcl-2蛋白和其高同源的Bcl-x_L蛋白的自由状态及与底物复合时的9个相关三维结构模型, 明确了蛋白及活性腔的骨架结构特征, 活性腔内的重要位点和关键残基, 及它们结合底物时发生的诱导契合. 基于以上认识, 采用柔性对接的方法得到了高亲和力的小分子抑制剂与Bcl-2蛋白的合理结合模式, 为以后设计合成新型高效Bcl-2蛋白抑制剂打下了坚实基础.     

芬太尼类化合物与阿片μ受体相互作用的分子对接与分子动力学模拟

采用分子对接和分子动力学(MD)模拟方法研究了芬太尼类化合物与阿片μ受体的相互作用机制.先用AutoDock4.0程序将芬太尼类化合物对接到同源模建的阿片μ受体结构中,再用GROMACS程序包在水溶液体系中分别对12个芬太尼激动剂和阿片μ受体蛋白复合物进行了MD模拟研究,优化对接复合物的结构,最后利用MM-PBSA方法,在APBS程序中计算芬太尼类衍生物与阿片μ受体的结合自由能,计算出的受体配合物结合常数(Ki)与其实验值吻合较好,并预测了化合物的活性排序.结果表明,复合物蛋白结构与空载受体蛋白结构有较大差异,特别是胞内区IL2、IL3和跨膜区段TM4骨架构象变化较大,不同的化合物对受体结构影响也有差异,活性较好的化合物会增加蛋白特定区域结构的柔性.芬太尼类化合物可能是通过和受体结合后诱导阿片μ受体构象转变为活性构象,引起一系列的信号传导激活G蛋白,从而引发生理效应.     

人甲状腺旁素1型受体的结构特征

人甲状腺旁素1 型受体(PTH1R)是骨形成相关的B类G蛋白偶联受体, 其底物甲状腺旁腺素(PTH)及类似物具有抗骨质疏松作用. 由于此类受体的三维结构难以进行实验测定, 本文采用同源模建的方法, 完整构建了胞外区、跨膜区及其它相关区域, 并通过对接研究, 阐明复合物的氢键、疏水性相互作用及其与底物的相互作用关系和关键位点. 为进一步设计和发展此类药物提供理论依据.     

基于分子动力学模拟提高嗜热磷酸三酯酶样内酯酶非特异性底物活力的理论研究

采用分子动力学模拟和拉伸分子动力学模拟方法, 结合分子力学-广义玻恩表面积(MM-GB/SA)方法进行自由能计算和结构交互指纹分析, 研究了模拟过程中非特异性底物(对氧磷/内酯)分别与嗜热磷酸三酯酶样内酯酶(SsoPox)野生型和突变体(W263F/W263T)结合的构象变化, 分析了Loop8中重要残基Trp263的突变提高SsoPox非特异性底物活力的原因, 发现其能够影响门控残基Phe229的构象变化, 导致活性口袋入口变宽(Phe229与Tyr99之间的距离变大), 使对氧磷和内酯更容易结合到蛋白质的活性位点上; Asp256和Arg223形成盐桥的几率高于野生型(WT)SsoPox, 在Arg223(位于Loop7)的协助下质子更加高效地从活性中心的Asp256(位于Loop8)传递到溶剂中去, 因而能够提高SsoPox水解底物的效率. 通过比较2个野生型复合物的结构稳定性和结合自由能差异, 发现在模拟过程中SsoPox与内酯的复合物体系更加稳定并且具有更低的结合自由能, 有利于SsoPox识别底物并使其埋在活性部位的疏水环境中, 促进氢氧化物亲核进攻底物的亲电中心. 因此, 底物与酶稳定的相互作用可能是SsoPox具有天然内酯酶活性的原因之一.     

基于分子模拟的离子液体修饰Porcine Pancreas脂肪酶催化性能和稳定性的相关研究

采用分子模拟手段研究了功能性离子液体[HOOCBMIm]Cl修饰Porcine Pancreas脂肪酶(PPL)结构稳定性与催化性能增强的机理. 在335和300 K下比较研究两种脂肪酶的一系列相互作用特点与结构性质, 包括静电势(electrostatic potential, ESP)、均方根偏差(Root Mean Square Deviation, RMSD)、能量变化、溶剂化面积等等. 分析结果表明: 在335 K下, 修饰后的脂肪酶(Engineered PPL)的RMSD值(0.537 Å)小于未修饰的脂肪酶(Wild-type PPL)的RMSD值(0.68 Å), 同时Engineered PPL的自由能也低于Wild-type PPL的自由能, 说明Engineered PPL的构象更加稳定. 修饰剂的引入使得Engineered PPL的疏水性面积和溶剂可及性面积(Solvent Accessible Surface Area, SASA)增大, 增强了Engineered PPL的稳定性和水解活力. 修饰剂的正电性与修饰位点附近的负电势氨基酸形成静电吸引作用, 优化了蛋白表面电荷的相互作用, 进一步提高了蛋白稳定性; 同时也稳定了蛋白盖子结构的打开状态, 有利于底物进入蛋白空腔催化位点, 实现催化活性提升. 本文从分子水平展示了离子液体修饰脂肪酶并提供了一种解析化学修饰改变酶学性质的方法.     

L-乳酸脱氢酶抑制剂抑制成因的探讨

应用HF/3 21G研究了抑制剂H2N－CO－COO－对L 乳酸脱氢酶的抑制成因.结果表明,酶被抑制的主要原因有:(1)抑制剂与底物的稳定构象态在结构上极为相似,导致酶不能有效识别底物;(2)模型抑制剂各原子所带净电荷的优势使抑制剂更易与酶活性中心结合;(3)抑制剂通过对酶的诱导契合作用使酶活性中心的空间被缩小;(4)对活性中心有关结构的分析表明,底物的甲基分子片以及酶的氨基酸残基Gln 102,对催化反应能否顺利进行,影响极大.     

血管紧张素转换酶与抑制肽结合模式的分子动力学研究

应用分子模拟方法研究了血管紧张素转换酶(Angiotensin-converting enzyme,ACE)C端结构域(C-domain)与两种抑制肽(RIGLF/AHEPVK)的结合机制,预测了两个体系的结合模式,提出在C-domain-RIGLF中His353,Asp377,Asp453,Phe457,His513,Tyr523和Phe527为RIGLF主要结合残基,而在C-domainAHEPVK中Gln281,His353,Ser355,Glu384,Lys511,His513和Tyr523等残基起关键作用.应用结合自由能计算比较了两个体系的结合能力,结果表明,RIGLF和AHEPVK均与C-domain活性位点残基存在较强作用,且AHEPVK对C-domain的结合能力较强,与实验结果一致.     

γ-环糊精和波尼松龙的相互作用分子动力学模拟和自由能计算

运用分子动力学（Molecular dynamics,MD）和MM—PBSA（molecular mechanics／Poisson Boltzmann surfaeearea）相结合的方法预测了γ-环糊精（γ-cyclodextrin,γ-CD）和波尼松龙的包结模式．在MD模拟过程中,波尼松龙分别采用A环和D环两种取向从γ-CD大口端进入其空腔．在MD轨迹采样基础上,采用高效MM—PBSA方法计算了两种取向的包结自由能．结果表明,计算包结自由能值和实验包结自由能值非常吻合．进一步分析各个能量项,发现范德华相互作用能为包结的主要驱动力．通过比较两种取向的包结自由能大小,预测D环取向为优势包结模式．     

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.     

Molecular dynamics simulation and free energy calculation studies of the binding mechanism of allosteric inhibitors with p38α MAP kinase

p38 MAP kinase is a promising target for anti-inflammatory treatment. The classical kinase inhibitors imatinib and sorafenib as well as BI-1 and BIRB-796 were reported to bind in the DFG-out form of human p38α, known as type II or allosteric kinase inhibitors. Although DFG-out conformation has attracted great interest in the design of type II kinase inhibitors, the structural requirements for binding and mechanism of stabilization of DFG-out conformation remain unclear. As allosteric inhibition is important to the selectivity of kinase inhibitor, herein the binding modes of imatinib, sorafenib, BI-1 and BIRB-796 to p38α were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. Binding free energies were calculated by molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area method. The predicted binding affinities can give a good explanation of the activity difference of the studied inhibitors. Furthermore, binding free energies decomposition analysis and further structural analysis indicate that the dominating effect of van der Waals interaction drives the binding process, and key residues, such as Lys53, Gly71, Leu75, Ile84, Thr106, Met109, Leu167, Asp168, and Phe169, play important roles by forming hydrogen bond, salt bridge, and hydrophobic interactions with the DFG-out conformation of p38α. Finally, we also conducted a detailed analysis of BI-1, imatinib, and sorafenib binding to p38α in comparison with BIRB-796 exploited for gaining potency as well as selectivity of p38 inhibitors. These results are expected to be useful for future rational design of novel type II p38 inhibitors.     

Genetic engineering of the heme pocket in human serum albumin: modulation of O2 binding of iron protoporphyrin IX by variation of distal amino acids

Complexing an iron protoporphyrin IX into a genetically engineered heme pocket of recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) generates an artificial hemoprotein, which can bind O2 in much the same way as hemoglobin (Hb). We previously demonstrated a pair of mutations that are required to enable the prosthetic heme group to bind O2 reversibly: (i) Ile-142-->His, which is axially coordinated to the central Fe2+ ion of the heme, and (ii) Tyr-161-->Phe or Leu, which makes the sixth coordinate position available for ligand interactions [I142H/Y161F (HF) or I142H/Y161L (HL)]. Here we describe additional new mutations designed to manipulate the architecture of the heme pocket in rHSA-heme complexes by specifically altering distal amino acids. We show that introduction of a third mutation on the distal side of the heme (at position Leu-185, Leu-182, or Arg-186) can modulate the O2 binding equilibrium. The coordination structures and ligand (O2 and CO) binding properties of nine rHSA(triple mutant)-heme complexes have been physicochemically and kinetically characterized. Several substitutions were severely detrimental to O2 binding: for example, Gln-185, His-185, and His-182 all generated a weak six-coordinate heme, while the rHSA(HF/R186H)-heme complex possessed a typical bis-histidyl hemochrome that was immediately autoxidized by O2. In marked contrast, HSA(HL/L185N)-heme showed very high O2 binding affinity (P1/2O2 1 Torr, 22 degrees C), which is 18-fold greater than that of the original double mutant rHSA(HL)-heme and very close to the affinities exhibited by myoglobin and the high-affinity form of Hb. Introduction of Asn at position 185 enhances O2 binding primarily by reducing the O2 dissociation rate constant. Replacement of polar Arg-186 with Leu or Phe increased the hydrophobicity of the distal environment, yielded a complex with reduced O2 binding affinity (P1/2O2 9-10 Torr, 22 degrees C), which nevertheless is almost the same as that of human red blood cells and therefore better tuned to a role in O2 transport.     

Molecular insight into the interaction between IFABP and PA by using MM-PBSA and alanine scanning methods

The molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) method combined with alanine-scanning mutagenesis is a very important tool for rational drug design. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) and MM-PBSA were applied to calculate the binding free energy between the rat intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) and palmitic acid (PA) to gain insight to the interaction details. Equally spaced snapshots along the trajectory were chosen to perform the binding free energy calculation, which yields a result highly consistent with experimental value with a deviation of 0.4 kcal/mol. Computational alanine scanning was performed on the same set of snapshots by mutating the residues in IFABP to alanine and recomputing the DeltaDeltaG(binding). By postprocessing a single trajectory of the wild-type complex, the average unsigned error of our calculated DeltaDeltaG(binding) is below 1.5 kcal/mol for most of the alanine mutations of the noncharged residues (67% in total). To further investigate some particular mutants, three additional dynamical simulations of IFABP Arg126Ala, Arg106Ala, and Arg106Gln mutants were conducted. Recalculated binding free energies are well consistent with the experimental data. Moreover, the ambiguous role of Arg106 caused by the free energy change of the opposite sign when it is mutated to alanine and glutamine respectively is clarified both structurally and energetically. Typically, this can be attributed to the partial electrostatic compensation mainly from Arg56 and the obvious entropy gain in Arg106Ala mutant while not in Arg106Gln mutant. The presented structural model of IFABP-PA complex could be used to guide future studies.     

Chemical basis of peptidoglycan discrimination by PrkC, a key kinase involved in bacterial resuscitation from dormancy

Bacterial Ser/Thr kinases modulate a wide number of cellular processes. In Bacillus subtilis , the Ser/Thr kinase PrkC has been shown to induce germination of bacterial spores in response to DAP-type but not Lys-type cell wall muropeptides. Muropeptides are a clear molecular signal that growing conditions are promising, since they are produced during cell wall peptidoglycan remodeling associated with cell growth and division of neighboring bacteria. However, whether muropeptides are able to bind the protein physically and how the extracellular region is able to distinguish the two types of muropeptides remains unclear. Here we tackled the important question of how the extracellular region of PrkC (EC-PrkC) senses muropeptides. By coupling NMR techniques and protein mutagenesis, we exploited the structural requirements necessary for recognition and binding and proved that muropeptides physically bind to EC-PrkC through DAP-moiety-mediated interactions with an arginine residue, Arg500, belonging to the protein C-terminal PASTA domain. Notably, mutation of this arginine completely suppresses muropeptide binding. Our data provide the first molecular clues into the mechanism of sensing of muropeptides by PrkC.     

Asp746 to Glycine Change May have a Greater Influence than Cys751 to Serine Change in Accounting for Ligand Selectivity between EGFR and HER-2 at the ATP Site

Summary We have carried out up to 8.0 ns molecular dynamics simulation on the ATP-bound complexes of EGFR and HER-2 (homology model) receptor kinase domains to explore the possible consequences of amino acid residue changes in or close to the ATP site that might provide insights for selectivity of these kinases towards ATP site inhibitors. The simulation results show the formation of a channel under Thr766 following the movement of the side chain of Gln767 away from the hinge in EGFR. In HER-2, a similar movement of Gln799 occurs, but a simultaneous movement of Arg784 towards the hinge region occurs that tends to close the channel. The movement of Arg784 in HER-2 appears to result from the absence of an anchoring residue like Asp746 in EGFR, which has been changed to Gly778 in HER-2. In EGFR, this Arg784 is held away from the hinge region by interaction with Asp746, thereby leaving the channel open. This might be an important contributory factor to differences in selectivity of the ligands between the two kinases, probably more so than the conservative change of Cys751 of EGFR to serine in HER-2 at the ATP site.     

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。