MD studies on conformational behavior of a DNA photolyase enzyme

In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on a DNA photolyase protein with two cofactors, FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) and MTHF (methenyltetrahydrofolate), inside the enzyme pocket. A DNA photolyase is a highly efficient light-driven enzyme that repairs the UV-induced cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimer in damaged DNA. We were aimed to compare the conformational changes of the FAD cofactor and other constituent fragments of the molecular system under consideration. The conformational behavior of the FAD molecule is very important for understanding the functional and structural properties of the DNA repair protein photolyase. The photoactive FAD is an essential cofactor both for specificial binding to damaged DNA and for catalysis. The second chromophore (MTHF or 8-HDF) is not necessary for catalysis and has no effect on specific enzyme—substrate binding. The obtained results were discussed to gain insight into the light-driven mechanism of DNA repair by a DNA photolyase enzyme—based on the enzyme structure, the FAD mobility, and conformation shape.