谷氨酰胺结合蛋白的分子动力学模拟和自由能计算

谷氨酰胺结合蛋白(Glutamine-binding protein, GlnBp)是大肠杆菌透性酶系统中一个细胞外液底物专一性结合蛋白, 对于细胞外液中谷氨酰胺(Gln)的运输和传递至关重要. 本文运用分子动力学(Molecular dynamics, MD)模拟采样, 考察了GlnBp关键残基与底物Gln之间的相互作用和GlnBp两条铰链的功能差别; 并采用MM-PBSA方法计算了GlnBp与底物Gln的结合自由能. 结果表明: Ph13, Phe50, Thr118和Ile69与底物Gln的范德华相互作用和Arg75, Thr70, Asp157, Gly68, Lys115, Ala67, His156与底物Gln的静电相互作用是结合Gln的主要推动力; 复合物的铰链区85～89柔性大, 对构象开合提供了结构基础; 而铰链区181～185柔性小, 其作用更多是在功能上把底物Gln限制在口袋中; 自由能预测值与实验值吻合. 本研究很好地解释了GlnBp结构与功能的关系, 为进一步了解GlnBp的开合及转运Gln的机制提供了重要的结构信息.     

结核分枝杆菌EPSP合酶与草甘膦的分子对接研究

采用Autodock4.2分子对接软件包,对结核分枝杆菌5-烯醇式丙酮酰莽草酸-3-磷酸合酶(5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase,简称EPSP合酶)和草甘膦的相互作用机制进行了分子对接研究.研究结果表明,草甘膦与结核分枝杆菌EPSP合酶结合能为-28.27kcal/mol;结合位点位于该酶底物磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸(PEP)的结合位点上,并与底物形成竞争性结合;草甘膦能与结核分枝杆菌EPSP合酶中位于活性空腔的Glu311,His340,Thr97及Arg124等11个氨基酸残基及酶底物S3P形成疏水作用;结核分枝杆菌EPSP合酶中Arg385,Arg344,His384,Lys23,Gly96,Arg124,Lys410,Glu341 8个氨基酸残基能与草甘膦上的羧基及磷酸基团形成10个氢键,推测草甘膦的羧基及磷酸基团是草甘膦对EPSP合酶抑制作用的物质基础;草甘膦与结核分枝杆菌EPSP合酶结合的主要推动力为氢键、疏水作用及静电作用力.研究结果可为草甘膦的结构改良及EPSP合酶基因的改造提供理论参考,并为通过对莽草酸途径的抑制作用这一崭新方法来研发新型抗结核药物提供科学依据.     

QM/MM自由能模拟3-吲哚乙酸甲基转移(IAMT):催化机理和底物特异性(英文)

3-吲哚乙酸甲基转移(IAMT)催化甲基化植物激素3-吲哚乙酸(IAA)的端位自由羧酸,被认为在叶片发育过程中起到了至关重要的作用.然而,目前对于酶催化机理的详尽过程尚未被研究。在这里本文对拟南芥的甲基转移过程(AtIAMT1)进行结合量子力学和分子力学(QM/MM)的自由能模拟,并确定了其催化机制及IAMTs的底物特异性根源.研究表明,从S腺苷L甲硫氨酸(AdoMet)到3-吲哚乙酸盐(IAA)的甲基转移自由能垒要比从AdoMet到水杨酸盐的自由能垒低很多,这与之前的实验发现以及酶的底物特异性完全一致.这表明,与水杨酸相比,IAA相对高效性的甲基化是由于一部分过渡态构型的稳定性可能通过底物结合反映在反应物里,本文研究支持了之前关于计算模拟可对SABATH系列中酶的底物特异性根源进行深入理解的设想,并且可用来帮助生成可控的并具其他底物特异性的酶的实验研究.     

L-苏氨酸二元和三元配合物的PH电位法研究

本文报道了L-苏氨酸同Cu(II),Zn(II),Fe(II),Mn(II),Ca(II),Mg(II),Ni(II),Cd(II)的二元及三元配合物的pH电位法研究.电位滴定数据是使用MINIQUAD和ESTA计算机程序处理的.在每个体系中确定了最佳配合物粒子模型,并测定了在生理条件下(温度为37±0.1℃离子强度为150mmol.dm^-3NaCl)的稳定常数.结果表明在铜配合物中Cu,Thr.His混配配合物是与Cu(His)~2^-同样重要的配合物,因此需要重新计算在血浆中铜在这些配合物中的分布.虽然苏氨酸可以看作为三齿配位体,但本工作的结果并无证据支持羟基参与配位,然而在Cd-The-His体系中,Cd.Thr.His同它的1:2母体二元配合物相比表现了显著的稳定性,这可能显示了不同的配位状况.但这一点有待于进一步证实.     

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.     

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.     

补骨脂素和异补骨脂素键合人血清白蛋白的比较

将互为同分异构体的两种植物药活性组分补骨脂素和异补骨脂素作为研究对象,利用荧光光谱、紫外光谱、圆二色谱及傅立叶变换红外光谱详细比较研究了这两种香豆素类化合物与人血清白蛋白(HSA)的键合作用.不同光谱的结果定性、定量地显示了HSA二级结构变化的程度.依据荧光滴定实验及Van′t Hoff公式求出了反应的热力学参数(ΔH和ΔS)的值.根据修正后的Stern-Volmer和Scatchard方程和荧光光谱数据分别求得不同温度(296,303,310及318 K)下药物与蛋白相互作用的结合常数及结合位点数;且根据F觟rster偶极-偶极能量转移理论,求得药物与HSA间的键合距离;利用竞争实验确定了药物在HSA上的键合位点为site II.从分子水平上揭示了这两种化合物与HSA相互作用的机制.     

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。     

CYP2C9酶与Warfarin结合模型的立体选择性理论研究

对CYP2C9酶与S-Warfarin复合物的晶体结构进行分子对接、分子动力学模拟、通道分析及结合自由能计算,发现原晶体结构中的结合模式为"亚稳态",提出了CYP2C9与S-Warfarin结合的可催化模式;比较了CYP2C9与S-和R-Warfarin结合的异同,确定了在结合过程中起重要作用的锚定氨基酸残基,尤其是位于活性位点区域的苯丙氨酸簇.在结合过程中这些残基通过芳香环的移动对稳定底物的结合模式起到至关重要的作用,阐明了该酶呈现相关底物选择性的原因.对于CYP2C9与底物对接模式及立体选择性的研究有助于在分子层面上理解特异性底物与酶的结合特点,为潜在的药物设计提供了合理可信的理论依据.     

结合分子模拟探讨共聚酯PBSH在不同溶剂中的PC脂肪酶催化降解

采用固定化洋葱假单胞菌(PC)脂肪酶为催化剂,研究了在氯仿和四氢呋喃(THF)中不同摩尔比的聚(丁二酸丁二醇-co-丁二酸己二醇酯)(PBSH)的酶促降解规律及其差异性.通过PBSH降解前后的相对分子质量变化、降解产物的MALDI-TOF-MS分析研究了共聚酯降解规律,并以分子动力学(MD)及分子对接模拟分别研究了PC酶的溶剂效应及酶与底物的结合机制.研究结果表明,PC酶在2种溶剂中均可催化PBSH降解,但在氯仿中酶的活性较大,PBSH降解率大.分子动力学模拟数据表明,在THF中,PC酶整体氨基酸残基的涨落比氯仿中大,且THF会进入酶活性口袋中与催化残基Ser87结合,破坏了催化残基Ser87和His286之间的相互作用.分子对接结果分析发现,含丁二酸己二醇酯(HS)单元底物与PC酶活性位点的对接比含丁二酸丁二醇酯(BS)单元的更为稳定.     

Unbinding of nicotine from the acetylcholine binding protein: steered molecular dynamics simulations

The ligand binding/unbinding process is critical to our understanding of the pharmacology of both the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and the acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP). Steered molecular dynamics simulations were performed to learn about the unbinding process of the full agonist nicotine. Three different pulling models were designed to investigate the possible binding/unbinding pathways: radial and tangent models, and also a mixed model. Of the three, the tangent pulling model finally failed to dissociate nicotine from the ligand binding pocket. The efficiency of the pulling force profiles was superior, and the opening of the C-loop was smaller in the mixed pulling model than that in the radial model. The most favorable pathway for the cholinergic agonist nicotine to enter or leave the binding pocket is through the principal binding side, following a curvilinear track. Noticeably, it has been seen that the unbinding of the nicotine is concomitant with a global rotation of the protein-ligand complex which could be caused by the interactions of the ligand with protein at the tangent direction.     

Potentials of mean force for acetylcholine unbinding from the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligand-binding domain

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a prototype ligand-gated ion channel that mediates signal transduction in the neuromuscular junctions and other cholinergic synapses. The molecular basis for the energetics of ligand binding and unbinding is critical to our understanding of the pharmacology of this class of receptors. Here, we used steered molecular dynamics to investigate the unbinding of acetylcholine from the ligand-binding domain of human alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor along four different predetermined pathways. Pulling forces were found to correlate well with interactions between acetylcholine and residues in the binding site during the unbinding process. From multiple trajectories along these unbinding pathways, we calculated the potentials of mean force for acetylcholine unbinding. Four available methods based on Jarzynski's equality were used and compared for their efficiencies. The most probable pathway was identified to be along a direction approximately parallel to the membrane. The derived binding energy for acetylcholine was in good agreement with that derived from the experimental binding constant for acetylcholine binding protein, but significantly higher than that for the complete human alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In addition, it is likely that several intermediate states exist along the unbinding pathways.     

Promiscuity of carbonic anhydrase II. Unexpected ester hydrolysis of carbohydrate-based sulfamate inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are enzymes whose endogenous reaction is the reversible hydration of CO(2) to give HCO(3)(-) and a proton. CA are also known to exhibit weak and promiscuous esterase activity toward activated esters. Here, we report a series of findings obtained with a set of CA inhibitors that showed quite unexpectedly that the compounds were both inhibitors of CO(2) hydration and substrates for the esterase activity of CA. The compounds comprised a monosaccharide core with the C-6 primary hydroxyl group derivatized as a sulfamate (for CA recognition). The remaining four sugar hydroxyl groups were acylated. Using protein X-ray crystallography, the crystal structures of human CA II in complex with four of the sulfamate inhibitors were obtained. As expected, the four structures displayed the canonical CA protein-sulfamate interactions. Unexpectedly, a free hydroxyl group was observed at the anomeric center (C-1) rather than the parent C-1 acyl group. In addition, this hydroxyl group is observed axial to the carbohydrate ring while in the parent structure it is equatorial. A mechanism is proposed that accounts for this inversion of stereochemistry. For three of the inhibitors, the acyl groups at C-2 or at C-2 and C-3 were also absent with hydroxyl groups observed in their place and retention of stereochemistry. With the use of electrospray ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS), we observed directly the sequential loss of all four acyl groups from one of the carbohydrate-based sulfamates. For this compound, the inhibitor and substrate binding mode were further analyzed using free energy calculations. These calculations suggested that the parent compound binds almost exclusively as a substrate. To conclude, we have demonstrated that acylated carbohydrate-based sulfamates are simultaneously inhibitor and substrate of human CA II. Our results suggest that, initially, the substrate binding mode dominates, but following hydrolysis, the ligand can also bind as a pure inhibitor thereby competing with the substrate binding mode.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: X-ray and molecular modeling study for the interaction of a fluorescent antitumor sulfonamide with isozyme II and IX

The X-ray crystal structure of the fluorescent antitumor sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC, 4.2.1.1) inhibitor (4-sulfamoylphenylethyl)thioureido fluorescein (1) in complex with the cytosolic isoform hCA II is reported, together with a modeling study of the adduct of 1 with the tumor-associated isoform hCA IX. Its binding to hCA II is similar to that of other benzesulfonamides, with the ionized sulfonamide coordinated to the Zn2+ ion within the enzyme active site, and also participating in a network of hydrogen bonds with residues Thr199 and Glu106. The scaffold of 1 did not establish polar interactions within the enzyme active site but made hydrophobic contacts (<4.5 A) with Gln92, Val121, Phe131, Val135, Leu198, Thr199, Thr200, and Pro202. The substituted 3-carboxy-amino-phenyl functionality was at van der Waals distance from Phe131, Gly132, and Val135. The bulky tricyclic fluorescein moiety was located at the rim of the active site, on the protein surface, and strongly interacted with the alpha-helix formed by residues Asp130-Val135. All these interactions were preserved in the hCA IX-1 adduct, but the carbonyl moiety of the fluorescein tail of 1 participates in a strong hydrogen bond with the guanidine moiety of Arg130, an amino acid characteristic of the hCA IX active site. This may account for the roughly 2 times higher affinity of 1 for hCA IX over hCA II and may explain why in vivo the compound specifically accumulates only in hypoxic tumors overexpressing CA IX and not in the normal tissues. The compound is in clinical studies as an imaging tool for acute hypoxic tumors.     

Chemical rescue of enzymes: proton transfer in mutants of human carbonic anhydrase II

In human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA II), the mutation of position 64 from histidine to alanine (H64A) disrupts the rate limiting proton transfer (PT) event, resulting in a reduction of the catalytic activity of the enzyme as compared to the wild-type. Potential of mean force (PMF) calculations utilizing the multistate empirical valence bond (MS-EVB) methodology for H64A HCA II yields a PT free energy barrier significantly higher than that found in the wild-type enzyme. This high barrier, determined in the absence of exogenous buffer and assuming no additional ionizable residues in the PT pathway, indicates the likelihood of alternate enzyme pathways that utilize either ionizable enzyme residues (self-rescue) and/or exogenous buffers (chemical rescue). It has been shown experimentally that the catalytic activity of H64A HCA II can be chemically rescued to near wild-type levels by the addition of the exogenous buffer 4-methylimidazole (4MI). Crystallographic studies have identified two 4MI binding sites, yet site-specific mutations intended to disrupt 4MI binding have demonstrated these sites to be nonproductive. In the present work, MS-EVB simulations show that binding of 4MI near Thr199 in the H64A HCA II mutant, a binding site determined by NMR spectroscopy, results in a viable chemical rescue pathway. Additional viable rescue pathways are also identified where 4MI acts as a proton transport intermediary from the active site to ionizable residues on the rim of the active site, revealing a probable mode of action for the chemical rescue pathway.     

A theoretical study of malonate and formate calcium binding by ab initio techniques

Ab initio calculations at the STO—3G level have been performed on the binding of CA(II) ion to malonate and formate with and without d orbitals in the basis set for the CA(II) ion. The malonate and formate binding results with CA(II) are similar. The addition of d orbitals to CA(II) has little effect on the conformational minimum. The results are qualitatively similar to those from our previous calculations on the Mg²⁺—malonate interaction: a single carboxyl interaction with the metal ion appears to be preferred over a conformation in which two carboxyl groups bind to Ca(II). Moreover, the single carboxyl group interaction with CA(II) appears to be favored over the binding of CA(II) to a single oxygen of a carboxyl group.     

对羟基杏仁酸合成酶三维结构模建及其与底物的分子对接研究

以对羟基苯丙酮酸双氧化酶(HPPD)的晶体结构为模板, 利用同源模建方法构建了与其高度同源、底物相同但催化功能存在明显差别的对羟基杏仁酸合成酶(HMS)的三维结构, 并对模建结构的合理性进行了分析. 在模建结果的基础上, 对HPPD和HMS分别与底物羟苯基丙酮酸(HPP)进行分子对接计算, 比较了二者结合模式的异同, 为两种同源酶在催化方面差异性的合理阐释提供了一些有益的信息.     

Neutron Diffraction of Acetazolamide-Bound Human Carbonic Anhydrase II Reveals Atomic Details of Drug Binding

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) catalyze the hydration of CO(2) forming HCO(3)(-) and a proton, an important reaction for many physiological processes including respiration, fluid secretion, and pH regulation. As such, CA isoforms are prominent clinical targets for treating various diseases. The clinically used acetazolamide (AZM) is a sulfonamide that binds with high affinity to human CA isoform II (HCA?II). There are several X-ray structures available of AZM bound to various CA isoforms, but these complexes do not show the charged state of AZM or the hydrogen atom positions of the protein and solvent. Neutron diffraction is a useful technique for directly observing H atoms and the mapping of H-bonding networks that can greatly contribute to rational drug design. To this end, the neutron structure of H/D exchanged HCA?II crystals in complex with AZM was determined. The structure reveals the molecular details of AZM binding and the charged state of the bound drug. This represents the first determined neutron structure of a clinically used drug bound to its target.     

Unbinding of the streptavidin-biotin complex by atomic force microscopy: a hybrid simulation study

A hybrid molecular simulation technique, which combines molecular dynamics and continuum mechanics, was used to study the single-molecule unbinding force of a streptavidin-biotin complex. The hybrid method enables atomistic simulations of unbinding events at the millisecond time scale of atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments. The logarithmic relationship between the unbinding force of the streptavidin-biotin complex and the loading rate (the product of cantilever spring constant and pulling velocity) in AFM experiments was confirmed by hybrid simulations. The unbinding forces, cantilever and tip positions, locations of energy barriers, and unbinding pathway were analyzed. Hybrid simulation results from this work not only interpret unbinding AFM experiments but also provide detailed molecular information not available in AFM experiments.     

Effects of nonproductive binding on the kinetics of enzymatic reactions with patterned substrates

Existing models of ligand-receptor binding kinetics suggest that clustering surface-associated molecules tends to decrease the rates with which solution phase molecules associate and dissociate. Here, the authors use kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to study the case of an enzyme catalyzing the turnover of substrate molecules immobilized on a surface. The simulations reveal a crossover in the overall reaction rates for randomly distributed and clustered substrate molecules as the enzyme unbinding rate is varied. Approximate expressions for the effective kinetic parameters are introduced, and they show that the observed behavior derives from sequestration of the enzyme in the strong-sticking limit.