含有L-对硝基苯丙氨酸的BAFF改构体的分子动力学模拟与分析

建立含有L-对硝基苯丙氨酸(p-nitro-L-phenylalanine,pNO_2Phe)蛋白的分子动力学模拟方法,分析了含有pNO_2Phe的蛋白具有免疫原性的构效关系,为其他含有非天然氨基酸蛋白的动力学模拟研究提供参考。使用CGenFF-paramchem计算天然氨基酸中不存在的L-对硝基苯丙氨酸的新的成键、键角、二面角信息与能量,将新成键的键长、键角、二面角参数与相应的能量信息写入CHARMM(chemistry at Harvard macromolecular mechanics)力场参数文件中。重新定义L-对硝基苯丙氨酸的CHARMM力场参数后,利用纳米分子动力学(NAMD)成功对含有L-对硝基苯丙氨酸的B淋巴细胞刺激因子(BAFF)进行动力学模拟。统计动力学模拟过程中的每一帧体系的温度,作出的温度分布图符合正态分布,证明了新定义力场参数的稳定性。模拟结果中,蛋白的均方根偏差(RMSD)在趋近于2.5,pNO_2Phe残基的均方根涨落(RMSF)为3.7,显著高于分子的其他部位,表明pNO_2Phe残基运动剧烈,蛋白在该残基附近结构的可变性较大,可能会产生新的构象表位,为含有pNO_2Phe蛋白成为自体疫苗的设计提供了理论上的可行性。

Alternative Role of Motif B in Template Dependent Polymerase Inhibition

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Co V-2) relies on the central molecular machine RNA-dependent RNA polymerase(Rd Rp) for the viral replication and transcription. Remdesivir at the template strand has been shown to effectively inhibit the RNA synthesis in SARS-Co V-2 Rd Rp by deactivating not only the complementary UTP incorporation but also the next nucleotide addition. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of the second inhibitory point remains unclear. In this work, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations and demonstrated that such inhibition has not directly acted on the nucleotide addition at the active site. Instead, the translocation of Remdesivir from +1 to-1 site is hindered thermodynamically as the posttranslocation state is less stable than the pre-translocation state due to the motif B residue G683. Moreover, another conserved residue S682 on motif B further hinders the dynamic translocation of Remdesivir due to the steric clash with the 1′-cyano substitution. Overall,our study has unveiled an alternative role of motif B in mediating the translocation when Remdesivir is present in the template strand and complemented our understanding about the inhibitory mechanisms exerted by Remdesivir on the RNA synthesis in SARS-Co V-2 Rd Rp.