The human serotonin transporter(SERT)terminates neurotransmission by removing serotonin from the synaptic cleft,which is an essential process that plays an important role in depression.In addition to natural substrate...The human serotonin transporter(SERT)terminates neurotransmission by removing serotonin from the synaptic cleft,which is an essential process that plays an important role in depression.In addition to natural substrate serotonin,SERT is also the target of the abused drug cocaine and,clinically used antidepressants,escitalopram,and paroxetine.To date,few studies have attempted to investigate the unbinding mechanism underlying the orthosteric and allosteric modulation of SERT.In this article,the conserved property of the orthosteric and allosteric sites(S1 and S2)of SERT was revealed by combining the high resolutions of x-ray crystal structures and molecular dynamics(MD)simulations.The residues Tyr95 and Ser438 located within the S1 site,and Arg104 located within the S2 site in SERT illustrate conserved interactions(hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions),as responses to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Van der Waals interactions were keys to designing effective drugs inhibiting SERT and further,electrostatic interactions highlighted escitalopram as a potent antidepressant.We found that cocaine,escitalopram,and paroxetine,whether the S1 site or the S2 site,were more competitive.According to this potential of mean force(PMF)simulations,the new insights reveal the principles of competitive inhibitors that lengths of trails from central SERT to an opening were~18A for serotonin and~22 A for the above-mentioned three drugs.Furthermore,the distance between the natural substrate serotonin and cocaine(or escitalopram)at the allosteric site was~3A.Thus,it can be inferred that the potent antidepressants tended to bind at deeper positions of the S1 or the S2 site of SERT in comparison to the substrate.Continuing exploring the processes of unbinding four ligands against the two target pockets of SERT,this study observed a broad pathway in which serotonin,cocaine,escitalopram(at the S1 site),and paroxetine all were pulled out to an opening between MT1b and MT6a,which may be helpful to understand the dissociation mechanism of antidepressants.展开更多
Myoglobin has important biological functions in storing and transporting small diatomic molecules in human body. Two possible orientations of carbon monoxide （CO） in the heme distal pocket （named as BI and B2 state...Myoglobin has important biological functions in storing and transporting small diatomic molecules in human body. Two possible orientations of carbon monoxide （CO） in the heme distal pocket （named as BI and B2 states） of myoglobin have been experimentally indicated. In this study, ab initio quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics （QM/MM） molecular dynamics simulation of CO in myoglobin was carried out to investigate the two possible B states. Our results demonstrate that the B1 and B2 states correspond to Fe... CO （with carbon atom closer to iron center of heme） and Fe... OC （with oxygen atom closer to Fe）, by comparing with the experimental infrared spectrum. QM electrostatic polarization effect on CO brought from the protein and solvent environment is the main driving force, which anchors CO in two distinctive orientations and hinders its rotation. The calculated vibrational frequency shift between the state B1 and B2 is 13.1 cm-1, which is in good agreement with experimental value of 11.5 cm-1. This study also shows that the electric field produced by the solvent plays an important role in assisting protein functions by exerting directional electric field at the active site of the protein, From residue-based electric field decomposition, several residues were found to have most contributions to the total electric field at the CO center, including a few charged residues and three adjacent uncharged polar residues （namely, HIS64, ILE107, and PHE43）. This study provides new physical insights on rational design of enzyme with higher electric field at the active site.展开更多
Cytochrome P450（CYP） 2El is a dual function monoxygenase with a crucial role in the metabolism of 6% of drugs on the market at present. The enzyme is of tremendous interest for its association with alcohol consumpti...Cytochrome P450（CYP） 2El is a dual function monoxygenase with a crucial role in the metabolism of 6% of drugs on the market at present. The enzyme is of tremendous interest for its association with alcohol consumption, diabetes, obesity and fasting. Despite the abundant experimental mutagenesis data, the molecular origin and the structural motifs for the enzymatic activity deficiencies have not been rationalized at the atomic level. In this regard, we have investigated the effects of mutation on the structural and energetic characteristics upon single point mutations in CYP2E1, N219D and $366C. The molecular dynamics（MD） simulation combined with quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics（QM/MM） and noncovalent interaction（NCI） analysis was carried out on CYP2EI and its two mutants. The results highlight the critical role of Phe207, which is responsible for both structural flexibility and energetic variation, shortening the gap between the theory and the experimentally observed results of enzymatic activity decrease, The underlying molecular mechanism of the enzymatic activity deficiencies for mutants may be attributed to the changes of spatial position of Phe207 in the two mutants. This work provides particular explanations to how mutations affect ligand-receptor interactions based on combined MD and QM/MM calculations. Furthermore, the mutational effects on the activity of CYP2E1 obtained in the present study are beneficial to both the experimental and the computational works of CYPs and may allow researchers to achieve desirable changes in enzymatic activity.展开更多
3CL protease(3CLpro)is the main protease(Mpro)found in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),which cuts the coronavirus polyprotein at eleven conserved sites and is essential for the virus replic...3CL protease(3CLpro)is the main protease(Mpro)found in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),which cuts the coronavirus polyprotein at eleven conserved sites and is essential for the virus replication.Therefore,3CLpro has been widely used as a promising drug target.Many small-molecule drug candidates targeting 3CLpro have been proposed to inhibit the virus replication.In this work,we aim to reveal detailed interactions between ten small candidate molecules with extensive attention and 3CLpro using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations.First,we identified the possible binding sites of these candidate molecules on 3CLpro via molecular docking.Then,a series of 100 ns all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of strongest binding modes were performed to further evaluate the dynamical interactions between the molecules and 3CLpro in detail.Last,the binding free energy of these molecules on 3CLpro was calculated using MM/PBSA calculation,where the contribution of key amino acids was highlighted.The binding kinetics revealed in this work may provide useful insights into the action mechanism and applicability of these small-molecule drug candidates.展开更多
The insulin-degrading enzyme(IDE)plays a significant role in the degradation of the amyloid beta(Aβ),a peptide found in the brain regions of the patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.Adenosine triphosphate(ATP)all...The insulin-degrading enzyme(IDE)plays a significant role in the degradation of the amyloid beta(Aβ),a peptide found in the brain regions of the patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.Adenosine triphosphate(ATP)allosterically regulates the Aβ-degrading activity of IDE.The present study investigates the electrostatic interactions between ATP-IDE at the allosteric site of IDE,including thermostabilities/flexibilities of IDE residues,which have not yet been explored systematically.This study applies the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)to the proposed computational model for exploring electrostatic interactions between ATP and IDE.Molecular dynamic(MD)simulations are performed at different temperatures for identifying flexible and thermostable residues of IDE.The proposed computational model predicts QM/MM energy-minimised structures providing the IDE residues(Lys530 and Asp385)with high binding affinities.Considering root mean square fluctuation values during the MD simulations at 300.00 K including heat-shock temperatures(321.15 K and 315.15 K)indicates that Lys530 and Asp385 are also the thermostable residues of IDE,whereas Ser576 and Lys858 have high flexibilities with compromised thermostabilities.The present study sheds light on the phenomenon of biological recognition and interactions at the ATP-binding domain,which may have important implications for pharmacological drug design.The proposed computational model may facilitate the development of allosteric IDE activators/inhibitors,which mimic ATP interactions.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11904036 and 12175081)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.CCNU22QNOO4)。
文摘The human serotonin transporter(SERT)terminates neurotransmission by removing serotonin from the synaptic cleft,which is an essential process that plays an important role in depression.In addition to natural substrate serotonin,SERT is also the target of the abused drug cocaine and,clinically used antidepressants,escitalopram,and paroxetine.To date,few studies have attempted to investigate the unbinding mechanism underlying the orthosteric and allosteric modulation of SERT.In this article,the conserved property of the orthosteric and allosteric sites(S1 and S2)of SERT was revealed by combining the high resolutions of x-ray crystal structures and molecular dynamics(MD)simulations.The residues Tyr95 and Ser438 located within the S1 site,and Arg104 located within the S2 site in SERT illustrate conserved interactions(hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions),as responses to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Van der Waals interactions were keys to designing effective drugs inhibiting SERT and further,electrostatic interactions highlighted escitalopram as a potent antidepressant.We found that cocaine,escitalopram,and paroxetine,whether the S1 site or the S2 site,were more competitive.According to this potential of mean force(PMF)simulations,the new insights reveal the principles of competitive inhibitors that lengths of trails from central SERT to an opening were~18A for serotonin and~22 A for the above-mentioned three drugs.Furthermore,the distance between the natural substrate serotonin and cocaine(or escitalopram)at the allosteric site was~3A.Thus,it can be inferred that the potent antidepressants tended to bind at deeper positions of the S1 or the S2 site of SERT in comparison to the substrate.Continuing exploring the processes of unbinding four ligands against the two target pockets of SERT,this study observed a broad pathway in which serotonin,cocaine,escitalopram(at the S1 site),and paroxetine all were pulled out to an opening between MT1b and MT6a,which may be helpful to understand the dissociation mechanism of antidepressants.
文摘Myoglobin has important biological functions in storing and transporting small diatomic molecules in human body. Two possible orientations of carbon monoxide （CO） in the heme distal pocket （named as BI and B2 states） of myoglobin have been experimentally indicated. In this study, ab initio quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics （QM/MM） molecular dynamics simulation of CO in myoglobin was carried out to investigate the two possible B states. Our results demonstrate that the B1 and B2 states correspond to Fe... CO （with carbon atom closer to iron center of heme） and Fe... OC （with oxygen atom closer to Fe）, by comparing with the experimental infrared spectrum. QM electrostatic polarization effect on CO brought from the protein and solvent environment is the main driving force, which anchors CO in two distinctive orientations and hinders its rotation. The calculated vibrational frequency shift between the state B1 and B2 is 13.1 cm-1, which is in good agreement with experimental value of 11.5 cm-1. This study also shows that the electric field produced by the solvent plays an important role in assisting protein functions by exerting directional electric field at the active site of the protein, From residue-based electric field decomposition, several residues were found to have most contributions to the total electric field at the CO center, including a few charged residues and three adjacent uncharged polar residues （namely, HIS64, ILE107, and PHE43）. This study provides new physical insights on rational design of enzyme with higher electric field at the active site.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China（No.21273095）.
文摘Cytochrome P450（CYP） 2El is a dual function monoxygenase with a crucial role in the metabolism of 6% of drugs on the market at present. The enzyme is of tremendous interest for its association with alcohol consumption, diabetes, obesity and fasting. Despite the abundant experimental mutagenesis data, the molecular origin and the structural motifs for the enzymatic activity deficiencies have not been rationalized at the atomic level. In this regard, we have investigated the effects of mutation on the structural and energetic characteristics upon single point mutations in CYP2E1, N219D and $366C. The molecular dynamics（MD） simulation combined with quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics（QM/MM） and noncovalent interaction（NCI） analysis was carried out on CYP2EI and its two mutants. The results highlight the critical role of Phe207, which is responsible for both structural flexibility and energetic variation, shortening the gap between the theory and the experimentally observed results of enzymatic activity decrease, The underlying molecular mechanism of the enzymatic activity deficiencies for mutants may be attributed to the changes of spatial position of Phe207 in the two mutants. This work provides particular explanations to how mutations affect ligand-receptor interactions based on combined MD and QM/MM calculations. Furthermore, the mutational effects on the activity of CYP2E1 obtained in the present study are beneficial to both the experimental and the computational works of CYPs and may allow researchers to achieve desirable changes in enzymatic activity.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21903002)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.YWF-22-L-629).
文摘3CL protease(3CLpro)is the main protease(Mpro)found in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),which cuts the coronavirus polyprotein at eleven conserved sites and is essential for the virus replication.Therefore,3CLpro has been widely used as a promising drug target.Many small-molecule drug candidates targeting 3CLpro have been proposed to inhibit the virus replication.In this work,we aim to reveal detailed interactions between ten small candidate molecules with extensive attention and 3CLpro using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations.First,we identified the possible binding sites of these candidate molecules on 3CLpro via molecular docking.Then,a series of 100 ns all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of strongest binding modes were performed to further evaluate the dynamical interactions between the molecules and 3CLpro in detail.Last,the binding free energy of these molecules on 3CLpro was calculated using MM/PBSA calculation,where the contribution of key amino acids was highlighted.The binding kinetics revealed in this work may provide useful insights into the action mechanism and applicability of these small-molecule drug candidates.
文摘The insulin-degrading enzyme(IDE)plays a significant role in the degradation of the amyloid beta(Aβ),a peptide found in the brain regions of the patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.Adenosine triphosphate(ATP)allosterically regulates the Aβ-degrading activity of IDE.The present study investigates the electrostatic interactions between ATP-IDE at the allosteric site of IDE,including thermostabilities/flexibilities of IDE residues,which have not yet been explored systematically.This study applies the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)to the proposed computational model for exploring electrostatic interactions between ATP and IDE.Molecular dynamic(MD)simulations are performed at different temperatures for identifying flexible and thermostable residues of IDE.The proposed computational model predicts QM/MM energy-minimised structures providing the IDE residues(Lys530 and Asp385)with high binding affinities.Considering root mean square fluctuation values during the MD simulations at 300.00 K including heat-shock temperatures(321.15 K and 315.15 K)indicates that Lys530 and Asp385 are also the thermostable residues of IDE,whereas Ser576 and Lys858 have high flexibilities with compromised thermostabilities.The present study sheds light on the phenomenon of biological recognition and interactions at the ATP-binding domain,which may have important implications for pharmacological drug design.The proposed computational model may facilitate the development of allosteric IDE activators/inhibitors,which mimic ATP interactions.
