Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Sperm Whale Myoglobin: Effects of Mutations and Trapped CO on the Structure and Dynamics of Cavities (original) (raw)

The role of cavities in protein dynamics: crystal structure of a photolytic intermediate of a mutant myoglobin

Proceedings of the …, 2000

We determined the structure of the photolytic intermediate of a sperm whale myoglobin (Mb) mutant called Mb-YQR [Leu-(B10)3 Tyr; His(E7)3 Gln; Thr(E10)3 Arg] to 1.4-Å resolution by ultra-low temperature (20 K) x-ray diffraction. Starting with the CO complex, illumination leads to photolysis of the Fe-CO bond, and migration of the photolyzed carbon monoxide (CO*) to a niche in the protein 8.1 Å from the heme iron; this cavity corresponds to that hosting an atom of Xe when the crystal is equilibrated with xenon gas at 7 atmospheres [Tilton, R. F., Jr., Kuntz, I. D. & Petsko, G. A. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 2849 -2857]. The site occupied by CO* corresponds to that predicted by molecular dynamics simulations previously carried out to account for the NO geminate rebinding of Mb-YQR observed in laser photolysis experiments at room temperature. This secondary docking site differs from the primary docking site identified by previous crystallographic studies on the photolyzed intermediate of wild-type sperm whale Mb performed at cryogenic temperatures [Teng et al. (1994) Nat. Struct. Biol. 1, 701-705] and room temperature [Š rajer et al. (1996) Science 274, 1726 -1729]. Our experiment shows that the pathway of a small molecule in its trajectory through a protein may be modified by site-directed mutagenesis, and that migration within the protein matrix to the active site involves a limited number of pre-existing cavities identified in the interior space of the protein.

Protein-ligand dynamics

Journal of Molecular Biology, 1988

A 96 picosecond dynamics trajectory of myoglobin with five xenon-probe ligands in internal cavities is examined to study the effect of protein motions on ligand motion and internal cavity fluctuations. Average structural and energetic properties indicate that the simulation is well behaved. The average protein volume is similar to the volume of the X-ray model and the main-chain atom root-mean-square deviation between the X-ray model and the average dynamical structure is 1.25 A. The protein volume oscillates 3 to 43;) around the volume of the X-ray structure. These fluctuations lead to changes in the internal free volume and in the size, shape and location of atom-sized cavity features. Transient cavities produced in the simulation have a crucial role in the movement of two of the ligands. One of the ligands escapes to the protein surface. whilst a second ligand travels through the protein interior. Complex gating processes involving several protein residues are responsible for producing the necessary pores through which the ligand passes bet,ween transient cavities or packing defects.

Structural Dynamics of Myoglobin LIGAND MIGRATION AMONG PROTEIN CAVITIES STUDIED BY FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED/TEMPERATURE DERIVATIVE SPECTROSCOPY

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in the CO stretch bands combined with temperature derivative spectroscopy (TDS) was used to characterize intermediate states obtained by photolysis of two sperm whale mutant myoglobins, YQR (L29(B10)Y, H64(E7)Q, T67(E10)R) and YQRF (with an additional I107(G8)F replacement). Both mutants assume two different boundstate conformations, A 0 and A 3 , which can be distinguished by their different CO bands near 1965 and 1933 cm ؊1 . They most likely originate from different conformations of the Gln-64 side chain. Within each A substate, a number of photoproduct states have been characterized on the basis of the temperature dependence of recombination in TDS experiments. Different locations and orientations of the ligand within the protein can be distinguished by the infrared spectra of the photolyzed CO. Recombination from the primary docking site, B, near the heme dominates below 50 K. Above 60 K, ligand rebinding occurs predominantly from a secondary docking site, C, in which the CO is trapped in the Xe4 cavity on the distal side, as shown by crystallography of photolyzed YQR and L29W myoglobin CO. Another kinetic state (C) has been identified from which rebinding occurs around 130 K. Moreover, a population appearing above the solvent glass transition at ϳ180 K (D state) is assigned to rebinding from the Xe1 cavity, as suggested by the photoproduct structure of the L29W sperm whale myoglobin mutant. For both the YQR and YQRF mutants, rebinding from the B sites near the heme differs for the two A substates, supporting the view that the return of the ligand from the C, C, and D states is not governed by the recombination barrier at the heme iron but rather by migration to the active site. Comparison of YQR and YQRF shows that access to the Xe4 site (C) is severely restricted by introduction of the bulky Phe side chain at position 107.

Extended Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Carbon Monoxide Migration in Sperm Whale Myoglobin

Biophysical Journal, 2004

We report the results of an extended molecular dynamics simulation on the migration of photodissociated carbon monoxide in wild-type sperm whale myoglobin. Our results allow following one possible ligand migration dynamics from the distal pocket to the Xe1 cavity via a path involving the other xenon binding cavities and momentarily two additional packing defects along the pathway. Comparison with recent time resolved structural data obtained by Laue crystallography with subnanosecond to millisecond resolution shows a more than satisfactory agreement. In fact, according to time resolved crystallography, CO, after photolysis, can occupy the Xe1 and Xe4 cavities. However, no information on the trajectory of the ligand from the distal pocket to the Xe1 is available. Our results clearly show one possible path within the protein. In addition, although our data refer to a single trajectory, the local dynamics of the ligand in each cavity is sufficiently equilibrated to obtain local structural and thermodynamic information not accessible to crystallography. In particular, we show that the CO motion and the protein fluctuations are strictly correlated: free energy calculations of the migration between adjacent cavities show that the migration is not a simple diffusion but is kinetically or thermodynamically driven by the collective motions of the protein; conversely, the protein fluctuations are influenced by the ligand in such a way that the opening/closure of the passage between adjacent cavities is strictly correlated to the presence of CO in its proximity. The compatibility between time resolved crystallographic experiments and molecular dynamics simulations paves the way to a deeper understanding of the role of internal dynamics and packing defects in the control of ligand binding in heme proteins.

Structural Dynamics of Ligand Diffusion in the Protein Matrix: A Study on a New Myoglobin Mutant Y(B10) Q(E7) R(E10)

Biophysical Journal, 1999

A triple mutant of sperm whale myoglobin (Mb) [Leu(B10) 3 Tyr, His(E7) 3 Gln, and Thr(E10) 3 Arg, called Mb-YQR], investigated by stopped-flow, laser photolysis, crystallography, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, proved to be quite unusual. Rebinding of photodissociated NO, O 2 , and CO from within the protein (in a "geminate" mode) allows us to reach general conclusions about dynamics and cavities in proteins. The 3D structure of oxy Mb-YQR shows that bound O 2 makes two H-bonds with Tyr(B10)29 and Gln(E7)64; on deoxygenation, these two residues move toward the space occupied by O 2. The bimolecular rate constant for NO binding is the same as for wild-type, but those for CO and O 2 binding are reduced 10-fold. While there is no geminate recombination with O 2 and CO, geminate rebinding of NO displays an unusually large and very slow component, which is pretty much abolished in the presence of xenon. These results and MD simulations suggest that the ligand migrates in the protein matrix to a major "secondary site," located beneath Tyr(B10)29 and accessible via the motion of Ile(G8)107; this site is different from the "primary site" identified by others who investigated the photolyzed state of wild-type Mb by crystallography. Our hypothesis may rationalize the O 2 binding properties of Mb-YQR, and more generally to propose a mechanism of control of ligand binding and dissociation in hemeproteins based on the dynamics of side chains that may (or may not) allow access to and direct temporary sequestration of the dissociated ligand in a docking site within the protein. This interpretation suggests that very fast (picosecond) fluctuations of amino acid side chains may play a crucial role in controlling O 2 delivery to tissue at a rate compatible with physiology.

Heme Proteins: The Role of Solvent on the Dynamics of Gates and Portals Revealed by MD Simulations

Biophysical Journal, 2010

Internal cavities, which are central to the biological functions of myoglobin, are exploited by gaseous ligands (e.g., O 2 , NO, CO, etc.) to migrate inside the protein matrix. At present, it is not clear whether the ligand makes its own way inside the protein or instead the internal cavities are an intrinsic feature of myoglobin. To address this issue, standard molecular dynamics simulations were performed on horse-heart met-myoglobin with no ligand migrating inside the protein matrix. To reveal intrinsic internal pathways, the use of a statistical approach was applied to the cavity calculation, with special emphasis on the major pathway from the distal pocket to Xe1. Our study points out the remarkable dynamical behavior of Xe4, whose "breathing motions" may facilitate migration of ligands through the distal region. Additionally, our results highlight a two-way path for a ligand to diffuse through the proximal region, possibly allowing an alternative route in case Xe1 is occupied. Finally, our approach has led us to the identification of key residues, such as leucines, that may work as switches between cavities.

The Change of Protein Intradomain Mobility on Ligand Binding: Is It a Commonly Observed Phenomenon?

Biophysical Journal, 2006

Analysis of changes in the dynamics of protein domains on ligand binding is important in several aspects: for the understanding of the hierarchical nature of protein folding and dynamics at equilibrium; for analysis of signal transduction mechanisms triggered by ligand binding, including allostery; for drug design; and for construction of biosensors reporting on the presence of target ligand in studied media. In this work we use the recently developed HCCP computational technique for the analysis of stabilities of dynamic domains in proteins, their intrinsic motions and of their changes on ligand binding. The work is based on comparative studies of 157 ligand binding proteins, for which several crystal structures (in ligand-free and ligandbound forms) are available. We demonstrate that the domains of the proteins presented in the Protein DataBank are far more robust than it was thought before: in the majority of the studied proteins (152 out of 157), the ligand binding does not lead to significant change of domain stability. The exceptions from this rule are only four bacterial periplasmic transport proteins and calmodulin. Thus, as a rule, the pattern of correlated motions in dynamic domains, which determines their stability, is insensitive to ligand binding. This rule may be the general feature for a vast majority of proteins.

Protein dynamics

Biophysical Chemistry, 1987

were performed on the internal motion of Trp 59 of ribonuclease T, (EC 3.1.27.3) in the free enzyme, 2'.GMP-enzyme complex and 3'-GMP-enzyme complex. The Trp 59 motion was also studied in the free enzyme using molecular dynamics simulations. Energetic analysis of activation barriers to the Trp 59 motion was performed using both the transition state theory and Kramers' theory. The activation parameters showed a dependence on solvent viscosity mdlcating the transrtion state approach m aqueous solution to be inadequate.

The Kinetics of Ligand Migration in Crystallized Myoglobin as Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Biophysical Journal, 2008

By using multiple molecular dynamics trajectories of photolyzed carbon monoxide (CO) within crystallized myoglobin, a quantitative description of CO diffusion and corresponding kinetics was obtained. Molecular dynamics results allowed us to construct a detailed kinetic model of the migration process, shedding light on the kinetic mechanism and relevant steps of CO migration and remarkably-well reproducing the available experimental data as provided by time-resolved Laue x-ray diffraction.