Crystal structure of human aquaporin 4 at 1.8 A and its mechanism of conductance (original) (raw)
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Water permeation through rat aquaporin-4 (rAQP4), predominantly found in mammalian brain is regulated by phosphorylation of Ser-180. The present study has been carried out to understand the structural mechanism of regulation of water permeability across the channel. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been carried out to investigate the structural changes caused due to phosphorylation of Ser-180 in the tetrameric assembly of rAQP4 along with predicted C-terminal region (255-323). The interactions involving opposite charges are observed between cytoplasmic loops and the Cterminal region during MD simulations. This results in movement of C-terminal region of rAQP4 towards the cytoplasmic mouth of water channel. Despite this movement, there was a gap between C-terminal region and cytoplasmic mouth of the channel through which water molecules were able to gain entry into the channel. The interactions between C-terminus and loop D of neighboring monomers in a tetrameric assembly appear to prevent the complete closure of cytoplasmic mouth of the water channel. Further, the rates of water permeation through phosphorylated and unphosphorylated rAQP4 have also been compared. The simulation studies showed a continuous movement of water in a single file across pore of unphosphorylated as well as phosphorylated rAQP4.
The Gating Mechanism of the Human Aquaporin 5 Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations
PLoS ONE, 2013
Aquaporins are protein channels located across the cell membrane with the role of conducting water or other small sugar alcohol molecules (aquaglyceroporins). The high-resolution X-ray structure of the human aquaporin 5 (HsAQP5) shows that HsAQP5, as all the other known aquaporins, exhibits tetrameric structure. By means of molecular dynamics simulations we analyzed the role of spontaneous fluctuations on the structural behavior of the human AQP5. We found that different conformations within the tetramer lead to a distribution of monomeric channel structures, which can be characterized as open or closed. The switch between the two states of a channel is a tap-like mechanism at the cytoplasmic end which regulates the water passage through the pore. The channel is closed by a translation of the His67 residue inside the pore. Moreover, water permeation rate calculations revealed that the selectivity filter, located at the other end of the channel, regulates the flow rate of water molecules when the channel is open, by locally modifying the orientation of His173. Furthermore, the calculated permeation rates of a fully open channel are in good agreement with the reported experimental value.
Biophysical Journal, 2013
Aquaporins are protein channels located across the cell membrane with the role of conducting water or other small sugar alcohol molecules (aquaglyceroporins). The high-resolution X-ray structure of the human aquaporin 5 (HsAQP5) shows that HsAQP5, as all the other known aquaporins, exhibits tetrameric structure. By means of molecular dynamics simulations we analyzed the role of spontaneous fluctuations on the structural behavior of the human AQP5. We found that different conformations within the tetramer lead to a distribution of monomeric channel structures, which can be characterized as open or closed. The switch between the two states of a channel is a tap-like mechanism at the cytoplasmic end which regulates the water passage through the pore. The channel is closed by a translation of the His67 residue inside the pore. Moreover, water permeation rate calculations revealed that the selectivity filter, located at the other end of the channel, regulates the flow rate of water molecules when the channel is open, by locally modifying the orientation of His173. Furthermore, the calculated permeation rates of a fully open channel are in good agreement with the reported experimental value.
The channel architecture of aquaporin 0 at a 2.2-A resolution
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2004
We determined the x-ray structure of bovine aquaporin 0 (AQP0) to a resolution of 2.2 Å. The structure of this eukaryotic, integral membrane protein suggests that the selectivity of AQP0 for water transport is based on the identity and location of signature amino acid residues that are hallmarks of the water-selective arm of the AQP family of proteins. Furthermore, the channel lumen is narrowed only by two, quasi-2-fold related tyrosine side chains that might account for reduced water conductance relative to other AQPs. The channel is functionally open to the passage of water because there are eight discreet water molecules within the channel. Comparison of this structure with the recent electron-diffraction structure of the junctional form of sheep AQP0 at pH 6.0 that was interpreted as closed shows no global change in the structure of AQP0 and only small changes in side-chain positions. We observed no structural change to the channel or the molecule as a whole at pH 10, which could be interpreted as the postulated pH-gating mechanism of AQP0-mediated water transport at pH >6.5. Contrary to the electron-diffraction structure, the comparison shows no evidence of channel gating induced by association of the extracellular domains of AQP0 at pH 6.0. Our structure aids the analysis of the interaction of the extracellular domains and the possibility of a cell-cell adhesion role for AQP0. In addition, our structure illustrates the basis for formation of certain types of cataracts that are the result of mutations.
Structural Determinants of Oligomerization of the Aquaporin-4 Channel
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2016
The aquaporin (AQP) family of integral membrane protein channels mediate cellular water and solute flow. Although qualitative and quantitative differences in channel permeability, selectivity, subcellular localization, and trafficking responses have been observed for different members of the AQP family, the signature homotetrameric quaternary structure is conserved. Using a variety of biophysical techniques, we show that mutations to an intracellular loop (loop D) of human AQP4 reduce oligomerization. Non-tetrameric AQP4 mutants are unable to relocalize to the plasma membrane in response to changes in extracellular tonicity, despite equivalent constitutive surface expression levels and water permeability to wild-type AQP4. A network of AQP4 loop D hydrogen bonding interactions, identified using molecular dynamics simulations and based on a comparative mutagenic analysis of AQPs 1, 3, and 4, suggest that loop D interactions may provide a general structural framework for tetrameric assembly within the AQP family.
The atomic-level mechanism underlying the functionality of aquaporin-0
So far, more than 82,000 protein structures have been reported in the Protein Data Bank, but the driving force and structures that allow for protein functions have not been elucidated at the atomic level for even one protein. We have been able to clarify that the inter-subunit hydrophobic interaction driving the electrostatic opening of the pore in aquaporin 0 (AQP0). Aquaporins are membrane channels for water and small non-ionic solutes found in animals, plants, and microbes. The structures of aquaporins have high homology and consist of homotetramers, each monomer of which has one pore for a water channel. Each pore has two narrow portions: one is the narrowest constriction region consisting of aromatic residues and an arginine (ar/R), and another is two asparagine-proline-alanine (NPA) homolog portions. Here we show that an inter-subunit hydrophobic interaction in AQP0 drives a stick portion consisting of four amino acids toward the pore and the tip of the stick portion, consisti...
Molecular dynamics study of aquaporin-1 water channel in a lipid bilayer
FEBS Letters, 2001
The aquaporin-1 water channel was modeled in a palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidyl-choline lipid bilayer, by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Interaction of the protein with the membrane and inter-monomer interactions were analyzed. Structural features of the channel important for its biological function, including the Asn-Pro-Ala (NPA) motifs, and the diffusion of water molecules into the channels, were investigated. Simulations revealed the formation of single file water inside the channels for certain relative positions of the NPA motifs. ß