Characterization of de novo four-helix bundles by molecular dynamics simulations.

We have investigated the structure and dynamics of three cavitand-based four-helix bundles (caviteins) by computer simulation. In these systems, designed de novo, each of the four helices contain the identical basis sequence EELLKKLEELLKKG (N1). Each cavitein consists of a rigid macrocycle (cavitand) with four aryl linkages, to each of which is connected an N1 peptide by means of a linker peptide. The three caviteins studied here differ only in the linker peptide, which consist of one, two, or three glycine residues. Previous experimental work has shown that these systems exhibit very different behavior in terms of stability and oligomerization states despite the small differences in the linker peptide. Given that to date no three-dimensional structure is available for these caviteins, we have undertaken a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in explicit water to try to rationalize the large differences in the experimentally observed behavior of these systems. Our results provide insight, for the first time, into why and how the cavitein with a single glycine linker forms dimers. In addition, our results indicate why although the two- and three-glycine-linked caviteins have similar stabilities, they have different native-like characteristics: the cavitein with three glycines can form a supercoiled helix, whereas the one with two glycines cannot. These findings may provide a useful guide in the rational de novo design of novel proteins with finely tunable structures and functions in the future.

Four-helix bundle cavitein reveals middle leucine as linchpin.

A template-assembled de novo four-helix bundle is used to examine the hydrophobic effect within the bundle interior. Leu to Ala variants of the basis sequence GG-EELLKKLEELLKKG were characterized by GuHCl denaturation, NMR dispersion, and N-H/D exchange experiments. The results show that the middle leucine (L7) is imperative in maintaining bundle stability. The average leucine was found to contribute 1.8 kcal mol(-1) toward stability, whereas the middle leucines contribute 2.7 kcal mol(-1) each. Substituting alanine into the middle position (7) constitutes a striking 95% reduction of the overall cavitein stability.