Molecular dynamics simulations suggest why the A2058G mutation in 23S RNA results in bacterial resistance against clindamycin.

Clindamycin, a lincosamide antibiotic, binds to 23S ribosomal RNA and inhibits protein synthesis. The A2058G mutation in 23S RNA results in bacterial resistance to clindamycin. To understand the influence of this mutation on short-range interactions of clindamycin with 23S RNA, we carried out full-atom molecular dynamics simulations of a ribosome fragment containing clindamycin binding site. We compared the dynamical behavior of this fragment simulated with and without the A2058G mutation. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that clindamycin in the native ribosomal binding site is more internally flexible than in the A2058G mutant. Only in the native ribosome fragment did we observe intramolecular conformational change of clindamycin around its C7-N1-C10-C11 dihedral. In the mutant, G2058 makes more stable hydrogen bonds with clindamycin hindering its conformational freedom in the ribosome-bound state. Clindamycin binding site is located in the entrance to the tunnel through which the newly synthesized polypeptide leaves the ribosome. We observed that in the native ribosome fragment, clindamycin blocks the passage in the tunnel entrance, whereas in the mutated fragment the aperture is undisturbed due to a different mode of binding of clindamycin in the mutant. Restricted conformational freedom of clindamycin in a position not blocking the tunnel entrance in the A2058G mutant could explain the molecular mechanism of bacterial resistance against clindamycin occurring in this mutant.

Structural Insights into σ1 Receptor Interactions with Opioid Ligands by Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Despite considerable advances over the past years in understanding the mechanisms of action and the role of the σ1 receptor, several questions regarding this receptor remain unanswered. This receptor has been identified as a useful target for the treatment of a diverse range of diseases, from various central nervous system disorders to cancer. The recently solved issue of the crystal structure of the σ1 receptor has made elucidating the structure-activity relationship feasible. The interaction of seven representative opioid ligands with the crystal structure of the σ1 receptor (PDB ID: 5HK1) was simulated for the first time using molecular dynamics (MD). Analysis of the MD trajectories has provided the receptor-ligand interaction fingerprints, combining information on the crucial receptor residues and frequency of the residue-ligand contacts. The contact frequencies and the contact maps suggest that for all studied ligands, the hydrophilic (hydrogen bonding) interactions with Glu172 are an important factor for the ligands' affinities toward the σ1 receptor. However, the hydrophobic interactions with Tyr120, Val162, Leu105, and Ile124 also significantly contribute to the ligand-receptor interplay and, in particular, differentiate the action of the agonistic morphine from the antagonistic haloperidol.

Prediction of (L)-methionine VCD spectra in the gas phase and water solution.

In this paper we provide a computational study of the l-methionine conformational landscape and VCD spectra in the gas phase and a water environment simulated by implicit PCM and the hybrid model, i.e., a combination of explicit "microsolvation" and implicit models. In the gas phase, two groups of conformers differing in H-bonding, i.e., OH···NH2 and NH···O═C, could be distinguished based solely on the IR ν(OH) and ν(NH) stretching vibrations range. On the other hand, VCD better reflected chain differences. The most stable OH···NH2 conformer was predicted to be easily detected, and the presence of two out of four NH···O═C conformers could be confirmed. Three zwitterionic methionine conformers were shown to dominate in water. Their VCD spectra, simulated within the hybrid model at the B3LYP-IEF-PCM/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory, indicated that they could be recognized in the mixture. Use of the hybrid model is crucial for good reproduction of the hydrogen bonding pattern in the VCD spectra of methionine in water solution. However, the 1300-800 cm(-1) region of the skeleton vibrations of methionine appeared to be relatively insensitive to the model of the solvent.

Theoretical predictions of the spectroscopic parameters in noble-gas molecules: HXeOH and its complex with water.

We employ state-of-the-art methods and basis sets to study the effect of inserting the Xe atom into the water molecule and the water dimer on their NMR parameters. Our aim is to obtain predictions for the future experimental investigation of novel xenon complexes by NMR spectroscopy. Properties such as molecular structure and energetics have been studied by supermolecular approaches using HF, MP2, CCSD, CCSD(T) and MP4 methods. The bonding in HXeOH···H(2)O complexes has been analyzed by Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory to provide the intricate insight into the nature of the interaction. We focus on vibrational spectra, NMR shielding and spin-spin coupling constants-experimental signals that reflect the electronic structures of the compounds. The parameters have been calculated at electron-correlated and Dirac-Hartree-Fock relativistic levels. This study has elucidated that the insertion of the Xe atom greatly modifies the NMR properties, including both the electron correlation and relativistic effects, the (129)Xe shielding constants decrease in HXeOH and HXeOH···H(2)O in comparison to Xe atom; the (17)O, as a neighbour of Xe, is deshielded too. The HXeOH···H(2)O complex in its most stable form is stabilized mainly by induction and dispersion energies.

Phenylisoserine in the gas-phase and water: Ab initio studies on neutral and zwitterion conformers.

The conformational landscape of phenylisoserine (PhIS) was studied. Trial structures were generated by allowing for all combinations of single-bond rotamers. Based on the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations 54 conformers were found to be stable in the gas phase. The six most stable conformers were further optimized at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ levels for which characteristic intramolecular hydrogen bond types were classified. To estimate the influence of water on PhIS conformation, the IEF-PCM/B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations were carried out and showed 51 neutral and six zwitterionic conformers to be stable in water solution. According to DFT calculations, the conformer equilibrium in the gas phase is dominated by one conformer, whereas the MP2 calculations suggest three PhIS structures to be significantly populated. Comparison of DFT and MP2 energies of all 57 structures stable in water indicates that, in practice, one zwitterionic and one neutral conformer determine the equilibrium in water. Based on the AIM calculations, we found that for the neutral conformers in vacuum and in water, d(H...B) is linearly correlated with Laplacian at the H-bond critical point. Figure Phenylisoserine (PhIS) is an active side chain of cytotoxic Paclitaxel medicine. The conformational landscape of phenylisoserine was studied. One zwitterionic and one neutralconformer determine the equilibrium in water whereas in the gas phase the MP2 calculations suggest three PhIS structures to be significantly populated.

Density functional theory study on vibrational circular dichroism as a tool for analysis of intermolecular systems: (1:1) cysteine-water complex conformations.

This paper presents a discussion of the interaction energies for selected conformers of chiral l-cysteine and their (1:1) complexes with water at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level. From among more than forty calculated 1:1 complexes three groups of complexes were singled out and examined by the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ calculated vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra. On the basis of analysis of the nu(OmicronEta) and nu(NuEta) and beta(OH2) and beta(NH2) ranges, the VCD spectra were found to be sensitive to conformational changes and water arrangement in cysteine complexes, and to be especially useful for discriminating between different chiral forms of intermolecular hydrogen-bonding complexes. In particular, we show that the VCD modes of an achiral water molecule after complex formation acquire significant rotational strengths whose signs change in line with the geometry of the complex. Moreover, for some water arrangements the VCD spectra can be sensitive to water-wagging conformers and, in temperatures low enough, the intensive nu(OmicronEtaWfree) and beta(H2O) VCD bands may be sufficiently separated to be splitted into pair of oppositely directed bands.

Theoretical prediction and the first IR matrix observation of several L-cysteine molecule conformers.

For the first time the argon-matrix low-temperature IR spectra of cysteine are recorded. They reveal a quite complicated spectral pattern, which can also be reproduced in the N2 matrix. Assignment of the observed spectra is undertaken on the basis of comparison of the experimental and calculated B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ anharmonic IR spectra. The presence of at least three, and possibly even six or more, cysteine conformers with and without intramolecular hydrogen bonding is confirmed. On the basis of the calculated vibrational circular dichroism spectra, we predict this technique to be more distinctive for conformers than IR absorption is.