The synergistic mechanisms of apo-ferritin structural transitions and Au(iii) ion transportation: molecular dynamics simulations with the Markov state model.

Due to its unique structure, recent years have witnessed the use of apo-ferritin to accumulate various non-natural metal ions as a scaffold for nanomaterial synthesis. However, the transport mechanism of metal ions into the cavity of apo-ferritin is still unclear, limiting the rational design and controllable preparation of nanomaterials. Here, we conducted all-atom classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with Markov state models (MSMs) to explore the transportation behavior of Au(iii) ions. We exhibited the complete transportation paths of Au(iii) from solution into the apo-ferritin cage at the atomic level. We also revealed that the transportation of Au(iii) ions is accompanied by coupled protein structural changes. It is shown that the 3-fold axis channel serves as the only entrance with the longest residence time of Au(iii) ions. Besides, there are eight binding clusters and five 3-fold structural metastable states, which are important during Au(iii) transportation. The conformational changes of His118, Asp127, and Glu130, acting as doors, were observed to highly correlate with the Au(iii) ion's position. The MSM analysis and Potential Mean Force (PMF) calculation suggest a remarkable energy barrier near Glu130, making it the rate-limiting step of the whole process. The dominant transportation pathway is from cluster 3 in the 3-fold channel to the inner cavity to cluster 5 on the inner surface, and then to cluster 6. These findings provide inspiration and theoretical guidance for the further rational design and preparation of new nanomaterials using apo-ferritin.

Global and Kinetic Profiles of Substrate Diffusion in Candida antarctica Lipase B: Molecular Dynamics with the Markov-State Model.

Profiling substrate diffusion pathways with kinetic information, which accounts for the dynamic nature of enzyme-substrate interaction, can enable molecular reengineering of enzymes and process optimization of enzymatic catalysis. Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) is extensively used for producing various chemicals because of its rich catalytic mechanisms, broad substrate spectrum, thermal stability, and tolerance to organic solvents. In this study, an all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) combined with Markov-state models (MSMs) implemented in pyEMMA was proposed to simulate diffusion pathways of 4-nitrophenyl ester (4NPE), a commonly used substrate, from the surface into the active site of CALB. Six important metastable conformations of CALB were identified in the diffusion process, including a closed state. An induced-fit mechanism incorporating multiple pathways with molecular information was proposed, which might find unprecedented applications for the rational design of lipase for green catalysis.

Markov-state model for CO2 binding with carbonic anhydrase under confinement.

Enzyme immobilization with a nanostructure material can enhance its stability and facilitate reusability. However, the apparent activity is often compromised due to additional diffusion barriers and complex interactions with the substrates and solvent molecules. The present study elucidates the effects of the surface hydrophobicity of nano-confinement on CO2 diffusion to the active site of human carbonic anhydrase II (CA), an enzyme that is able to catalyze CO2 hydration at extremely high turnover rates. Using the Markov-state model in combination with coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that a hydrophobic cage increases CO2 local density but hinders its diffusion towards the active site of CA under confinement. By contrast, a hydrophilic cage hinders CO2 adsorption but promotes its binding with CA. An optimal surface hydrophobicity can be identified to maximize both the CO2 occupation probability and the diffusion rate. The simulation results offer insight into understanding enzyme performance under nano-confinement and help us to advance broader applications of CA for CO2 absorption and recovery.

Kinetics of CO2 diffusion in human carbonic anhydrase: a study using molecular dynamics simulations and the Markov-state model.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, in combination with the Markov-state model (MSM), were applied to probe CO2 diffusion from an aqueous solution into the active site of human carbonic anhydrase II (hCA-II), an enzyme useful for enhanced CO2 capture and utilization. The diffusion process in the hydrophobic pocket of hCA-II was illustrated in terms of a two-dimensional free-energy landscape. We found that CO2 diffusion in hCA-II is a rate-limiting step in the CO2 diffusion-binding-reaction process. The equilibrium distribution of CO2 shows its preferential accumulation within a hydrophobic domain in the protein core region. An analysis of the committors and reactive fluxes indicates that the main pathway for CO2 diffusion into the active site of hCA-II is through a binding pocket where residue Gln136 contributes to the maximal flux. The simulation results offer a new perspective on the CO2 hydration kinetics and useful insights toward the development of novel biochemical processes for more efficient CO2 sequestration and utilization.

How native proteins aggregate in solution: a dynamic Monte Carlo simulation.

Aggregation of native proteins in solution is of fundamental importance with regard to both the processing and the utilization of proteins. In the present work, a dynamic Monte Carlo simulation has been performed to give a molecular insight into the way in which native proteins aggregate in solution and to explore means of suppressing aggregation, using two proteins of different compositions and conformations represented by a two-dimensional (2D) lattice model (HP model). It is shown that the native HP protein with accessible hydrophobic beads on its surface is prone to aggregation. The aggregation of this protein is intensified when the solution conditions favor the partially unfolded conformation as opposed to either the native or fully unfolded conformations. In this case, the partially unfolded proteins form the cores of aggregates, which may also encapsulate the native protein. One way to inhibit protein aggregation is to introduce polymers of appropriate hydrophobicity and chain length into the solution, such that these polymer molecules wrap around the hydrophobic regions of both the unfolded and folded proteins, thereby segregating the protein molecules. Our simulation is consistent with experimental observations reported elsewhere and provides a molecular basis for the behavior of proteins in liquid environments.

Molecular simulation of polymer assisted protein refolding.

Protein refolding in vitro, the formation of the tertiary structure that enables the protein to display its biological function, can be significantly enhanced by adding a polymer of an appropriate hydrophobicity and concentration into the refolding buffer. A molecular simulation of the refolding of a two-dimensional simple lattice protein was presented. A protein folding map recording the occurrence frequency of specified conformations was derived, from which the refolding thermodynamics and kinetics were interpreted. It is shown that, in the absence of polymer, the protein falls into the "energy trapped" conformations characterized by a high intramolecular hydrophobic interaction, denoted as HH contact, and a high magnitude of the structure overlap function, chi. This makes it difficult for the protein to fold to the native state. The polymer with a suitable chain length, concentration, and hydrophobicity has formed complex with partially folded protein and created diversified intermediates with low chi. This gives more pathways for the protein to fold to the native state. At a given hydrophobicity, the short chain polymer has a broader concentration range where it assists protein folding than those of long chains. The above simulation agrees well with the experimental results reported elsewhere [Cleland et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267, 13327 (1992); ibid., Bio/Technology 10, 1013 (1992); Chen et al., Enzyme Microb. Technol. 32, 120 (2003); Lu et al., Biochem. Eng. J. 24, 55 (2005); ibid., J. Chem. Phys. 122, 134902 (2005); ibid., Biochem. Eng. J. (to be published)] and is of fundamental importance for the design and application of polymers for protein refolding.