We investigate the folding mechanism of the WW domain Fip35 using a realistic atomistic force field by applying the Dominant Reaction Pathways (DRP) approach. We find evidence for the existence of two folding pathways, which differ by the order of formation of the two hairpins. This result is consistent with the analysis of the experimental data on the folding kinetics of WW domains and with the results obtained from large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of this system. Free-energy calculations performed in two coarse-grained models support the robustness of our results and suggest that the qualitative structure of the dominant paths are mostly shaped by the native interactions. Computing a folding trajectory in atomistic detail only required about one hour on 48 CPU's. The gain in computational efficiency opens the door to a systematic investigation of the folding pathways of a large number of globular proteins.
Monovalent ions modulate the flux through multiple folding pathways of an RNA pseudoknot
RNA假结(PKs)是核糖核酸(ribozyme)和核糖核蛋白(ribonucleoprotein)复合物的最小三级结构基序,其功能由其结构、稳定性和动力学决定。因此,重要的是要阐明其热力学/折叠机制的一般原则。在这里,我们结合实验和模拟来研究VPK假结的折叠/展开途径,VPK假结是参与核糖体移码的小鼠乳腺肿瘤病毒(MMTV)PK的变体。荧光核苷酸类似物(2-氨基嘌呤和pyrrolocytidine)放置在不同的茎/环的PK位置,激光温度跳跃的方法作为本地探针,使我们能够监测组装的顺序VPK与两个螺旋具有不同的内在稳定性。实验和分子模拟表明,在50 mM KCl的优势折叠途径人口只有更稳定的部分折叠的发夹。随着盐浓度的增加,平行折叠途径出现,涉及不太稳定的发夹结构作为替代中间体。值得注意的是,通道之间的通量由离子强度调制。这些发现支持了PK结构形成的顺序由发夹的相对稳定性决定的原理,发夹的相对稳定性可以通过序列变异或盐浓度来改变。我们的研究不仅明确地表明,PK折叠的平行途径,但也建立了定量描述的RNA自组装需要一个协同的实验和模拟相结合。
Understanding the biological function of knots in proteins and their folding process is an open and challenging question in biology. Recent studies classify the topology and geometry of knotted proteins by analysing the distribution of a protein's planar projections using topological objects called knotoids. We approach the analysis of proteins with the same topology by introducing a topologically inspired statistical metric between their knotoid distributions. We detect geometric differences between trefoil proteins by characterising their entanglement and we recover a clustering by sequence …
Under certain conditions, the dynamics of coarse-grained models of solvated proteins can be described using a Markov state model, which tracks the evolution of populations of configurations. The transition rates among states that appear in the Markov model can be determined by computing the relative entropy of states and their mean first passage times. In this paper, we present an adaptive method to evaluate the configurational entropy and the mean first passage times for linear chain models with discontinuous potentials. The approach is based on event-driven dynamical sampling in a massively …
Predicting the three-dimensional (3D) functional structures of proteins remains an important computational milestone in molecular biology to be achieved. This feat is hinged on a clear understanding of the mechanism which proteins use to fold into their native structures. Since Levinthal's paradox, there has been a lot of progress in understanding this mechanism. Most of the earlier attempts were caught between assigning either hydrophobic interactions or hydrogen bonding as the dominant folding force. However, a consensus now seems to be emerging about hydrogen bonding being a stronger force.…
A complex network approach to protein folding is proposed. The graph object is the network of shortcut edges present in a native-state protein (SCN0). Although SCN0s are found via an intuitive message passing algorithm (S. Milgram, Psychology Today, May 1967 pp. 61-67), they are meaningful enough that the logarithm form of their contact order (SCN0_lnCO) correlates significantly with protein kinetic rates, regardless of protein size. Further, the clustering coefficient of a SCN0 (CSCN0) can be used to combine protein segments iteratively within the Restricted Binary Collision model to form the…
Collapse of the polypeptide backbone is an integral part of protein folding. Using polyglycine as a probe, we explore the nonequilibrium pathways of protein collapse in water. We find that the collapse depends on the competition between hydration effects and intra-peptide interactions. Once intra-peptide van der Waal interactions dominate, the chain collapses along a nonequilibrium pathway characterized by formation of pearl-necklace-like local clusters as intermediates that eventually coagulate into a single globule. By describing this coarsening through the contact probability as a function …
Interest in equilibrium-based sampling methods has grown with recent advances in computational hardware and Markov state modeling (MSM) methods, yet outstanding questions remain that hinder widespread adoption. Namely, how do sampling strategies explore conformational space and how might this influence predictions? Here, we seek to answer these questions for four commonly used sampling methods: 1) a long simulation, 2) many short simulations, 3) adaptive sampling, and 4) FAST. We first develop a theoretical framework for analytically calculating the probability of discovering states and uncove…
Force-dependent switch in protein unfolding pathways and transition state movements
尽管已知单结构域蛋白质通过平行途径折叠和展开,但在实验中很难证明这种预期。在src SH 3结构域上的单分子牵拉实验中获得的解折叠速率$k_\mathrm{u}(f)$作为力$f$的函数,在$\log k_\mathrm{u}(f)$图上显示向上的曲率。对于其他蛋白质的解折叠速率$k_\mathrm{u}([C])$也报告了类似的观察结果。这些发现意味着这些单结构域蛋白的解折叠涉及$f$或$[C]$从低值增加到高值时通路中的转换。我们提供了一个统一的理论证明,如果$\log k_\mathrm{u}$作为一个扰动的函数($f$或$[C]$)表现出向上的曲率,那么潜在的能量景观必须是强多维的。使用分子模拟,我们提供了一个结构基础的开关的途径和戏剧性的转变过渡态系综(TSE)在src SH 3结构域作为$f$增加。我们发现,一个单一的点突变转移向上的曲率在$\log k_\mathrm{u}(f)$到一个较低的力,从而建立了底层折叠景观的延展性。我们的理论,适用于任何扰动,影响自由能的蛋白质线性,很容易解释运动的TSE在$β$ -三明治(I27)蛋白质和单链莫奈林作为变性剂浓度是不同的。我们预测,在激光光镊实验中可访问的力范围内,I27或其突变体的去折叠途径中应该有一个开关。
Although rare, an increasing number of proteins have been observed to contain entanglements in their native structures. To gain more insight into the significance of protein knotting, researchers have been investigating protein knot formation using both experimental and theoretical methods. Motivated by the hypothesized folding pathway of $α$-haloacid dehalogenase (DehI) protein, Flapan, He, and Wong proposed a theory of how protein knots form, which includes existing folding pathways described by Taylor and Bölinger et al. as special cases. In their topological descriptions, two loops in an u…