| 1. |
- Adam, J., et al.
(författare)
-
Measurement of charged jet production cross sections and nuclear modification in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 749, s. 68-81
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Charged jet production cross sections in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the LHC are presented. Using the anti-k(T) algorithm, jets have been reconstructed in the central rapidity region from charged particles with resolution parameters R = 0.2 and R = 0.4. The reconstructed jets have been corrected for detector effects and the underlying event background. To calculate the nuclear modification factor, R-pPb, of charged jets in p-Pb collisions, a pp reference was constructed by scaling previously measured charged jet spectra at root s = 7 TeV. In the transverse momentum range 20 <= p(T, chjet) <= 120 GeV/c, R-pPb is found to be consistent with unity, indicating the absence of strong nuclear matter effects on jet production. Major modifications to the radial jet structure are probed via the ratio of jet production cross sections reconstructed with the two different resolution parameters. This ratio is found to be similar to the measurement in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV and to the expectations from PYTHIA pp simulations and NLO pQCD calculations at root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V.
|
|
| 2. |
- Carvalho, Alexandra T. P., et al.
(författare)
-
Understanding the structural and dynamic consequences of DNA epigenetic modifications : Computational insights into cytosine methylation and hydroxymethylation
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Epigenetics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1559-2294 .- 1559-2308. ; 9:12, s. 1604-1612
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of up to a microsecond combined simulation time designed to probe epigenetically modified DNA sequences. More specifically, by monitoring the effects of methylation and hydroxymethylation of cytosine in different DNA sequences, we show, for the first time, that DNA epigenetic modifications change the molecule's dynamical landscape, increasing the propensity of DNA toward different values of twist and/or roll/tilt angles (in relation to the unmodified DNA) at the modification sites. Moreover, both the extent and position of different modifications have significant effects on the amount of structural variation observed. We propose that these conformational differences, which are dependent on the sequence environment, can provide specificity for protein binding.
|
|
| 3. |
- Barrozo, Alexandre, et al.
(författare)
-
Cooperative Electrostatic Interactions Drive Functional Evolution in the Alkaline Phosphatase Superfamily
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 137:28, s. 9061-9076
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is becoming widely accepted that catalytic promiscuity, i.e., the ability of a single enzyme to catalyze the turnover of multiple, chemically distinct substrates, plays a key role in the evolution of new enzyme functions. In this context, the members of the alkaline phosphatase superfamily have been extensively studied as model systems in order to understand the phenomenon of enzyme multifunctionality. In the present work, we model the selectivity of two multiply promiscuous members of this superfamily, namely the phosphonate monoester hydrolases from Burkholderia caryophylli and Rhizobium leguminosarum. We have performed extensive simulations of the enzymatic reaction of both wild-type enzymes and several experimentally characterized mutants. Our computational models are in agreement with key experimental observables, such as the observed activities of the wild-type enzymes, qualitative interpretations of experimental pH-rate profiles, and activity trends among several active site mutants. In all cases the substrates of interest bind to the enzyme in similar conformations, with largely unperturbed transition states from their corresponding analogues in aqueous solution. Examination of transition-state geometries and the contribution of individual residues to the calculated activation barriers suggest that the broad promiscuity of these enzymes arises from cooperative electrostatic interactions in the active site, allowing each enzyme to adapt to the electrostatic needs of different substrates. By comparing the structural and electrostatic features of several alkaline phosphatases, we suggest that this phenomenon is a generalized feature driving selectivity and promiscuity within this superfamily and can be in turn used for artificial enzyme design.
|
|
| 4. |
- Burke, Jason R., et al.
(författare)
-
Bifunctional Substrate Activation via an Arginine Residue Drives Catalysis in Chalcone Isomerases
- 2019
-
Ingår i: ACS Catalysis. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 2155-5435 .- 2155-5435. ; 9:9, s. 8388-8396
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chalcone isomerases are plant enzymes that perform enantioselective oxa-Michael cyclizations of 2'-hydroxychalcones into flavanones. An X-ray crystal structure of an enzyme-product complex combined with molecular dynamics simulations reveal an enzyme mechanism wherein the guanidinium ion of a conserved arginine positions the nucleophilic phenoxide and activates the electrophilic enone for cyclization through Bronsted and Lewis acid interactions. The reaction terminates by asymmetric protonation of the carbanion intermediate syn to the guanidinium. Interestingly, bifunctional guanidine- and urea-based chemical reagents, increasingly used for asymmetric organocatalytic applications, share mechanistic similarities with this natural system. Comparative protein crystal structures and molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrate how two active site water molecules coordinate a hydrogen bond network that enables expanded substrate reactivity for 6'-deoxychalcones in more recently evolved type-2 chalcone isomerases.
|
|
| 5. |
- Carvalho, Alexandra T P, et al.
(författare)
-
Challenges in computational studies of enzyme structure, function and dynamics
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling. - : Elsevier BV. - 1093-3263 .- 1873-4243. ; 54, s. 62-79
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this review we give an overview of the field of Computational enzymology. We start by describing the birth of the field, with emphasis on the work of the 2013 chemistry Nobel Laureates. We then present key features of the state-of-the-art in the field, showing what theory, accompanied by experiments, has taught us so far about enzymes. We also briefly describe computational methods, such as quantum mechanics-molecular mechanics approaches, reaction coordinate treatment, and free energy simulation approaches. We finalize by discussing open questions and challenges.
|
|
| 6. |
- Carvalho, Alexandra T. P., et al.
(författare)
-
Modeling the mechanisms of biological GTP hydrolysis
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-9861 .- 1096-0384. ; 582:SI, s. 80-90
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Enzymes that hydrolyze GTP are currently in the spotlight, due to their molecular switch mechanism that controls many cellular processes. One of the best-known classes of these enzymes are small GTPases such as members of the Ras superfamily, which catalyze the hydrolysis of the gamma-phosphate bond in GTP. In addition, the availability of an increasing number of crystal structures of translational GTPases such as EF-Tu and EF-G have made it possible to probe the molecular details of GTP hydrolysis on the ribosome. However, despite a wealth of biochemical, structural and computational data, the way in which GTP hydrolysis is activated and regulated is still a controversial topic and well-designed simulations can play an important role in resolving and rationalizing the experimental data. In this review, we discuss the contributions of computational biology to our understanding of GTP hydrolysis on the ribosome and in small GTPases.
|
|
| 7. |
- Carvalho, Alexandra T. P., et al.
(författare)
-
Understanding thio-effects in simple phosphoryl systems : role of solvent effects and nucleophile charge
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Organic and biomolecular chemistry. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1477-0520 .- 1477-0539. ; 13:19, s. 5391-5398
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent experimental work (J. Org. Chem., 2012, 77, 5829) demonstrated pronounced differences in measured thio-effects for the hydrolysis of (thio) phosphodichloridates by water and hydroxide nucleophiles. In the present work, we have performed detailed quantum chemical calculations of these reactions, with the aim of rationalizing the molecular bases for this discrimination. The calculations highlight the interplay between nucleophile charge and transition state solvation in S(N)2(P) mechanisms as the basis of these differences, rather than a change in mechanism.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Wallin, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Characterization of Mn(II) ion binding to the amyloid-beta peptide in Alzheimer's disease
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0946-672X .- 1878-3252. ; 38, s. 183-193
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Growing evidence links neurodegenerative diseases to metal exposure. Aberrant metal ion concentrations have been noted in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, yet the role of metals in AD pathogenesis remains unresolved. A major factor in AD pathogenesis is considered to be aggregation of and amyloid formation by amyloid-beta (A beta) peptides. Previous studies have shown that A beta displays specific binding to Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions, and such binding has been shown to modulate A beta aggregation. Here, we use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to show that Mn(II) ions also bind to the N-terminal part of the A beta(1-40) peptide, with a weak binding affinity in the milli- to micromolar range. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, solid state atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence spectroscopy, and molecular modeling suggest that the weak binding of Mn(II) to A beta may not have a large effect on the peptide's aggregation into amyloid fibrils. However, identification of an additional metal ion displaying A beta binding reveals more complex AD metal chemistry than has been previously considered in the literature.
|
|
| 10. |
- Österlund, Nicklas, et al.
(författare)
-
Amyloid-beta Peptide Interactions with Amphiphilic Surfactants : Electrostatic and Hydrophobic Effects
- 2018
-
Ingår i: ACS Chemical Neuroscience. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-7193. ; 9:7, s. 1680-1692
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The amphiphilic nature of the amyloid-beta (A beta) peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease facilitates various interactions with biomolecules such as lipids and proteins, with effects on both structure and toxicity of the peptide. Here, we investigate these peptide-amphiphile interactions by experimental and computational studies of A beta(1-40) in the presence of surfactants with varying physicochemical properties. Our findings indicate that electrostatic peptide-surfactant interactions are required for coclustering and structure induction in the peptide and that the strength of the interaction depends on the surfactant net charge. Both aggregation-prone peptide-rich coclusters and stable surfactant-rich coclusters can form. Only A beta(1-40) monomers, but not oligomers, are inserted into surfactant micelles in this surfactant-rich state. Surfactant headgroup charge is suggested to be important as electrostatic peptide-surfactant interactions on the micellar surface seems to be an initiating step toward insertion. Thus, no peptide insertion or change in peptide secondary structure is observed using a nonionic surfactant. The hydrophobic peptide-surfactant interactions instead stabilize the A beta monomer, possibly by preventing self-interaction between the peptide core and C terminus, thereby effectively inhibiting the peptide aggregation process. These findings give increased understanding regarding the molecular driving forces for A beta aggregation and the peptide interaction with amphiphilic biomolecules.
|
|
