| 1. |
- Sahin, Cagla, et al.
(författare)
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Structural Basis for Dityrosine-Mediated Inhibition of α-Synuclein Fibrillization
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 144:27, s. 11949-11954
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is an intrinsically disordered protein which self-assembles into highly organized β-sheet structures that accumulate in plaques in brains of Parkinson’s disease patients. Oxidative stress influences α-Syn structure and self-assembly; however, the basis for this remains unclear. Here we characterize the chemical and physical effects of mild oxidation on monomeric α-Syn and its aggregation. Using a combination of biophysical methods, small-angle X-ray scattering, and native ion mobility mass spectrometry, we find that oxidation leads to formation of intramolecular dityrosine cross-linkages and a compaction of the α-Syn monomer by a factor of √2. Oxidation-induced compaction is shown to inhibit ordered self-assembly and amyloid formation by steric hindrance, suggesting an important role of mild oxidation in preventing amyloid formation.
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| 2. |
- Sinelnikova, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Orientation before destruction. A multiscale molecular dynamics study
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The emergence of ultra-fast X-ray free-electron lasers opens the possibility of imaging single molecules in the gas phase at atomic resolution. The main disadvantage of this imaging technique is the unknown orientation of the sample exposed to the X-ray beam, making the three-dimensional reconstruction not trivial. The induced orientation of molecules prior to X-ray exposure can be highly beneficial, as it significantly reduces the number of collected diffraction patterns whilst improving the quality of the reconstructed structure. We present here the possibility of protein orientation using a time-dependent external electric field. We used ab initio simulations on Trp-cage protein to provide a qualitative estimation of the field strength required to break protein bonds, with 45 V/nm as a breaking point value. Furthermore, we simulated, in a classical molecular dynamics approach, the orientation of ubiquitin protein by exposing it to different time-dependent electric fields. The protein structure was preserved for all samples at the moment orientation was achieved, which we denote `orientation before destruction'. Moreover, we find that the minimal field strength required to induce orientation within ten ns of electric field exposure was of the order of 0.5 V/nm. Our results help explain the process of field orientation of proteins and can support the design of instruments for protein orientation.
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| 3. |
- Sinelnikova, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Protein orientation in time-dependent electric fields : orientation before destruction
- 2021
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Cell Press. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 120:17, s. 3709-3717
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteins often have nonzero electric dipole moments, making them interact with external electric fields and offering a means for controlling their orientation. One application that is known to benefit from orientation control is single-particle imaging with x-ray free-electron lasers, in which diffraction is recorded from proteins in the gas phase to determine their structures. To this point, theoretical investigations into this phenomenon have assumed that the field experienced by the proteins is constant or a perfect step function, whereas any real-world pulse will be smooth. Here, we explore the possibility of orienting gas-phase proteins using time-dependent electric fields. We performed ab initio simulations to estimate the field strength required to break protein bonds, with 45 V/nm as a breaking point value. We then simulated ubiquitin in time-dependent electric fields using classical molecular dynamics. The minimal field strength required for orientation within 10 ns was on the order of 0.5 V/nm. Although high fields can be destructive for the structure, the structures in our simulations were preserved until orientation was achieved regardless of field strength, a principle we denote "orientation before destruction."
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| 4. |
- Sinelnikova, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Reproducibility in the unfolding process of protein induced by an external electric field
- 2021
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Ingår i: Chemical Science. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2041-6520 .- 2041-6539. ; 12:6, s. 2030-2038
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dynamics of proteins are crucial for their function. However, commonly used techniques for studying protein structures are limited in monitoring time-resolved dynamics at high resolution. Combining electric fields with existing techniques to study gas phase proteins, such as Single Particle Imaging using Free-electron Lasers and gas phase Small Angle X-ray Scattering, has the potential to open up a new era in time-resolved studies of gas phase protein dynamics. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we identify well-defined unfolding pathways of a protein, induced by experimentally achievable external electric fields. Our simulations show that strong electric fields in conjunction with short pulsed X-ray sources such as Free-electron Lasers can be a new path for imaging dynamics of gas-phase proteins at high spatial and temporal resolution.
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| 5. |
- Abramsson, Mia L., et al.
(författare)
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Charge Engineering Reveals the Roles of Ionizable Side Chains in Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
- 2021
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Ingår i: JACS Au. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2691-3704. ; 1:12, s. 2385-2393
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In solution, the charge of a protein is intricately linked to its stability, but electrospray ionization distorts this connection, potentially limiting the ability of native mass spectrometry to inform about protein structure and dynamics. How the behavior of intact proteins in the gas phase depends on the presence and distribution of ionizable surface residues has been difficult to answer because multiple chargeable sites are present in virtually all proteins. Turning to protein engineering, we show that ionizable side chains are completely dispensable for charging under native conditions, but if present, they are preferential protonation sites. The absence of ionizable side chains results in identical charge state distributions under native-like and denaturing conditions, while coexisting conformers can be distinguished using ion mobility separation. An excess of ionizable side chains, on the other hand, effectively modulates protein ion stability. In fact, moving a single ionizable group can dramatically alter the gas-phase conformation of a protein ion. We conclude that although the sum of the charges is governed solely by Coulombic terms, their locations affect the stability of the protein in the gas phase.
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| 6. |
- Allison, Timothy M., et al.
(författare)
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Complementing machine learning‐based structure predictions with native mass spectrometry
- 2022
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Ingår i: Protein Science. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0961-8368 .- 1469-896X. ; 31:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The advent of machine learning-based structure prediction algorithms such as AlphaFold2 (AF2) and RoseTTa Fold have moved the generation of accurate structural models for the entire cellular protein machinery into the reach of the scientific community. However, structure predictions of protein complexes are based on user-provided input and may require experimental validation. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a versatile, time-effective tool that provides information on post-translational modifications, ligand interactions, conformational changes, and higher-order oligomerization. Using three protein systems, we show that native MS experiments can uncover structural features of ligand interactions, homology models, and point mutations that are undetectable by AF2 alone. We conclude that machine learning can be complemented with MS to yield more accurate structural models on a small and large scale.
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| 7. |
- Allison, Timothy M., et al.
(författare)
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Computational Strategies and Challenges for Using Native Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry in Biophysics and Structural Biology
- 2020
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Ingår i: Analytical Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0003-2700 .- 1520-6882. ; 92:16, s. 10872-10880
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Native mass spectrometry (MS) allows the interrogation of structural aspects of macromolecules in the gas phase, under the premise of having initially maintained their solution-phase noncovalent interactions intact. In the more than 25 years since the first reports, the utility of native MS has become well established in the structural biology community. The experimental and technological advances during this time have been rapid, resulting in dramatic increases in sensitivity, mass range, resolution, and complexity of possible experiments. As experimental methods have improved, there have been accompanying developments in computational approaches for analyzing and exploiting the profusion of MS data in a structural and biophysical context. In this perspective, we consider the computational strategies currently being employed by the community, aspects of best practice, and the challenges that remain to be addressed. Our perspective is based on discussions within the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action on Native Mass Spectrometry and Related Methods for Structural Biology (EU COST Action BM1403), which involved participants from across Europe and North America. It is intended not as an in-depth review but instead to provide an accessible introduction to and overview of the topic—to inform newcomers to the field and stimulate discussions in the community about addressing existing challenges. Our complementary perspective (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05792) focuses on software tools available to help researchers tackle some of the challenges enumerated here.
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| 8. |
- Allison, Timothy M., et al.
(författare)
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Software Requirements for the Analysis and Interpretation of Native Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Data
- 2020
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Ingår i: Analytical Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society. - 0003-2700 .- 1520-6882. ; 92:16, s. 10881-10890
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in applications of native mass and ion mobility spectrometry, especially for the study of proteins and protein complexes. This increase has been catalyzed by the availability of commercial instrumentation capable of carrying out such analyses. As in most fields, however, the software to process the data generated from new instrumentation lags behind. Recently, a number of research groups have started addressing this by developing software, but further improvements are still required in order to realize the full potential of the data sets generated. In this perspective, we describe practical aspects as well as challenges in processing native mass spectrometry (MS) and ion mobility-MS data sets and provide a brief overview of currently available tools. We then set out our vision of future developments that would bring the community together and lead to the development of a common platform to expedite future computational developments, provide standardized processing approaches, and serve as a location for the deposition of data for this emerging field. This perspective has been written by members of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action on Native MS and Related Methods for Structural Biology (EU COST Action BM1403) as an introduction to the software tools available in this area. It is intended to serve as an overview for newcomers and to stimulate discussions in the community on further developments in this field, rather than being an in-depth review. Our complementary perspective (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05791) focuses on computational approaches used in this field.
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| 9. |
- Brodmerkel, Maxim, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular dynamics simulations reveal barrel opening during the unfolding of the outer membrane protein FhaC
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Many membrane proteins carry out gatekeeping and transport functions across the membrane, which makes them tremendously important for the control of what passes into or out from the cell. Their underlying dynamics can be very challenging to capture for structural biology techniques, for which structural heterogeneity often is problematic. Native ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) is capable of maintaining non-covalent interactions between biomolecules in vacuo, allowing for intact protein complexes from heterogeneous mixtures to be analysed with respect to their masses and structures, making it a powerful tool for structural biology. Recent collision induced unfolding (CIU) experiments, where IM-MS is used to track the unfolding of proteins after activation, were used to investigate the dynamics of the membrane protein FhaC from Bordetella pertussis. FhaC is a β-barrel transmembrane protein found in the outer membrane, where it secretes virulence factors to the outside of the bacterium, requiring notable changes to its structure. CIU cannot on its own provide detailed information about the structural changes along the unfolding pathway. Here, we use MD simulations to mimic the CIU experiments to see if the unfolding proceeds as expected, with cytoplasm-facing domains leading the unfolding, or if other parts of the structure breaks first. By separating our simulation data according to experimental CIU data from literature, we match the structures in the former to the unfolding states identified in the latter, and find that FhaC instead unfolds from a “seam” in the β-barrel. In a wider context, our investigation provides insights into the structural stability and unfolding dynamics of β-barrel membrane proteins and how they can be studied using a combination of CIU and MD.
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| 10. |
- Brodmerkel, Maxim N., et al.
(författare)
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Collision induced unfolding and molecular dynamics simulations of norovirus capsid dimers reveal strain-specific stability profiles
- 2024
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Ingår i: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Collision induced unfolding is method used with ion mobility mass spectrometry to examine protein structures and their stability. Such experiments yield information about higher order protein structures, yet are unable to provide details about the underlying processes. That information can however be provided using molecular dynamics simulations. Here, we investigate the collision induced unfolding of norovirus capsid dimers from the Norwalk and Kawasaki strains by employing molecular dynamics simulations over a range of temperatures, representing different levels of activation. The dimers have highly similar structures, but the activation reveals differences in the dynamics that arises in response to the activation.
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