| 1. |
- Cournia, Zoe, et al.
(author)
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Membrane Protein Structure, Function, and Dynamics : a Perspective from Experiments and Theory
- 2015
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In: Journal of Membrane Biology. - : Springer. - 0022-2631 .- 1432-1424. ; 248:4, s. 611-640
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Membrane proteins mediate processes that are fundamental for the flourishing of biological cells. Membrane-embedded transporters move ions and larger solutes across membranes; receptors mediate communication between the cell and its environment and membrane-embedded enzymes catalyze chemical reactions. Understanding these mechanisms of action requires knowledge of how the proteins couple to their fluid, hydrated lipid membrane environment. We present here current studies in computational and experimental membrane protein biophysics, and show how they address outstanding challenges in understanding the complex environmental effects on the structure, function, and dynamics of membrane proteins.
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| 2. |
- Friedman, Ran, et al.
(author)
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Understanding Conformational Dynamics of Complex Lipid Mixtures Relevant to Biology
- 2018
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In: Journal of Membrane Biology. - : Springer. - 0022-2631 .- 1432-1424. ; 251:5-6, s. 609-631
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This is a perspective article entitled "Frontiers in computational biophysics: understanding conformational dynamics of complex lipid mixtures relevant to biology" which is following a CECAM meeting with the same name.
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| 3. |
- Gao, Ya, et al.
(author)
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CHARMM-GUI Supports Hydrogen Mass Repartitioning and Different Protonation States of Phosphates in Lipopolysaccharides
- 2021
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In: Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1549-9596 .- 1549-960X. ; 61:2, s. 831-839
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hydrogen mass repartitioning (HMR) that permits time steps of allatom molecular dynamics simulation up to 4 fs by increasing the mass of hydrogen atoms has been used in protein and phospholipid bilayers simulations to improve conformational sampling. Molecular simulation input generation via CHARMM-GUI now supports HMR for diverse simulation programs. In addition, considering ambiguous pH at the bacterial outer membrane surface, different protonation states, either -2e or -1e, of phosphate groups in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are also supported in CHARMM-GUI LPS Modeler. To examine the robustness of HMR and the influence of protonation states of phosphate groups on LPS bilayer properties, eight different LPS-type all-atom systems with two phosphate protonation states are modeled and simulated utilizing both OpenMM 2-fs (standard) and 4-fs (HMR) schemes. Consistency in the conformational space sampled by standard and HMR simulations shows the reliability of HMR even in LPS, one of the most complex biomolecules. For systems with different protonation states, similar conformations are sampled with a PO41- or PO(4)(-)(2)group, but different phosphate protonation states make slight impacts on lipid packing and conformational properties of LPS acyl chains. Systems with PO41- have a slightly smaller area per lipid and thus slightly more ordered lipid A acyl chains compared to those with PO42-, due to more electrostatic repulsion between PO42- even with neutralizing Ca2+ ions. HMR and different protonation states of phosphates of LPS available in CHARMM-GUI are expected to be useful for further investigations of biological systems of diverse origin.
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| 4. |
- Grinter, Rhys, et al.
(author)
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Structural basis for bacterial energy extraction from atmospheric hydrogen
- 2023
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In: Nature. - : Springer Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 615:7952, s. 541-547
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Diverse aerobic bacteria use atmospheric H2 as an energy source for growth and survival1. This globally significant process regulates the composition of the atmosphere, enhances soil biodiversity and drives primary production in extreme environments2,3. Atmospheric H2 oxidation is attributed to uncharacterized members of the [NiFe] hydrogenase superfamily4,5. However, it remains unresolved how these enzymes overcome the extraordinary catalytic challenge of oxidizing picomolar levels of H2 amid ambient levels of the catalytic poison O2 and how the derived electrons are transferred to the respiratory chain1. Here we determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Mycobacterium smegmatis hydrogenase Huc and investigated its mechanism. Huc is a highly efficient oxygen-insensitive enzyme that couples oxidation of atmospheric H2 to the hydrogenation of the respiratory electron carrier menaquinone. Huc uses narrow hydrophobic gas channels to selectively bind atmospheric H2 at the expense of O2, and 3 [3Fe-4S] clusters modulate the properties of the enzyme so that atmospheric H2 oxidation is energetically feasible. The Huc catalytic subunits form an octameric 833 kDa complex around a membrane-associated stalk, which transports and reduces menaquinone 94 Å from the membrane. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the biogeochemically and ecologically important process of atmospheric H2 oxidation, uncover a mode of energy coupling dependent on long-range quinone transport, and pave the way for the development of catalysts that oxidize H2 in ambient air.
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| 5. |
- Huber, Roland G., et al.
(author)
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A Thermodynamic Funnel Drives Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Transfer in the TLR4 Pathway
- 2018
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In: Structure. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-2126. ; 26:8, s. 4-1161
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane contains lipopolysaccharide, which potently stimulates the mammalian innate immune response. This involves a relay of specialized complexes culminating in transfer of lipopolysaccharide from CD14 to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and its co-receptor MD-2 on the cell surface, leading to activation of downstream inflammatory responses. In this study we develop computational models to trace the TLR4 cascade in near-atomic detail. We demonstrate through rigorous thermodynamic calculations that lipopolysaccharide molecules traversing the receptor cascade fall into a thermodynamic funnel. An affinity gradient for lipopolysaccharide is revealed upon extraction from aggregates or realistic bacterial outer membrane models and transfer through CD14 to the terminal TLR4/MD-2 receptor-co-receptor complex. We subsequently assemble viable CD14/TLR4/MD-2 oligomers at the plasma membrane surface, and observe lipopolysaccharide exchange between CD14 and TLR4/MD-2. Collectively, this work helps to unravel the key structural determinants governing endotoxin recognition in the TLR4 innate immune pathway. Huber et al. develop near-atomic computational models to simulate LPS transfer through the TLR4 pathway. These reveal that LPS recognition is favored by a thermodynamic funnel of increasing affinity along a receptor cascade, terminating in productive transfer of LPS at spontaneously assembled CD14/TLR4/MD-2 membrane complexes.
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