The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins and peptides

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins and peptides
Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins and peptides
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a valuable approach to the dynamics, structure, and stability of membrane–protein systems. Coarse-grained (CG) models, in which small groups of atoms are treated as single particles, enable extended (>100 ns) timescales to be addressed. In this study, we explore how CG–MD methods that have been developed for detergents and lipids may be extended to membrane proteins. In particular, CG–MD simulations of a number of membrane peptides and proteins are used to characterize their interactions with lipid bilayers. CG–MD is used to simulate the insertion of synthetic model membrane peptides (WALPs and LS3) into a lipid (PC) bilayer. WALP peptides insert in a transmembrane orientation, whilst the LS3 peptide adopts an interfacial location, both in agreement with experimental biophysical data. This approach is extended to a transmembrane fragment of the Vpu protein from HIV-1, and to the coat protein from fd phage. Again, simulated protein/membrane interactions are in good agreement with solid state NMR data for these proteins. CG–MD has also been applied to an M3–M4 fragment from the CFTR protein. Simulations of CFTR M3–M4 in a detergent micelle reveal formation of an -helical hairpin, consistent with a variety of biophysical data. In an I231D mutant, the M3–M4 hairpin is additionally stabilized via an inter-helix Q207/D231 interaction. Finally, CG–MD simulations are extended to a more complex membrane protein, the bacterial sugar transporter LacY. Comparison of a 200 ns CG–MD simulation of LacY in a DPPC bilayer with a 50 ns atomistic simulation of the same protein in a DMPC bilayer shows that the two methods yield comparable predictions of lipid–protein interactions. Taken together, these results demonstrate the utility of CG–MD simulations for studies of membrane/protein interactions.
hydrogen-bonds, lipid-bilayers, membrane protein, interhelical, coarse-grain, ion-channel, potassium channel kcsa, computer simulations, molecular dynamics, alpha-helical peptides, type-1 vpu protein, computer-simulations, particle mesh ewald, transmembrane conductance regulator, solid-state nmr
1047-8477
593-605
Bond, Peter J.
08f46940-85e8-44c4-a368-d94342a10fd6
Holyoake, John
fa9e4627-3949-40c9-b3e6-4730e22b1ebc
Ivetac, Anthony
9e51e2d2-3f5b-40c1-87a5-b5a11aecbdc4
Khalid, Syma
90fbd954-7248-4f47-9525-4d6af9636394
Sansom, Mark S.P.
ed30b4fc-bc73-4ad7-8c56-f51a67136e4e
Bond, Peter J.
08f46940-85e8-44c4-a368-d94342a10fd6
Holyoake, John
fa9e4627-3949-40c9-b3e6-4730e22b1ebc
Ivetac, Anthony
9e51e2d2-3f5b-40c1-87a5-b5a11aecbdc4
Khalid, Syma
90fbd954-7248-4f47-9525-4d6af9636394
Sansom, Mark S.P.
ed30b4fc-bc73-4ad7-8c56-f51a67136e4e

Bond, Peter J., Holyoake, John, Ivetac, Anthony, Khalid, Syma and Sansom, Mark S.P. (2007) Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins and peptides. Journal of Structural Biology, 157 (3), 593-605. (doi:10.1016/j.jsb.2006.10.004).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a valuable approach to the dynamics, structure, and stability of membrane–protein systems. Coarse-grained (CG) models, in which small groups of atoms are treated as single particles, enable extended (>100 ns) timescales to be addressed. In this study, we explore how CG–MD methods that have been developed for detergents and lipids may be extended to membrane proteins. In particular, CG–MD simulations of a number of membrane peptides and proteins are used to characterize their interactions with lipid bilayers. CG–MD is used to simulate the insertion of synthetic model membrane peptides (WALPs and LS3) into a lipid (PC) bilayer. WALP peptides insert in a transmembrane orientation, whilst the LS3 peptide adopts an interfacial location, both in agreement with experimental biophysical data. This approach is extended to a transmembrane fragment of the Vpu protein from HIV-1, and to the coat protein from fd phage. Again, simulated protein/membrane interactions are in good agreement with solid state NMR data for these proteins. CG–MD has also been applied to an M3–M4 fragment from the CFTR protein. Simulations of CFTR M3–M4 in a detergent micelle reveal formation of an -helical hairpin, consistent with a variety of biophysical data. In an I231D mutant, the M3–M4 hairpin is additionally stabilized via an inter-helix Q207/D231 interaction. Finally, CG–MD simulations are extended to a more complex membrane protein, the bacterial sugar transporter LacY. Comparison of a 200 ns CG–MD simulation of LacY in a DPPC bilayer with a 50 ns atomistic simulation of the same protein in a DMPC bilayer shows that the two methods yield comparable predictions of lipid–protein interactions. Taken together, these results demonstrate the utility of CG–MD simulations for studies of membrane/protein interactions.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: March 2007
Keywords: hydrogen-bonds, lipid-bilayers, membrane protein, interhelical, coarse-grain, ion-channel, potassium channel kcsa, computer simulations, molecular dynamics, alpha-helical peptides, type-1 vpu protein, computer-simulations, particle mesh ewald, transmembrane conductance regulator, solid-state nmr

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 54249
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/54249
ISSN: 1047-8477
PURE UUID: 2cc6f5d9-ad42-41eb-8e19-12058d043a2e
ORCID for Syma Khalid: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3694-5044

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 30 Jul 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:56

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Peter J. Bond
Author: John Holyoake
Author: Anthony Ivetac
Author: Syma Khalid ORCID iD
Author: Mark S.P. Sansom

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×