Computational Studies of the Proton-Coupled Metal Ion Transport in the SLC11/NRAMP Family of Transporters

In the last years, it has been demonstrated a link between the overload of metal ions inside nervous system cells and the onset of severe neurodegenerative diseases. This prompted the investigation of the structural and functional properties of transporters responsible for the uptake and regulation of metal ions inside cells. In particular, members of the Nramp/SLC11 ("natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins"/"solute carrier 11") family of transporters tightly regulate the influx of divalent transition-metal ions across cellular membranes contributing to cellular homeostasis. In these secondary active transporters, the translocation of divalent transition metal ions from the extracellular matrix to the cellular cytoplasm is coupled to proton transport (symport). The co-transport is realized using an alternate access mechanism in which the protein is alternately open towards the extracellular matrix, ("outward facing conformation", OFC) or towards the cellular cytoplasm ("inward facing conformation", IFC).Although a wide range of functional and structural studies provided fundamental insights on the proton-coupled transport, most mechanistic details are still unknown. As an example, the coordination sphere of the metal ion in the inward-facing conformation of the protein has only been partially resolved by crystallographic experiments and later attempts to provide comprehensive descriptions led to contradictory models. Furthermore, several experimental evidence proved that proton uniport in the absence of the metal ion, is also possible, suggesting an unusual symporter behaviour for Nramps, in which the two substrates are not tightly coupled. Despite the recent advances in the comprehension of Nramps proton transport, the underlying mechanistic details remain still ambiguous, as demonstrated by inconsistent mechanistic models proposed during the last years.In this thesis, computational methods have been used in order to provide new molecular level insights in the proton-coupled divalent transition metal ions transport performed by Nramps. In particular, a combination of classical molecular dynamics (MD) and QM/MM ab initio MD methods have been applied in order to refine the partially resolved coordination sphere of Mn2+ in the active site of Staphylococcus Capitis Divalent Metal-ion Transporter (ScaDMT), representing the only available crystal structure of a substrate-bound member of the family in an IFC. This QM/MM multiscale approach, using an accurate quantum treatment of the active site and a classical treatment of the surroundings, allowed for state-of-the-art calculations of the entire system that led to the unequivocal identification of the metal's coordination sphere. Furthermore, MD simulations have been performed for both the IFC ScaDMT and Eremococcus Coleocola DMT (EcoDMT), whose crystal structure has been obtained in OFC. Since experimental evidences proved that proton transport can occur even in the absence of the metal ion substrate, we performed simulations of both proteins in their apo forms. These simulations allowed us to characterize four amino acidic residues identified as likely key players in the proton transport process and to determine which role they assume in the process. Finally, we were able to identify the likely primary proton acceptor and proposed a potential route followed by protons in their influx toward the intracellular cytoplasm.

Understanding the Effect of Magnesium Ion Concentration on the Catalytic Activity of Ribonuclease H through Computation: Does a Third Metal Binding Site Modulate Endonuclease Catalysis?

Matteo Dal Peraro

Ribonuclease H (RNase H) belongs to the nucleotidyl-transferase superfamily and hydrolyzes the phosphodiester linkage on the RNA strand of a DNA/RNA hybrid duplex. Due to its activity in HIV reverse transcription, it represents a promising target for anti-HIV drug design. While crystallographic data have located two ions in the catalytic site, there is ongoing debate concerning just how many metal ions bound at the active site are optimal for catalysis. Indeed, experiments have shown a dependency of the catalytic activity on the Mg2+ concentration. Moreover, in RNase H, the glutamate residue E188 has been shown to be essential for full enzymatic activation, regardless of the Mg2+ concentration. The catalytic center is known to contain two Mg2+ ions, and E188 is not one of the primary metal ligands. Herein, classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are employed to study the metal-ligand coordination in RNase H at different concentration of Mg2+. Importantly, the presence of a third Mg2+ ion, bound to the second-shell ligand E188, is a persistent feature of the MD simulations. Free energy calculations have identified two distinct conformations, depending on the concentration of Mg2+. At standard concentration, a third Mg2+ is found in the catalytic pocket, but it does not perturb the optimal RNase H active conformation. However, at higher concentration, the third Mg2+ ion heavily perturbs the nucleophilic water and thereby influences the catalytic efficiency of RNase H. In addition, the E188A mutant shows no ability to engage additional Mg2+ ions near the catalytic pocket. This finding likely explains the decrease in catalytic activity of E188A and also supports the key role of E188 in localizing the third Mg2+ ion at the active site. Glutamate residues are commonly found surrounding the metal center in the endonuclease family, which suggests that this structural motif may be an important feature to enhance catalytic activity. The present MD calculations support the hypothesis that RNase H can accommodate three divalent metal ions in its catalytic pocket and provide an in-depth understanding of their dynamic role for catalysis.

2010

Single-molecule-level characterization of supramolecular systems at surfaces

Dietmar Payer

This thesis deals with the self-organization of individual building blocks, specifically organic molecules and metal atoms, into supramolecular structures on metal surfaces under ultra high vacuum conditions (UHV). Self-organization of supramolecular systems is a promising candidate for a bottom-up approach in the fabrication of complex structures with specific properties. This process is steered by interactions between functional groups of the individual building blocks and is of apparent interest to gain a detailed understanding of the influence and the behavior of these functional groups enabling intermolecular binding. In the first part of the thesis, we investigate hydrogen bonded structures on metal surfaces. Of especial interest is the possibility of the formation of ionic hydrogen bonds, a special class of hydrogen bond which connects a charged donor (acceptor) and a neutral acceptor (donor) and is important in biological systems. By combined Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) measurement we show the deprotonation of carboxylic functions in the molecules, forming carboxylate groups involved in intermolecular binding. With our complementary experimental and theoretical examinations we clearly show that the carboxylate groups are indeed still charged although adsorbed onto a conducting metal surface and that the observed structures can be computationally reproduced by using these charges in classical molecular dynamic calculations. Our investigations clearly reveal that all requirements for the formation of ionic hydrogen bonds in these samples at metal surfaces under solvent free conditions are fulfilled. In the second part, the confinement of surface state electrons in self-assembled hydrogen-bonded structures is investigated. The examined structure contains two-dimensional cavities, with different inner diameters in the periodic arrangement and in domain boundaries. Inside the cavities we detect a spatially localized modification in the local density of states (LDOS) of the Ag(111) surface state electrons. The energy of the peak correlates with the cavity area as predicted by a simple "particle in a box" model. This clearly shows that the surface state electrons form a confined state inside the cavities. Furthermore we examine self-assembled periodic structures as templates for binding single macrocyclic molecules. The macrocyclic molecules can be deposited by sublimation, as STM-topographs with submolecular resolution reflect the shape of the intact molecules and reveal a coverage dependent aggregation behavior. We show that it is possible to fabricate a structure in which at most one macrocyclic molecule per pore can be found in a defined binding position. In the last part of the thesis we investigate the influence of individual metal atoms on the chemical activity and the self-assembly process of molecules on metal surfaces. First, we demonstrate the high chemical reactivity of these metal atoms. In our experiments we address the chemical reactivity of static active sites, like kinks and step edges, and of dynamic active sites, like the metal atoms, separately. Doing this we show that a non-negligible amount of the chemical reactivity of a metal surface is due to this dynamic adatom gas. Furthermore the influence of metal atoms on the structure formation of organic molecules is investigated. We show that two-dimensional structures based on a complex formation between metal centers and ligands can be formed and that the coordination number is independent of the substrate symmetry. Furthermore, we show the possibility that on metal surfaces one can prepare three-fold coordinated Fe-centers, a coordination number which is rarely seen in three dimensional chemistry. In the last part we study catenanes, which consist of two interlocked macrocyclic molecules. Main interest is on the confirmation of a structural change of the catenanes adsorbed on a metal substrate. For our experiments we use the fact that the catenanes are designed to "trap" a Cu-atom by complex formation. As this reaction is associated with a structural change and a change in intermolecular interaction, we can verify a reaction of catenanes adsorbed onto a surface with Cu adatoms and therefore a structural alteration by simply imaging the formed structures. Our measurements show the possibility of depositing large molecules like catenanes by sublimation and of their potential for use as molecular machines adsorbed onto metal surfaces.

EPFL2007

Computational Investigation of Intracellular Signalling Cascades

Siri Camee van Keulen

In order to adjust to changes in the environment, cells can communicate via signalling cascades. A common pathway for intercellular communication is the G-protein-coupled- receptor (GPCR) signal transduction cascade which is triggered by a (chemical or physical) extracellular signal, such as light or small molecules. This external interaction induces conformational changes that can lead either to GPCR activation or deactivation. In the active form, GPCRs can induce the activation of trimeric G proteins, which results in the dissociation of the Galpha from the beta and gamma subunits. Subsequently, active Galpha can interact with other cytosolic proteins, such as adenylyl cyclase (AC), which converts adenosine triphosphate to cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) upon stimulation. AC activation can be induced via stimulatory Galpha subunit (Galpha_s) interactions, while inhibition is related to inhibitory Galpha (Galpha_i) association. X-ray crystallography is crucial for the computational study of the GPCR signal transduction pathway. However, sometimes important molecules or moieties can become lost or cannot be incorporated during crystallisation procedures, which can have a significant effect on a protein’s conformation and function. In this thesis, three steps in the GPCR signal transduction cascade have been studied, rhodopsin activation (i), the conformation of active Galpha_i (ii) and the interaction between Galpha_i and AC (iii). In all three cases some groups or molecules that are absent in the X-ray structures play a vital role in the function of the proteins. In the first project, rhodopsin’s early intermediates after photon exposure are investigated together with a deprotonation reaction that takes place in the later stages of the activation pathway. The classical molecular dynamics (MD) and mixed quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics MD results suggest that photon exposure induces active site rearrangements which increase the stability of rhodopsin’s deprotonated Schiff base state. A bridging water molecule in the active site that is absent in the X-ray structure appears to play an important role during the deprotonation mechanism, which demonstrates the dependence of the protein’s function on its environment. The second study investigates the conformation of the active soluble form of Galpha_i, which has not yet been fully resolved via experimental studies due to crystallisation difficulties of the lipidated N-terminus. To investigate the effect of lipidation via classical MD simulations, a model of soluble lipid-bound Galpha_i was constructed. The simulations show that Galpha_i can form a hydrophobic pocket for the lipid on the protein surface. Other regions of the protein, important for protein-protein interaction, are adjusted as well. Hence, the post-translational modification appears to have a significant impact on Galpha_i’s active conformation and function, which was not captured via the unlipidated X-ray structures. The last project is devoted to a complex of active soluble Galpha_i and AC (Galpha_i :AC). While the interaction site for Galpha_s on AC is known, the interaction site for Galpha_i has not yet been identified. Classical MD simulations were performed on a docked Galpha_i:AC complex to understand the inhibition mechanisms as well as the differentiation between AC stimulation/inhibition. The results show that Galpha_i binding not only leads to AC inhibition via impeding ATP binding but also by preventing re-activation via Galpha_s through closure of the subunit’s interaction site on AC. Keywords: GPCR signal transduction pathway, G-protein-coupled recepter, rhodopsin, G protein, complex formation, cis-trans isomerisation, adenylyl cyclase.

EPFL2017