用于蛋白质分子设计的环区模建方法

利用距离约束的数据库搜索方法和接触势能分析技术，提出了一种用来模建蛋白质结构环区的分子模建方法。通过对珠蛋白、丝氨酸蛋白酶、钙结合蛋白和溶菌酶中的５０个环区的模建，证明上述方法是可行的。对总区５０个环区的模建表明，８６％的环区可以模建，只有１４％的环区不能模建。研究结果表明这种方法非常适用于蛋白质工程中的环区模建。     

Myostatin三维结构模建及分子进化分析

Myostatin(MST)为肌肉生长负调节因子,其功能受抑制可导致肌肉量增加.对MST核酸序列进行序列比对,构建进化树;采用同源模建方法首次模建MST成熟肽生物活性二聚体的四级结构,并预测MST与其受体ActRIIB的相互作用模式.进化树将肌肉生长抑制素基因(MSTN)分成4个亚家族:哺乳动物MSTN,鸟类MSTN以及鱼类MSTN 1和2.MST受纯化选择作用,在不同物种的直系同源基因具有较高的刚源性,其中哺乳动物、鸟类MST C端活性肽氨基酸序列高度保守.表明哺乳动物、鸟类MST的结构、功能类似,且信号传导路径可能一致;而鱼类MST的调控机制可能存在较大差异.MST结构及其表面静电势和疏水氨基酸分布表明静电力和疏水相互作用在MST与其受体结合过程中可能起到十分重要的作用.     

决明查尔酮合成酶的同源模建和分子模拟对接

查尔酮合成酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)是植物中类黄酮生物合成途径的关键酶,其催化对-香豆酰辅酶A和丙二酸单酰辅酶A发生缩合反应.本研究以苜蓿CHS的晶体为模板,利用同源建模构建决明CHS的三维模型.经过动力学优化后,决明CHS的三维模型与苜蓿CHS的结构极为相似,主要由α-螺旋和β-折叠构成,其中有13个α螺旋,占32.82％,15个β折叠,占19.23％,无规则卷曲占47.95％.模型验证结果表明决明CHS的三维模型具有合理的立体化学性质与氨基酸相容性.决明CHS含有两个重要的结构域:对-香豆酰辅酶A结合域与丙二酸单酰辅酶A结合域.决明CHS与对-香豆酰辅酶A、丙二酸单酰辅酶A的结合主要通过氢键与范德华力.决明CHS中Cys164、His303与活性中心的H2O能够形成电子传递体系,参与对-香豆酰辅酶A形成CHS-对-香豆酰基中间产物.本研究结果为利用此类CHS三维模型研究其催化机理和分子工程改造奠定基础.     

t-PA K1区的同源模建及Kringle区与赖氨酸相互作用的研究

利用同源模建方法预测了t-PAK1区的三维结构。通过结构叠合确定了t-PAK1、K2区,纤溶酶原K1、K4区及UKK区的赖氨酸结合口袋。静电势计算及疏水性分析表明,在t-PAK2区以及纤溶酶原K1、K4区与纤维蛋白裸露的赖氨酸之间存在明显的静电势互补和疏水面契合。确定了影响Kringle区结合口袋与赖氨酸亲和的重要氨基酸,分析了t-PAK1区、UKK区不能结合赖氨酸的原因,由此设计了具有赖氨酸亲和力的新型t-PAK1区及UKK区突变体。利用模拟残基突变技术预测了突变体的结构变化,分析了突变后t-PAK1区及UKK区与赖氨酸亲和力的变化,初步在理论上肯定了设计方案的合理性。     

基于蛋白质受体的药物分子计算机辅助设计策略

药物分子计算机辅助设计是一种在计算机或者理论上通过构建具有一定潜在药理活性的新化学实体的分子模拟方法。近十几年来,高通量组学技术的快速发展为生物和化学药物分子设计提供了良好的数据支撑和研究契机。另外,现代社会对生物制药合理性以及作用机理理解的要求越来越高,行业普遍要求药物需要有高效、无毒或者低毒以及靶向性强等特点。随着越来越多与药物靶点相关的蛋白质结构通过实验方法解析出来,基于蛋白质受体的药物分子设计方法可行性进一步提高,其方法也变得越来越重要。基于蛋白质受体的药物分子设计方法,一般是以蛋白质以及配体的三维结构出发进行分析,这让药物分子先导物的发现更加理性化。随着相关实验数据的积累以及深度学习等算法的发展,从而可以进行更加科学的药物分子设计,这在一定程度上加快了新药研发的进程,并更有利于探索相应的分子机理。本文对基于蛋白质受体的药物分子设计方法的常用策略进行系统的回顾、总结和展望。     

鼠抗人纤维蛋白抗体单链Fv片断的三维结构模建

用Biosym公司开发的计算机辅助分子设计系统模建了鼠抗人纤维蛋白抗体Fv片断的三维结构。Fv是由重链可变区(Vh)和轻链可变区(Vl)两个结构域组成的具有抗原结合能力的最小抗体片断。先分别模建了Vh和Vl两个结构域,然后搭建出Fv片断的整体三维结构,并对模建的结构进行了分子力学和动力学优化。对结构的合理性验证显示模建结构是合理的。本研究为鼠抗人纤维蛋白抗体Fv片断的人源化的分子设计打下了基础。     

MAPK/ERK kinase 2(MEK2)的全长三维结构

作为一种枢纽性的信号通路, Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK级联可被众多细胞外刺激激活, 进而将不同刺激信号传递到不同的底物分子. 其中MEK分子只有MEK1和MEK2两种, 它们如何介导众多信号, 一直是人们感兴趣的问题. 但由于技术局限, 一直难以得到MEK分子的完整三维结构, 限制了对此复杂机理分子水平上的研究. 利用同源模建与分子动力学模拟相结合, 构建了MEK2分子的完整结构, 并研究了其分子动力学特性. 结果显示, MEK2的N端部分具有非常高的柔性, 富脯氨酸环区和C端也具有相当的柔性. 这些结构特性提示, 对于不同的上游信号, MEK2有可能以相应的不同构象与ERK和/或其他上下游蛋白作用, 从而导致相应不同的下游效应.     

玉米黑粉菌CYP51稀有密码子和mRNA二级结构分析及与杀菌剂戊唑醇分子对接

通过截短玉米黑粉菌CYP51(P450-14DM,UmCYP51)基因(去除编码跨膜区部分)和选取不同的表达载体,构建了9种重组表达质粒,在大肠杆菌中进行UmCYP51基因的表达,发现只有BL21(DE3)/pET32-Um-35重组表达工程菌获得了表达.对稀有密码子和mRNA翻译起始区二级结构进行分析,结果表明稀有密码子和mRNA翻译起始区二级结构对UmCYP51蛋白的表达都有影响.适用于稀有密码子表达的菌株Rosetta(DE3)不利于UmCYP51蛋白的表达;同时只有翻译起始区二级结构自由能值最低的重组载体pET32-Um-35可以表达.为了设计以UmCYP51为靶标的新型抗真菌抑制剂,基于最新解析的真核生物人类的CYP51晶体结构,利用同源模建的方法构建了UmCYP51的三维结构并进行了分子动力学模拟优化.通过与商品化杀菌剂戊唑醇进行分子对接获得了此类抑制剂与UmCYP51的理论结合方式,阐述了戊唑醇分子的杀菌机理,为开发新型的抗真菌抑制剂奠定了基础.     

蓖麻毒素A链突变体的设计、表达与活性研究

利用蛋白质结构同源模建并结合表观静电势分析,设计了拟具有生物学活性的蓖麻毒素A链的突变体.将PCR扩增的突变体基因,导入pKK223-3载体中,于大肠杆菌(E.coli)中获得高效、可溶性表达,而且,确证了表达产物具有预期的生物学活性.     

细菌几丁质酶结构、功能及分子设计的研究进展

几丁质是仅次于纤维素的第二大天然多糖,由N-乙酰-D-氨基葡萄糖聚合而成,具有重要的应用价值。自然界中几丁质可被细菌高效降解。细菌可分泌多种几丁质降解酶类,主要分布在GH18家族和GH19家族中。细菌中几丁质降解酶基因存在明显的基因扩增及多结构域组合现象,不同家族、不同作用模式的几丁质酶系协同作用打破复杂的抗降解屏障,完成结晶几丁质的高效降解。因此,深入分析细菌几丁质酶结构与功能,对几丁质高效降解与高值转化应用具有重要意义。本文介绍了细菌几丁质酶的分类、结构特点与催化作用机制;总结了不同细菌胞外几丁质降解酶系的协同降解模式;针对几丁质酶家族分子改造的研究进展,展望了以结构生物信息学及大数据深度学习为基础的蛋白质工程设计策略在今后改造中的作用,为几丁质酶的设计与理性改造提供新的视角与思路。     

乳腺癌易感蛋白2的结构和功能

乳腺癌易感蛋白2是由乳腺癌易感基因2编码的一种在维持哺乳动物细胞染色体的稳定及DNA损伤生物应答中发挥重要作用的蛋白质。文章通过介绍近几年来对乳腺癌易感蛋白2的结构研究,阐述其在双链DNA损伤修复中的作用模型及其在肿瘤抑制中的功能。     

In Silico Prediction of Human Sulfotransferase 1E1 Activity Guided by Pharmacophores from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Acting during phase II metabolism, sulfotransferases (SULTs) serve detoxification by transforming a broad spectrum of compounds from pharmaceutical, nutritional, or environmental sources into more easily excretable metabolites. However, SULT activity has also been shown to promote formation of reactive metabolites that may have genotoxic effects. SULT subtype 1E1 (SULT1E1) was identified as a key player in estrogen homeostasis, which is involved in many physiological processes and the pathogenesis of breast and endometrial cancer. The development of an in silico prediction model for SULT1E1 ligands would therefore support the development of metabolically inert drugs and help to assess health risks related to hormonal imbalances. Here, we report on a novel approach to develop a model that enables prediction of substrates and inhibitors of SULT1E1. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate enzyme flexibility and sample protein conformations. Pharmacophores were developed that served as a cornerstone of the model, and machine learning techniques were applied for prediction refinement. The prediction model was used to screen the DrugBank (a database of experimental and approved drugs): 28% of the predicted hits were reported in literature as ligands of SULT1E1. From the remaining hits, a selection of nine molecules was subjected to biochemical assay validation and experimental results were in accordance with the in silico prediction of SULT1E1 inhibitors and substrates, thus affirming our prediction hypotheses.     

核酸、氨基酸分类和蛋白质二级结构关系的分析与分子设计

核酸序列中包含一定的蛋白质结构信息。根据通常情况下遗传密码表中密码子中间位的碱基配对时产生的氢键数目,尝试将20种氨基酸划分为两类,并用自编的计算机软件对蛋白质二级结构数据库中两类氨基酸的类聚现象进行了统计分析。结果表明,使用这种方法对氨基酸进行划分后,氨基酸残基具有较大概率与划入同一类的氨基酸残基相邻出现,并且这种聚集体对二级结构具有一定的偏好性。最后按照该方法设计了一段氨基酸序列并给出了预测服务器预测得到的结构。     

核酸、氨基酸分类和蛋白质二级结构关系的分析与分子设计

核酸序列中包含一定的蛋白质结构信息。根据通常情况下遗传密码表中密码子中间位的碱基配对时产生的氢键数目,尝试将20种氨基酸划分为两类,并用自编的计算机软件对蛋白质二级结构数据库中两类氨基酸的类聚现象进行了统计分析。结果表明,使用这种方法对氨基酸进行划分后,氨基酸残基具有较大概率与划入同一类的氨基酸残基相邻出现,并且这种聚集体对二级结构具有一定的偏好性。最后按照该方法设计了一段氨基酸序列并给出了预测服务器预测得到的结构。     

Modeling of substrate and inhibitory complexes of histidine-aspartic protease

A three-dimensional structure of histo-aspartic protease (HAP), a pepsin-like enzyme from the causative agent of malaria Plasmodium falciparum, is suggested on the basis of homologous modeling followed by equilibration by the method of molecular dynamics. The presence of a His residue in the catalytic site instead of an Asp residue, which is characteristic of pepsin-like enzymes, and replacement of some other conserved residues in the active site make it possible for the enzyme to function by the covalent mechanism inherent in serine proteases. The detailed structures of HAP complexes with pepstatin, a noncovalent inhibitor of aspartic proteases, and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, a covalent inhibitor of serine proteases, as well as with a pentapeptide substrate are discussed.     

Predicting the Structure of the Flavodoxin from Eschericia coli by Homology Modeling,Distance Geometry and Molecular Dynamics

Abstract

As part of our on-going development of a method, based upon distance geometry calculations, for predicting the structures of proteins from the known structures of their homologues, we have predicted the structure of the 176 residue Flavodoxin from Escherichia coli. This prediction was based upon the crystal structures of the homologous Flavodoxins from Anacystis nidulans, Chondrus crispus, Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Clostridium beijerinckii, whose sequence identities with Escherichia coli were 44%, 33%, 23% and 16%, respectively. A total of 13,043 distance constraints among the alpha-carbons of the Escherichia coli structure were derived from the sequence alignments with the known structures, together with 8,893 distance constraints among backbone and sidechain atoms of adjacent residues, 978 between the alpha-carbons and selected atoms of the flavin mononucleotide cofactor, 116 constraints to enforce conserved hydrogen bonds, and 452 constraints on the torsion angles in conserved residues. An ensemble of ten random Escherichia coli structures was computed from these constraints, with an average root mean square coordinate deviation (RMSD) among the alpha carbons of 0.85 Ångstroms (excluding the first 1 and last 6 residues, which have no corresponding residues in any of the homologues and hence were unconstrained); the corresponding average heavy-atom RMSD was 1.60 Å.

Since the distance geometry calculations were performed without hydrogen atoms, protons were added to the resulting structures and these structures embedded in a 50 × 50 × 40 Å solvent box with periodic boundary conditions. They were then subjected to a 20 picosecond dynamical simulated annealing procedure, starting at 300 K and gradually reduced to 10K, in which all the distance and torsion angle constraints were maintained by means of harmonic restraint functions. This was followed up by 1000 iterations of unrestrained conjugate gradients minimization. The goal of this energy refinement procedure was not to drastically modify the structures in an attempt at a priori prediction, but merely to improve upon the predictions obtained from the geometric constraints, particularly with regard to their local backbone and sidechain conformations and their hydrogen bonds. The resulting structures differed from the respective starting structures by an average of 1.52 Å in their heavy atom RMSD's, while the average RMSD among the heavy atoms of residues 2-170 increased slightly to 1.66 Å. We hope these structures will be good enough to enable the phase problem to be solved for the crystallographic data that is now being collected on this protein.     

后基因组研究中蛋白结构与功能的预测

阐述蛋白质结构建模和功能预测的基本方法以及最新研究进展,展望了蛋白质预测技术的前景。     

Ligand Binding Site Structure Influences the Evolution of Protein Complex Function and Topology

1. Download high-res image (279KB)
2. Download full-size image