来源于葡萄球菌的N-乙酰神经氨酸裂合酶的基因克隆及性质

葡萄球菌Staphylococcus hominis来源的N-乙酰神经氨酸裂合酶基因shnal(GenBank Accession No.EFS20452.1)构建至pET-28a质粒并在大肠杆菌中得到表达.通过目的蛋白的纯化和酶学性质研究发现,ShNAL是一个四聚体,裂解方向的最适反应pH为8.0;合成方向的最适反应pH为7.5,最适反应温度为45℃.在45℃下孵育2h对ShNAL的活力基本无影响,高于45℃时,活力迅速下降.该酶在pH 5.0～10.0的环境中比较稳定,4℃下放置24 h酶的残余活力在70％以上.ShNAL对N-乙酰神经氨酸(Neu5Ac)、N-乙酰甘露糖胺(Man)和丙酮酸(Pyr)的Km值分别是(4.0±0.2) mmol/L、(131.7±12.1)mmol/L和(35.14±3.2) mmol/L,kcat/Km值分别为1.9 L/(mmol·s)、0.08 L/(mmol·s)和0.08 L/(mmol·s).     

Homology modeling and molecular dynamics study on Schwanniomyces occidentalis alpha-amylase

With consumers growing increasingly aware of environmental issues, industries find enzymes as a reasonable alternative over physical conditions and chemical catalysts. Amylases are important hydrolase enzymes, which have been widely used in variety of industrial process such as pharmaceutical, food, and fermentation industries. Among amylases α-Amylase is in maximum demand due to its wide range of applications. The homology modeling study on Schwanniomyces occidentalis amylase (AMY1, UniProt identifier number: P19269) was performed by Modeller using Aspergillus oryzae (6TAA) as the template. The resulting structure was analyzed for validity and subjected to 14 ns of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation trough GROMACS. The validity of obtained model may represent that utilized OPLS force field is suitable for calcium-containing enzymes. DSSP secondary structure and contact map analysis represent the conservation of domain A TIM barrel feature together with calcium ion coordination sphere. Investigating the covariance matrix followed by principle component analyses for the first five eigenvectors of both trajectories indicate a little more flexibility for AMY1 structure. The electrostatic calculation for the final structures shows similar isoelectric point and superimposed buffering zone in the 5–8 pH range.     

Homology modeling and substrate binding study of Nudix hydrolase Ndx1 from Thermos thermophilus HB8

With homology modeling techniques, molecular mechanics, and molecular dynamics methods, a 3D structure model of Ndx1 is created and refined. This model is further assessed by Profile-3D and ProStat, which confirm that the refined model is reliable. With this model, a flexible docking study is performed and the result indicates that Glu46, Arg88, and Glu90 are three important determinant residues in binding, as they have strong hydrogen bonding interactions and electrostatic interactions with Ap6A. In addition, we further find that three residues, Ser38, Leu39 and Glu46, coordinate enzyme-bound Mg2+ ions in complex N-A. The Glu46 is consistent with the experimental results by Iwai et al., and the other four residues mentioned above may also play vital roles in catalysis of Ndx1.     

猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌转铁结合蛋白基因（rbp8）分析及建模

为了深入研究猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌（Actinobacillus pleuropneumonie,App）转铁结合蛋白基因（Transferrin BindingProtein8,脚）的生物学特性,采用生物信息学方法,对GenBank中的5株App的TbpB的核酸及其氨基酸序列进行比对,选取其中的中国湖北分离株（JL03）对其分子结构、理化性质及功能域、蛋白质二级和三级结构等重要参数进行了预测和分析,并在三级结构的基础上进行了同源建模。结果表明,不同APP菌株之间核酸序列相似性较大,而氨基酸序列存在较大差异,二级结构以延伸链和随机卷曲为主要构件,其空间结构与脑膜炎双球菌GNAl870蛋白相似性较高,以此为模板成功构建了三维结构分子模型,为TbpB基因功能的深入研究提供了线索和参考依据。     

Homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations of lymphotactin

We have modeled the structure of human lymphotactin (hLpnt), by homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations. This chemokine is unique in having a single disulfide bond and a long C-terminal tail. Because other structural classes of chemokines have two pairs of Cys residues, compared to one in Lpnt, and because it has been shown that both disulfide bonds are required for stability and function, the question arises how the Lpnt maintains its structural integrity. The initial structure of hLpnt was constructed by homology modeling. The first 63 residues in the monomer of hLpnt were modeled using the structure of the human CC chemokine, RANTES, whose sequence appeared most similar. The structure of the long C-terminal tail, missing in RANTES, was taken from the human muscle fatty-acid binding protein. In a Protein Data Bank search, this protein was found to contain a sequence that was most homologous to the long tail. Consequently, the modeled hLpnt C-terminal tail consisted of both alpha-helical and beta-motifs. The complete model of the hLpnt monomer consisted of two alpha-helices located above the five-stranded beta-sheet. Molecular dynamics simulations of the solvated initial model have indicated that the stability of the predicted fold is related to the geometry of Pro78. The five-stranded beta-sheet appeared to be preserved only when Pro78 was modeled in the cis conformation. Simulations were also performed both for the C-terminal truncated forms of the hLpnt that contained one or two (CC chemokine-like) disulfide bonds, and for the chicken Lpnt (cLpnt). Our MD simulations indicated that the turn region (T30-G34) in hLpnt is important for the interactions with the receptor, and that the long C-terminal region stabilizes both the turn (T30-G34) and the five-stranded beta-sheet. The major conclusion from our theoretical studies is that the lack of one disulfide bond and the extension of the C-terminus in hLptn are mutually complementary. It is very likely that removal of two Cys residues sufficiently destabilizes the structure of a chemokine molecule, particularly the core beta-sheet, to abolish its biological function. However, this situation is rectified by the long C-terminal segment. The role of this long region is most likely to stabilize the first beta-turn region and alpha-helix H1, explaining how this chemokine can function with a single disulfide bond.     

野葛葡糖基转移酶PlUGTs的同源建模及其活性位点分析

本文对PIUGTs进行同源建模,并分析其与底物结合的构象及活性位点。通过SWISS-MODEL在线对P1UGTs进行模板预测和选择,运用Swiss—PdbViewer软件显示和优化,利用ACDLABS绘制糖基供体小分子（酶结合底物）,最后通过AutoDock_ADT进行分子对接,并分析PIUGTs酶与不同底物结合的整体构象及分析活性位点。研究结果表明PIUGT1、PIUGT2及PIUGT3均能得到较好的三级构象,并且PIUGT1、PIUGT2与三种底物均可进行较好对接,H18,R278,N359为PIUGTI与三种对接构象活性中心所共有的氨基残基;而G16,H17,V19,T148,N370,E374,E390为PIUGT2与三种对接构象活性中心所共有的氨基残基,但PIUGT3未能得到较好的对接构象。由此推测PIUGT1和PIUGT2均能合成葛根素．而PIUGT3不能催化葛根素的合成。     

Homology modeling and dynamics study of aureusidin synthase--an important enzyme in aurone biosynthesis of snapdragon flower

Aurones, a class of plant flavonoids, provide bright yellow color on some important ornamental flowers, such as cosmos, coreopsis, and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus). Recently, it has been elucidated that aureusidin synthase (AUS), a homolog of plant polyphenol oxidase (PPO), plays a key role in the yellow coloration of snapdragon flowers. In addition, it has been shown that AUS is a chalcone-specific PPO specialized for aurone biosynthesis. AUS gene has been successfully demonstrated as an attractive tool to engineer yellow flowers in blue flowers. Despite these biological studies, the structural basis for the specificity of substrate interactions of AUS remains elusive. In this study, we performed homology modeling of AUS using Grenache PPO and Sweet potato catechol oxidase (CO). An AUS-inhibitor was then developed from the initial homology model based on the CO and subsequently validated. We performed a thorough study between AUS and PTU inhibitor by means of interaction energy, which indicated the most important residues in the active site that are highly conserved. Analysis of the molecular dynamics simulations of the apo enzyme and ligand-bound complex showed that complex is relatively stable than apo and the active sites of both systems are flexible. The results from this study provide very helpful information to understand the structure-function relationships of AUS.     

3D-QSAR and molecular modeling studies on 2,3-dideoxy hexenopyranosid-4-uloses as anti-tubercular agents targeting alpha-mannosidase

Ligand-based and structure-based methods were applied in combination to exploit the physicochemical properties of 2,3-dideoxy hex-2-enopyranosid-4-uloses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Statistically valid 3D-QSAR models with good correlation and predictive power were obtained with CoMFA steric and electrostatic fields (r² = 0.797, q² = 0.589) and CoMSIA with combined steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic and hydrogen bond acceptor fields (r² = 0.867, q² = 0.570) based on training set of 33 molecules with predictive r² of 0.808 and 0.890 for CoMFA and CoMSIA respectively. The results illustrate the requirement of optimal alkyl chain length at C-1 position and acceptor groups along hydroxy methyl substituent of C-6 to enhance the anti-tubercular activity of the 2,3-dideoxy hex-2-enopyranosid-4-uloses while any substitution at C-3 position exert diminishing effect on anti-tubercular activity of these enulosides. Further, homology modeling of M. tuberculosis alpha-mannosidase followed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations on co-complexed models were performed to gain insight into the rationale for binding affinity of selected inhibitors with the target of interest. The comprehensive information obtained from this study will help to better understand the structural basis of biological activity of this class of molecules and guide further design of more potent analogues as anti-tubercular agents.     

In silico study of 1-(4-Phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl) ethanones derivatives as CCR1 antagonist: Homology modeling,docking and 3D-QSAR approach

C–C chemokine receptor type 1 (CCR1) is a chemokine receptor with seven transmembrane helices and it belongs to the G-Protein Coupled receptor (GPCR) family. It plays an important role in rheumatoid arthritis, organ transplant rejection, Alzheimer’s disease and also causes inflammation. Because of its role in disease processes, CCR1 is considered to be an important drug target. In the present study, we have performed three dimensional Quantitative Structure activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies on a series of 1-(4-Phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl) ethanone derivatives targeting CCR1. Homology modeling of CCR1 was performed based on a template structure (4EA3) which has a high sequence identity and resolution. The highest active molecule was docked into this model. Ligand-based and Receptor-based quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) study was performed and CoMFA models with reasonable statistics was developed for both ligand-based (q² = 0.606; r² = 0.968) and receptor-guided (q² = 0.640; r² = 0.932) alignment methods. Contour map analyses identified favorable regions for high affinity binding. The docking results highlighted the important active site residues. Tyr113 was found to interact with the ligand through hydrogen bonding. This residue has been considered responsible for anchoring ligands inside the active site. Our results could also be helpful to understand the inhibitory mechanism of 1-(4-Phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl) ethanone derivatives thereby to design more effective ligands in the future.     

Homology modeling of plant cytochrome P450s

Plant P450 monooxygenases represent the largest family of plant proteins and the largest collection of P450s available for comparative studies and biotechnological applications. They have been shown to catalyze a diverse array of difficult chemical reactions and have demonstrated potential to be used in pharmacological, agronomic and phytoremediative applications. Central to our use of these catalytically competent enzymes is the need to understand their interactions with substrates. Because most characterized plant P450s are membrane-bound proteins that are resistant to standard X-ray and NMR structure determinations, homology modeling represents a reliable and relatively rapid alternative method for analyzing structure-function relationships and predicting substrates for many P450s that are only now being characterized. These methods, which are being widely used in mammalian P450 structure-function studies, can allow plant biologists to define critical residues interacting with substrates and, in a directed fashion, alter the reactivities of individual monooxygenases. The homology modelings that have been done on a limited number of plant P450s and the site-directed mutations that validate them indicate that current modeling and substrate docking procedures are capable of providing structural explanations for sequence variants as well as for predicting functional characteristics of undefined P450s.     

Analysis of a three-dimensional structure of human acidic mammalian chitinase obtained by homology modeling and ligand binding studies

The three-dimensional (3D) model of the human acidic mammalian chitinase (hAMCase) was constructed based on the crystal structure of the human chitotriosidase (EC 3.2.1.44, PDB code 1HKK) by using InsightII/Homology module. With the aid of molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics methods, the last refined model was obtained and further assessed by Profile-3D and Procheck, which confirms that the refined model is reliable. Furthermore, the docking results of the ligands (allosamidin and NAG₂) into the active site of hAMCase indicate that allosamidin is a more preferred ligand than NAG₂, and that Glu119 forms hydrogen bond with allosamidin, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. From the docking studies, we also suggest that Trp10, Glu49, Asp192, and Glu276 in hAMCase are four important determinant residues in binding as they have strong van-der-Waals and electrostatic interactions with the ligand, respectively.     

Homology Modeling of Wild-type,D516V,and H526L Mycobacterium Tuberculosis RNA Polymerase and Their Molecular Docking Study with Inhibitors

Abstract

Rifamicyns (Rifs) are antibiotic widely used for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB); nevertheless, their efficacy has been limited by a high percentage of mutations, principally in the rpoB gene. In this work, the first three-dimensional molecular model of the hypothetical structures for the wild-type and D516V and H526L mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (mtRNAP) were elucidated by a homology modeling method. In addition, the orientations and binding affinities of some Rifs with those new structures were investigated. Our findings could be helpful for the design of new more potent rifamycin analogs.     

Sequence analysis and homology modeling of peroxidase from Medicago sativa

Plant peroxidases are one of the most extensively studied group of enzymes which find applications in the environment, health,pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnological processes. Class III secretary peroxidase from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has beencharacterized using bioinformatics approach Physiochemical properties and topology of alfalfa peroxidase were compared withthat of soybean and horseradish peroxidase, two most popular commercially available peroxidase preparations. Lower value ofinstability index as predicted by ProtParam and presence of extra disulphide linkages as predicted by Cys_REC suggested alfalfaperoxidase to be more stable than either of the commercial preparations. Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA) with otherfunctionally similar proteins revealed the presence of highly conserved catalytic residues. Three dimensional model of alfalfaperoxidase was constructed based on the crystal structure of soybean peroxidase (PDB Id: 1FHF A) by homology modellingapproach. The model was checked for stereo chemical quality by PROCHECH, VERIFY 3D, WHAT IF, ERRAT, 3D MATCH ANDProSA servers. The best model was selected, energy minimized and used to analyze structure function relationship with substratehydrogen peroxide by Autodock 4.0. The enzyme substrate complex was viewed with Swiss PDB viewer and one residue ASP43was found to stabilize the interaction by hydrogen bonds. The results of the study may be a guiding point for further investigationson alfalfa peroxidase.     

M1毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱受体同源建模模板的选取及验证

目的:探讨不同同源模板所获得M1毒蕈碱乙酰胆碱受体模型的合理性及可靠性。方法:以牛视紫红素受体、人源β2-肾上腺素受体、M2胆碱受体和M3胆碱受体为模板,分别对M1胆碱受体进行同源建模;采用分子对接获得各M1胆碱受体同源模板与配体的互作模式,并与已报道的M胆碱受体晶体结构进行静态比对,得到最佳M1胆碱受体同源模板;采用分子动力学模拟分析配体与关键残基距离的变化,对M1胆碱受体同源模板进行动态验证。结果:M2胆碱受体与M1胆碱受体的序列相似度较高,为67.9%;以Inactive M2胆碱受体为模板构建的M1胆碱受体(M1R_(inactive-M2R))与其他晶体结构间RMSD值的均值最低,为1.39;M1R_(inactive-M2R)别构位点K392及E397残基侧链与结合口袋距离更近,与配体结合构象更匹配;分子对接结果显示,双位点别构激动剂VU0184670与M1R_(inactive-M2R)别构结合位点Y85、Y381的距离分别为4.8、6.8,优于其他模型;分子动力学模拟后,配体与Q177残基的距离由7.4降至2.9,提示配体VU0184670向Q177方向偏转,与文献结果一致。结论:以Inactive M2受体结构为模板构建的M1胆碱受体模型最为合理,更接近M1胆碱受体的晶体结构。本研究为M1胆碱受体药物开发提供重要工具,为其他GPCRs受体同源建模提供创新范式。     

Homology modeling of Ferredoxin-nitrite reductase from Arabidopsis thaliana

Different subtypes of Influenza A virus are associated with species specific, zoonotic or pandemic Influenza. The cause of its severity underlies in complicated evolution of its segmented RNA genome. Although genetic shift and genetic drift are well known in the evolution of this virus, we reported the significant role of unique RNA palindromes in its evolution. Our computational approach identified the existence of unique palindromes in each subtype of Influenza A virus with its absence in Influenza B relating the fact of virulence and vigorous genetic hitchhiking in Influenza A. The current study focused on the re-assortment event responsible for the emergence of pandemic-2009 H1N1 virus, which is associated with outgrow of new palindrome and in turn, changing its RNA structure. We hypothesize that the change in RNA structure due to the presence of palindrome facilitates the event of re-assortment in Influenza A. Thus the evolutionary process of Influenza A is much more complicated as previously known, and that has been demonstrated in this study.     

Homology modelling and molecular dynamics simulations: comparative studies of human aquaporin-1

The structures of the mammalian water transport protein Aqp1 and of its bacterial homologue GlpF enables us to test whether homology models can be used to explore relationships between structure, dynamics and function in mammalian transport proteins. Molecular dynamics simulations (totalling almost 40 ns) were performed starting from: the X-ray structure of Aqp1; a homology model of Aqp1 based on the GlpF structure; and intermediate resolution structures of Aqp1 derived from electron microscopy. Comparisons of protein RMSDs vs. time suggest that the homology models are of comparable conformational stability to the X-ray structure, whereas the intermediate resolution structures exhibit significant conformation drift. For simulations based on the X-ray structure and on homology models, the flexibility profile vs. residue number correlates well with the crystallographic B-values for each residue. In the simulations based on intermediate resolution structures, mobility of the highly conserved NPA loops is substantially higher than in the simulations based on the X-ray structure or the homology models. Pore radius profiles remained relatively constant in the X-ray and homology model simulations but showed substantial fluctuations (reflecting the higher NPA loop mobility) in the intermediate resolution simulations. The orientation of the dipoles of water molecules within the pore is of key importance in maintaining low proton permeability through Aqp1. This property seems to be quite robust to the starting model used in the simulation. These simulations suggest that homology models based on bacterial homologues may be used to derive functionally relevant information on the structural dynamics of mammalian transport proteins.     

Homology modeling of allergenic cyclophilins: IgE-binding site and structural basis of cross-reactivity

Cross-reactivity among allergens is of considerable scientific as well as clinical interest. Proteins belonging to the allergenic cyclophilin family share a high degree of sequence homology and are cross-reactive. Until date no three-dimensional structural information is available on these proteins and the shared structural features of the epitopes which are the most important determinants of cross-reactivity. Cyclophilins are also known to bind with the immuno-suppressive drug cyclosporin. Comparative molecular modeling of these allergenic cyclophilin proteins of different sources was performed in order to investigate the structural basis of their cross-reactivity. All the proteins studied revealed a similarity in the shape of the cross-reactive epitopes with varying degrees of accessibility. Cyclosporin binding and allergenic properties of these proteins were also found to be structurally related.     

Homology modeling, molecular docking and electrostatic potential analysis of MurF ligase from Klebsiella pneumonia

In spite of availability of moderately protective vaccine and antibiotics, new antibacterial agents are urgently needed to decrease the global incidence of Klebsiella pneumonia infections. MurF ligase, a key enzyme, which participates in the bacterial cell wall assembly, is indispensable to existence of K. pneumonia. MurF ligase lack mammalian vis-à-vis and have high specificity, uniqueness, and occurrence only in eubacteria, epitomizing them as promising therapeutic targets for intervention. In this study, we present a unified approach involving homology modeling and molecular docking studies on MurF ligase enzyme. As part of this study, a homology model of K. pneumonia (MurF ligase) enzyme was predicted for the first time in order to carry out structurebased drug design. The accuracy of the model was further validated using different computational approaches. The comparative molecular docking study on this enzyme was undertaken using different phyto-ligands from Desmodium sp. and a known antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. The docking analysis indicated the importance of hotspots (HIS 281 and ASN 282) within the MurF binding pocket. The Lipinski's rule of five was analyzed for all ligands considered for this study by calculating the ADME/Tox, drug likeliness using Qikprop simulation. Only ten ligands were found to comply with the Lipinski rule of five. Based on the molecular docking results and Lipinki values 6-Methyltetrapterol A was confirmed as a promising lead compound. The present study should therefore play a guiding role in the experimental design and development of 6-Methyltetrapterol A as a bactericidal agent.     

Homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations of the glycine receptor ligand binding domain

We present a homology based model of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the homopentameric alpha1 glycine receptor (GlyR). The model is based on multiple sequence alignment with other members of the nicotinicoid ligand gated ion channel superfamily and two homologous acetylcholine binding proteins (AChBP) from the freshwater (Lymnaea stagnalis) and saltwater (Aplysia californica) snails with known high resolution structure. Using two template proteins with known structure to model three dimensional structure of a target protein is especially advantageous for sequences with low homology as in the case presented in this paper. The final model was cross-validated by critical evaluation of experimental and published mutagenesis, functional and other biochemical studies. In addition, a complex structure with strychnine antagonist in the putative binding site is proposed based on docking simulation using Autodock program. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with simulated annealing protocol are reported on the proposed LBD of GlyR, which is stable in 5 ns simulation in water, as well as for a deformed LBD structure modeled on the corresponding domain determined in low-resolution cryomicroscopy structure of the alpha subunit of the full-length acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Our simulations demonstrate that the beta-sandwich central core of the protein monomer is fairly rigid in the simulations and resistant to deformations in water.