基于图像分析技术的红细胞膜力学特性多参数动态测定的研究

探索以图像分析技术,在无扰、在位、实时的情况下,对单个活态红细胞的多个力学参量：弯曲模量KC、剪切模量μ及切向与弯曲模量之比ε等进行非侵入性连续动态测定的新方法。以该技术对红细胞在不同外部条件（温度、氧分压、渗透压）下的力学参量进行动态监测,不但揭示出有关变量条件对细胞各个力学参量的影响。还证明了本技术适于对细胞的各种生理和病理过程进行连续监测。     

Ydj1p锌指结构突变体对底物结合影响的分子动力学模拟分析

Ydj1p是酵母细胞质中一种主要的I型Hsp40分子伴侣,Ydj1p锌指结构在传递底物给Hsp70时发挥重要的作用,锌指结构域的两个锌离子结合位点区域(ZBDⅠ和ZBDⅡ)与半胱氨酸形成配位键对底物传递中维持结构稳定非常重要。本研究通过分子动力学手段对Ydj1p与各锌指结构突变体进行了模拟,分析ZBDⅠ突变体关键残基C143S、C201S,ZBDⅡ突变体关键残基C162S、C185S的突变影响Hsp40与Hsp70的底物传递。分析结果表明,当锌指部位的氨基酸发生突变,不仅能影响Ydj1p的结构稳定性,也能影响底物的传递,并且锌指结构Ⅰ突变体和锌指结构Ⅱ突变体之间也具有明显差异。通过结合能量的分析以及构象变化比对,揭示了Ydj1p以及各锌指结构突变体底物结合能力的强弱,这与生化实验研究了Ydj1p锌指结构与Hsp70合作,帮助多肽传递的功能是至关重要的结果较为相近。     

抗菌肽BLFcin6与不同磷脂膜之间相互作用的分子动力学模拟研究

抗菌肽具有广谱抗菌特性,有望成为抗生素较好的替代产品.研究抗菌肽的抗菌机制,可以为新型抗菌肽的设计提供指导.无论抗菌肽采用哪种抗菌机制,其首先要稳定地吸附到细胞膜之上.因此,本文利用分子动力学模拟方法比较了抗菌小肽BLFcin6与5种不同细胞膜之间的相互作用.对这5种细胞膜而言,小肽会很快结合在POPG膜和DPPC-CHOL膜的表面,倾向于进入DPPC膜的疏水内部,与POPC膜和POPC-CHOL膜的接触很少.考察相互作用能,小肽与POPG膜的相互作用最强,主要是小肽与细胞膜亲水头部存在静电相互作用;小肽与DPPC膜的疏水尾部的相互作用较强,但受胆固醇影响,小肽只结合在DPPC-CHOL膜表面.在结合过程中,小肽N端的Arg会先结合到细胞膜上,静电相互作用在小肽锚定细胞膜的过程中起关键作用.以上研究从原子水平上解释了为什么BLFcin6小肽具有抗菌作用,哪些残基起关键作用,也为进一步开展BLFcin6小肽及其衍生小肽的研究奠定基础.     

分子动力学模拟尿素对水溶液中蛋白质构象转变的影响

采用分子动力学方法和全原子模型研究尿素和水分子对模型蛋白S-肽链结构转化的影响。模拟结果显示S-肽链的变性速率常数k值随着尿素浓度的增加而先降低后升高,在尿素浓度为2.9 mol/L时达到最低值。模拟了不同尿素浓度下尿素-肽链、水-肽链以及肽链分子氢键的形成状况。结果表明:尿素浓度较低时,尿素分子与S-肽链的极性氨基酸侧链形成氢键,但不破坏其分子内的骨架氢键,尿素在S-肽链水化层外形成限制性空间,增强了S-肽链的稳定性。随着尿素的升高,尿素分子进入S-肽链内部并与其内部氨基酸残基形成氢键,导致S-肽链的骨架氢键丧失,S-肽链发生去折叠。上述模拟结果与文献报道的实验结果一致,从分子水平上揭示了尿素对蛋白质分子结构变化的影响机制,对于研究和发展蛋白质折叠及稳定化技术具有指导意义。     

胸部物理治疗对呼吸机相关性肺炎的效果分析

为探究胸部物理治疗对呼吸机相关性肺炎(VAP)治疗的效果及呼吸力学参数指标的影响作用,本研究选取90例确诊VAP患者作为研究对象,其中45例患者仅采取基础治疗(对照组),另外45例患者采用基础治疗+胸部物理治疗(研究组),对比两组临床治疗效果及呼吸力学参数指标变化。研究结果显示,治疗前,两组患者的MAP、HR、氧合指数、SpO2、CPIS评分差异无统计学意义(p0.05);治疗5 d后,研究组的MAP、氧合指数、SpO2显著的高于对照组(p0.05),研究组的CPIS评分显著低于对照组(p0.05);治疗前,两组患者的PIP、Cdyn、Raw、WOB指标差异无统计学意义(p0.05);治疗5 d后,研究组的Cdyn高于对照组(p0.05),研究组的PIP、Raw、WOB显著低于对照组(p0.05);研究组的ICU住院时间和机械通气时间都显著低于对照组(p0.05),研究组的救治成功率为95.56%,高于对照组的91.11%,但是差异无统计学意义(p0.05)。研究结果表明,胸部物理治疗对于VAP患者而言,有利于改善肺功能、呼吸力学参数以及缩短治疗时间。     

相互作用对纳米颗粒跨生物膜输运的影响

纳米颗粒与生物膜之间的相互作用,对于纳米颗粒在细胞成像、生物传感器设计、药物输送及疾病诊断和治疗等方面的应用有着重要的影响.本文采用自洽场理论,考察了不同相互作用条件下,纳米颗粒跨膜输运过程中生物膜的形变情况,以及系统自由能的变化情况.结果表明,在纳米颗粒跨膜输运的过程中,随着纳米颗粒与生物膜之间相互作用的改变,生物膜...     

Val55点突变对鸡胱抑素I66Q结构稳定性影响的分子动力学研究

Val55是鸡胱抑素(Chicken cystatin,cC)铰链环状区的重要位点.本文采用分子动力学模拟的方法研究了V55位点突变对cC典型的淀粉样突变体I66Q结构稳定性的影响情况,并深入探讨了其分子机制.研究表明V55N和V55D对I66Q突变体都有稳定其结构的作用,但V55N的稳定作用更显著.进一步研究发现V55N和V55D对I66Q的这种稳定作用是由于突变后的55位残基与邻近残基形成了较多稳定的氢键,从而增加了自身位点及Loop1、β2 - β3的稳定性,并进一步稳定了I66Q的α-螺旋和疏水核心结构.这可能最终阻碍胱抑素淀粉样突变体I66Q结构域交换的发生.     

Val55点突变对鸡胱抑素I66Q结构稳定性影响的分子动力学研究

Val55是鸡胱抑素(Chicken cystatin,cC)铰链环状区的重要位点。本文采用分子动力学模拟的方法研究了V55位点突变对cC典型的淀粉样突变体I66Q结构稳定性的影响情况,并深入探讨了其分子机制。研究表明V55N和V55D对I66Q突变体都有稳定其结构的作用,但V55N的稳定作用更显著。进一步研究发现V55N和V55D对I66Q的这种稳定作用是由于突变后的55位残基与邻近残基形成了较多稳定的氢键,从而增加了自身位点及Loop1、β2-β3的稳定性,并进一步稳定了I66Q的α-螺旋和疏水核心结构。这可能最终阻碍胱抑素淀粉样突变体I66Q结构域交换的发生。     

老年高血压患者颈动脉内膜中膜厚度与动态血压参数的相关性

目的:探究老年高血压患者颈动脉内膜中膜厚度(IMT)与动态血压参数间的相关关系,为老年高血压患者的临床治疗提供理论基础。方法:选取2015年1月至2016年1月在我院接受治疗的老年高血压患者204例,根据超声检查结果分为A、B、C三组,每组68例。24 h无创检测患者动态血压参数,包括24h平均收缩压(24h SBP),24 h平均舒张压(24h DBP)、白天平均收缩压(d SBP)、白天平均舒张压(d DBP)、夜间平均收缩压(n SBP)、夜间平均舒张压(n DBP),24h脉压(24h PP)及白天脉压(d PP)、夜间脉压(n PP),记录冠心病的发生率、杓型与非杓型高血压比例,利用Person相关性分析IMT与冠心病发生率及动态血压参数的相关性。结果:收缩压和脉压比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),其中B组、C组高于A组,C组高于B组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。非杓型高血压在A组占54.41%,B组占60.29%,C组占79.41%,各组间差异有统计学意义(P0.05);A组、B组、C组冠心病发病率分别为41.18%、54.41%和91.18%,组间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。IMT同冠心病发生率和24h SBP、d SBP、n SBP、24h PP、d PP、n PP呈正相关(r=0.876,0.448,0.378,0.476,0.443,0.491,0.438,P0.05)。结论:老年高血压患者收缩压,脉压升高以及非杓型高血压是造成颈动脉内膜中膜厚度增加的主要原因,同时,IMT与冠心病发病率和动态血压参数间呈正相关关系。     

Cell penetrating peptide modulation of membrane biomechanics by Molecular dynamics

The efficacy of a pharmaceutical treatment is often countered by the inadequate membrane permeability, that prevents drugs from reaching their specific intracellular targets. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are able to route across cells’ membrane various types of cargo, including drugs and nanoparticles. However, CPPs internalization mechanisms are not yet fully understood and depend on a wide variety of aspects. In this contest, the entry of a CPP into the lipid bilayer might induce molecular conformational changes, including marked variations on membrane’s mechanical properties. Understanding how the CPP does influence the mechanical properties of cells membrane is crucial to design, engineer and improve new and existing penetrating peptides. Here, all atom Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate the interaction between different types of CPPs embedded in a lipid bilayer of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC). In a greater detail, we systematically highlighted how CPP properties are responsible for modulating the membrane bending modulus. Our findings highlighted the CPP hydropathy strongly correlated with penetration of water molecules in the lipid bilayer, thus supporting the hypothesis that the amount of water each CPP can route inside the membrane is modulated by the hydrophobic and hydrophilic character of the peptide. Water penetration promoted by CPPs leads to a local decrease of the lipid order, which emerges macroscopically as a reduction of the membrane bending modulus.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins

Membrane proteins control the traffic across cell membranes and thereby play an essential role in cell function from transport of various solutes to immune response via molecular recognition. Because it is very difficult to determine the structures of membrane proteins experimentally, computational methods have been increasingly used to study their structure and function. Here we focus on two classes of membrane proteins—ion channels and transporters—which are responsible for the generation of action potentials in nerves, muscles, and other excitable cells. We describe how computational methods have been used to construct models for these proteins and to study the transport mechanism. The main computational tool is the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, which can be used for everything from refinement of protein structures to free energy calculations of transport processes. We illustrate with specific examples from gramicidin and potassium channels and aspartate transporters how the function of these membrane proteins can be investigated using MD simulations.     

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 alpha-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.     

Setting up and running molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins

Molecular dynamics simulations have become a popular and powerful technique to study lipids and membrane proteins. We present some general questions and issues that should be considered prior to embarking on molecular dynamics simulation studies of membrane proteins and review common simulation methods. We suggest a practical approach to setting up and running simulations of membrane proteins, and introduce two new (related) methods to embed a protein in a lipid bilayer. Both methods rely on placing lipids and the protein(s) on a widely spaced grid and then 'shrinking' the grid until the bilayer with the protein has the desired density, with lipids neatly packed around the protein. When starting from a grid based on a single lipid structure, or several potentially different lipid structures (method 1), the bilayer will start well-packed but requires more equilibration. When starting from a pre-equilibrated bilayer, either pure or mixed, most of the structure of the bilayer stays intact, reducing equilibration time (method 2). The main advantages of these methods are that they minimize equilibration time and can be almost completely automated, nearly eliminating one time consuming step in MD simulations of membrane proteins.     

Effects of deformability and thermal motion of lipid membrane on electroporation: by molecular dynamics simulations

Effects of mechanical properties and thermal motion of POPE lipid membrane on electroporation were studied by molecular dynamics simulations. Among simulations in which specific atoms of lipids were artificially constrained at their equilibrium positions using a spring with force constant of 2.0 kcal/(mol Ų) in the external electric field of 1.4 kcal/(mol Å e), only constraint on lateral motions of lipid tails prohibited electroporation while non-tail parts had little effects. When force constant decreased to 0.2 kcal/(mol Ų) in the position constraints on lipid tails in the external electric field of 2.0 kcal/(mol Å e), water molecules began to enter the membrane. Position constraints of lipid tails allow water to penetrate from both sides of membrane. Thermal motion of lipids can induce initial defects in the hydrophobic core of membrane, which are favorable nucleation sites for electroporation. Simulations at different temperatures revealed that as the temperature increases, the time taken to the initial pore formation will decrease.     

Molecular Dynamics Investigation of Bond Ordering of Unsaturated Lipids in Monolayers

Molecular dynamics simulations of three model lipid monolayers of 2,3-diacyl-D-glycerolipids, that contained stearoyl (18:0) in the position 3 and oleoyl (18:9cis), linoleoyl (18:26cis), or linolenoyl (18:33cis) in the position 2, have been carried out. The simulation systems consisted of 24 lipid molecules arranged in a rectangular simulation cell, with periodic boundary conditions in the surface plane. 1 nanosecond simulations were performed at T = 295 K. C-C and C-H bond order parameter profiles and the bond orientation distributions about the monolayer normal have been calculated. The relation of the distributions to the order parameters was analyzed in terms of maxima and widths of the distributions. The cis double bond order parameter is found to be higher than those of adjacent single C-C bonds. The widths of the two distributions of C-H bonds of the cis double bond segment in di- and triunsaturated molecules are much smaller than that obtained for methylene group located between the double bonds. The bond orientation distribution function widths depend on both the segment location in the chain and the segment chemical structure.     

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the prediction of chiral discrimination of N-acetylphenylalanine enantiomers by cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin, beta-CD) based on the MM-PBSA (molecular mechanics-Poisson-Boltzmann surface area) approach

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for the prediction of chiral discrimination of N-acetylphenylalanine enantiomers by cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin, beta-CD). Binding free energies and various conformational properties were obtained using by the MM-PBSA (molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann/surface area) approach. The calculated relative difference (DeltaDeltabinding) of binding free energy was in fine agreement with the experimentally determined value. The difference of rotameric distributions of guest N-acetylphenylalanine enantiomers complexed with the host, beta-CD, was observed after the conformational analyses, suggesting that the conformational changes of guest captured within host cavity would be a decisive factor for enantiodifferentiation at a molecular level.     

Molecular dynamics study of major urinary protein-pheromone interactions: a structural model for ligand-induced flexibility increase

Recently, two independent (15)N NMR relaxation studies indicated that in contrast to the decreased flexibility expected for induced-fit interactions, the backbone flexibility of major urinary protein isoform I (MUP-I) slightly increased upon complex formation with its natural pheromone 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazol. We have investigated the subtle details of molecular interactions by molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent. The calculated order parameters S(2) for a free- and ligand-bound protein supply evidence that mobility in various regions of MUP-I can be directly related to small conformational changes of the free- and complexed protein resulting from modifications of the hydrogen bonding network.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine modified with a MTSL nitroxide spin label in a lipid membrane

We investigate the interaction between dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and a nitroxide spin label in order to understand its influences on lipid structure and dynamics using molecular dynamics simulations. The system was modified by covalently attaching nitroxide spin labels to the headgroups of two DPPC molecules. (S-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)methyl methanesulfonothioate) (MTSL) was used as the spin label. The label position and dynamics were analyzed as was the impact of the modified DPPC on the structure of the surrounding lipids. The modified DPPC molecules locate closer to the center of the membrane than unmodified DPPC molecules. The rotation of the spin label is unrestricted, but there are favored orientations. MTSL depresses the deuterium order parameters of the carbon atoms close to the headgroup in surrounding DPPC molecules. The spin label has no impact on order parameters of carbon atoms at the end of the lipid tails. The lateral diffusion constant of the modified DPPC is indistinguishable from unmodified DPPC molecules. These novel computational results suggest an experimental validation.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of bovine rhodopsin: influence of protonation states and different membrane-mimicking environments

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a protein family of outstanding pharmaceutical interest. GPCR homology models, based on the crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin, have been shown to be valuable tools in the drug-design process. The initial model is often refined by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, a procedure that has been recently discussed controversially. We therefore analyzed MD simulations of bovine rhodopsin in order to identify contacts that could serve as constraints in the simulation of homology models. Additionally, the effect of an N-terminal truncation, the nature of the membrane mimic, the influence of varying protonation states of buried residues and the importance of internal water molecules was analyzed. All simulations were carried out using the program-package GROMACS. While N-terminal truncation negatively influenced the overall protein stability, a stable simulation was possible in both solvent environments. As regards the protonation state of titratable sites, the experimental data could be reproduced by the program UHBD (University of Houston Brownian Dynamics), suggesting its application for studying homology models of GPCRs. A high flexibility was observed for internal water molecules at some sites. Finally, interhelical hydrogen-bonding interactions could be derived, which can now serve as constraints in the simulations of GPCR homology models.