Force field dependence of NMR-Based,restrained molecular dynamics DNA structure calculations including an analysis of the influence of residual dipolar coupling restraints

Restrained molecular dynamics is widely used to calculate DNA structures from NMR data. Here, results of an in silico experiment show that the force field can be significant compared to the NMR restraints in driving the final structures to converge. Specifically, we observed that i) the influence of the force field leads to artificially tight convergence within final families of structures and ii) the precision and character of resulting structures depend on the choice of force field used in the calculations. A canonical B-DNA model was used as a target structure. Distances, dihedral angles, and simulated residual dipolar couplings were measured in the target structure and used as restraints. X-PLOR and Discover, which use force fields developed for CHARMM and AMBER programs, respectively, were tested and found to produce different final structures despite the use of identical distance and dihedral restraints. Incorporation of residual dipolar coupling restraints in X-PLOR improves convergence with the target structure and between families of structures indicating that the force field dependence can potentially be overcome if residual dipolar coupling restraints are employed.     

Major groove width variations in RNA structures determined by NMR and impact of <Superscript>13</Superscript>C residual chemical shift anisotropy and <Superscript>1</Superscript>H–<Superscript>13</Superscript>C residual dipolar coupling on refinement

Ribonucleic acid structure determination by NMR spectroscopy relies primarily on local structural restraints provided by ¹H– ¹H NOEs and J-couplings. When employed loosely, these restraints are broadly compatible with A- and B-like helical geometries and give rise to calculated structures that are highly sensitive to the force fields employed during refinement. A survey of recently reported NMR structures reveals significant variations in helical parameters, particularly the major groove width. Although helical parameters observed in high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of isolated A-form RNA helices are sensitive to crystal packing effects, variations among the published X-ray structures are significantly smaller than those observed in NMR structures. Here we show that restraints derived from aromatic ¹H– ¹³C residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) and residual chemical shift anisotropies (RCSAs) can overcome NMR restraint and force field deficiencies and afford structures with helical properties similar to those observed in high-resolution X-ray structures.     

An easy way to include weak alignment constraints into NMR structure calculations

We have recently shown that an energy penalty for the incorporation of residual tensorial constraints into molecular structure calculations can be formulated without the explicit knowledge of the Saupe orientation tensor (Moltke and Grzesiek, J. Biomol. NMR, 1999, 15, 77–82). Here we report the implementation of such an algorithm into the program X-PLOR. The new algorithm is easy to use and has good convergence properties. The algorithm is used for the structure refinement of the HIV-1 Nef protein using 252 dipolar coupling restraints. The approach is compared to the conventional penalty function with explicit knowledge of the orientation tensor's amplitude and rhombicity. No significant differences are found with respect to speed, Ramachandran core quality or coordinate precision.     

A three‐dimensional potential of mean force to improve backbone and sidechain hydrogen bond geometry in Xplor‐NIH protein structure determination

We introduce a new hydrogen bonding potential of mean force generated from high‐quality crystal structures for use in Xplor‐NIH structure calculations. This term applies to hydrogen bonds involving both backbone and sidechain atoms. When used in structure refinement calculations of 10 example protein systems with experimental distance, dihedral and residual dipolar coupling restraints, we demonstrate that the new term has superior performance to the previously developed hydrogen bonding potential of mean force used in Xplor‐NIH.     

NMR solution structure of calerythrin, an EF-hand calcium-binding protein from Saccharopolyspora erythraea.

The structure of calerythrin, a prokaryotic 20 kDa calcium-binding protein has been determined by solution NMR spectroscopy. Distance, dihedral angle, J coupling, secondary chemical shift, residual dipolar coupling and radius of gyration restraints reveal four EF-hand motifs arranged in a compact globular structure. A tight turn in the middle of the amino acid sequence brings the two halves, each comprising a pair of EF-hands, close together. The structural similarity between calerythrin and the eukaryotic sarcoplasmic calcium-binding proteins is notable.     

Determination of dihedral Psi angles in large proteins by combining NH(N)/C(alpha)H(alpha) dipole/dipole cross-correlation and chemical shifts

We propose a strategy based on the combination of experimental NH(N)/C(alpha)H(alpha) dipole/dipole cross-correlated relaxation rates and chemical shift analysis for the determination of Psi torsion angles in proteins. The method allows the determination of a dihedral angle that is not easily accessible by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The measurement of dihedral angle restraints can be used for structure calculation, which is known to improve the quality of NMR structures. The method is of particular interest in the case of large proteins, for which spectral assignment of the nuclear Overhauser effect spectra, and therefore straightforward structural determination, is out of reach. One advantage of the method is that it is reasonably simple to implement, and could be used in association with other methods aiming at obtaining structural information on complex systems, such as residual dipolar coupling measurements. An illustrative example is analyzed in the case of the 30-kDa protein 6-phosphogluconolactonase.     

Partial alignment and measurement of residual dipolar couplings of proteins under high hydrostatic pressure

High-pressure NMR spectroscopy has emerged as a complementary approach for investigating various structural and thermodynamic properties of macromolecules. Noticeably absent from the array of experimental restraints that have been employed to characterize protein structures at high hydrostatic pressure is the residual dipolar coupling, which requires the partial alignment of the macromolecule of interest. Here we examine five alignment media that are commonly used at ambient pressure for this purpose. We find that the spontaneous alignment of Pf1 phage, d(GpG) and a C12E5/n-hexnanol mixture in a magnetic field is preserved under high hydrostatic pressure. However, DMPC/DHPC bicelles and collagen gel are found to be unsuitable. Evidence is presented to demonstrate that pressure-induced structural changes can be identified using the residual dipolar coupling.     

The utility of residual dipolar couplings in detecting motion in carbohydrates: application to sucrose

The solution structure and dynamics of sucrose are examined using a combination of NMR residual dipolar coupling and molecular mechanics force fields. It is found that the alignment tensors of the individual rings are different, and that fitting 35 measured residual dipolar couplings to structures with specific phi, psi values indicates the presence of three major conformations: phi, psi=(120 degrees ,270 degrees), (45 degrees, 300 degrees) and (90 degrees ,180 degrees). Furthermore, fitting two structures simultaneously to the 35 residual dipolar couplings results in a substantial improvement in the fits. The existence of multiple conformations having similar stabilities is a strong indication of motion, due to the interconversion among these states. Results from four molecular mechanics force fields are in general agreement with the experimental results. However, there are major disagreements between force fields. Because fits of residual dipolar couplings to structures are dependent on the force field used to calculate the structures, multiple force fields were used to interpret NMR data. It is demonstrated that the pucker of the fructofuranosyl ring affects the calculated potential energy surface, and the fit to the residual dipolar couplings data. Previously published 13C nuclear relaxation results suggesting that sucrose is rigid are not inconsistent with the present results when motional timescales are considered.     

Solution structure determination of the two DNA-binding domains in the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Abp1 protein by a combination of dipolar coupling and diffusion anisotropy restraints

We have solved the solution structure of the N-terminal region of the fission yeast centromere protein, Abp1, bound to a 21-base pair DNA fragment bearing its recognition site (Mw = 30 kDa). Although the two DNA-binding domains in the Abp1 protein were defined well by a conventional NOE-based NMR methodology, the overall structure of the Abp1 protein was poorly defined, due to the lack of interdomain distance restraints. Therefore, we additionally used residual dipolar couplings measured in a weakly aligned state, and rotational diffusion anisotropies. Neither the NH residual dipolar couplings nor the backbone ¹⁵N T ₁/T ₂ data were sufficient to determine the overall structure of the Abp1 protein, due to spectral overlap. We used a combination of these two orientational restraints (residual dipolar coupling and rotational diffusion anisotropy), which significantly improved the convergence of the overall structures. The range of the observed T ₁/T ₂ ratios was wider (20–50 for the secondary structure regions of Abp1) than the previously reported data for several globular proteins, indicating that the overall shape of the Abp1DNA complex is ellipsoid. This extended form would facilitate the recognition of the two separate sites in the relatively long DNA sequence by the DNA-binding domains of Apb1.     

NMR-Based Simulation Studies of Pf1 Coat Protein in Explicit Membranes

As time- and ensemble-averaged measures, NMR observables contain information about both protein structure and dynamics. This work represents a computational study to extract such information for membrane proteins from orientation-dependent NMR observables: solid-state NMR chemical shift anisotropy and dipolar coupling, and solution NMR residual dipolar coupling. We have performed NMR-restrained molecular dynamics simulations to refine the structure of the membrane-bound form of Pf1 coat protein in explicit lipid bilayers using the recently measured chemical shift anisotropy, dipolar coupling, and residual dipolar coupling data. From the simulations, we have characterized detailed protein-lipid interactions and explored the dynamics. All simulations are stable and the NMR restraints are well satisfied. The C-terminal transmembrane (TM) domain of Pf1 finds its optimal position in the membrane quickly (within 6 ns), illustrating efficient solvation of TM domains in explicit bilayer environments. Such rapid convergence also leads to well-converged interaction patterns between the TM helix and the membrane, which clearly show the interactions of interfacial membrane-anchoring residues with the lipids. For the N-terminal periplasmic helix of Pf1, we identify a stable, albeit dynamic, helix orientation parallel to the membrane surface that satisfies the amphiphatic nature of the helix in an explicit lipid bilayer. Such detailed information cannot be obtained solely from NMR observables. Therefore, the present simulations illustrate the usefulness of NMR-restrained MD refinement of membrane protein structure in explicit membranes.     

NMR-Based Simulation Studies of Pf1 Coat Protein in Explicit Membranes

As time- and ensemble-averaged measures, NMR observables contain information about both protein structure and dynamics. This work represents a computational study to extract such information for membrane proteins from orientation-dependent NMR observables: solid-state NMR chemical shift anisotropy and dipolar coupling, and solution NMR residual dipolar coupling. We have performed NMR-restrained molecular dynamics simulations to refine the structure of the membrane-bound form of Pf1 coat protein in explicit lipid bilayers using the recently measured chemical shift anisotropy, dipolar coupling, and residual dipolar coupling data. From the simulations, we have characterized detailed protein-lipid interactions and explored the dynamics. All simulations are stable and the NMR restraints are well satisfied. The C-terminal transmembrane (TM) domain of Pf1 finds its optimal position in the membrane quickly (within 6 ns), illustrating efficient solvation of TM domains in explicit bilayer environments. Such rapid convergence also leads to well-converged interaction patterns between the TM helix and the membrane, which clearly show the interactions of interfacial membrane-anchoring residues with the lipids. For the N-terminal periplasmic helix of Pf1, we identify a stable, albeit dynamic, helix orientation parallel to the membrane surface that satisfies the amphiphatic nature of the helix in an explicit lipid bilayer. Such detailed information cannot be obtained solely from NMR observables. Therefore, the present simulations illustrate the usefulness of NMR-restrained MD refinement of membrane protein structure in explicit membranes.     

Evaluation of the utility of NMR structures determined from minimal NOE-based restraints for structure-based drug design, using MMP-1 as an example

The application of deuterium labeling and residual dipolar coupling constants in combination with other structural information has demonstrated the potential for significantly expanding the range of viable protein targets for structural analysis by NMR. A previous study by Clore et al. [(1999) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121, 6513-6514] demonstrated that a significant improvement in the overall protein structure occurs with the combination of residual dipolar coupling constants and minimal tertiary long-range distance restraints. The analysis of NMR protein structures determined with minimal structural information is extended with a particular interest in the utility of these structures for a structure-based drug design program. As an example, the catalytic fragment of human fibroblast collagenase (MMP-1) was used to follow the effect of minimal restraint sets on the protein structure and its utility in drug design with a particular interest in the effect on the active site conformation. An MMP-1 structure that was calculated with the maximal number of restraints attainable with the constraint of a deuterated protein was shown to be very similar to a high-quality MMP-1 structure that was calculated from a complete set of restraints. The superposition of the active site backbone atoms for the high-quality and minimal restraint MMP-1 structures yielded an rmsd of 0.68 A where the size and shape of the S1' pocket are nearly identical. Additionally, an MMP-1-CGS-27023A complex based on a minimal set of NOE-based restraints reliably reproduced the structure of the complex, establishing the usefulness of the structures for drug design.     

Backbone structure of a small helical integral membrane protein: A unique structural characterization

The structural characterization of small integral membrane proteins pose a significant challenge for structural biology because of the multitude of molecular interactions between the protein and its heterogeneous environment. Here, the three‐dimensional backbone structure of Rv1761c from Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been characterized using solution NMR spectroscopy and dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelles as a membrane mimetic environment. This 127 residue single transmembrane helix protein has a significant (10 kDa) C‐terminal extramembranous domain. Five hundred and ninety distance, backbone dihedral, and orientational restraints were employed resulting in a 1.16 Å rmsd backbone structure with a transmembrane domain defined at 0.40 Å. The structure determination approach utilized residual dipolar coupling orientation data from partially aligned samples, long‐range paramagnetic relaxation enhancement derived distances, and dihedral restraints from chemical shift indices to determine the global fold. This structural model of Rv1761c displays some influences by the membrane mimetic illustrating that the structure of these membrane proteins is dictated by a combination of the amino acid sequence and the protein's environment. These results demonstrate both the efficacy of the structural approach and the necessity to consider the biophysical properties of membrane mimetics when interpreting structural data of integral membrane proteins and, in particular, small integral membrane proteins.     

High-resolution NMR structure of an RNA model system: the 14-mer cUUCGg tetraloop hairpin RNA

We present a high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) solution structure of a 14-mer RNA hairpin capped by cUUCGg tetraloop. This short and very stable RNA presents an important model system for the study of RNA structure and dynamics using NMR spectroscopy, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and RNA force-field development. The extraordinary high precision of the structure (root mean square deviation of 0.3 Å) could be achieved by measuring and incorporating all currently accessible NMR parameters, including distances derived from nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) intensities, torsion-angle dependent homonuclear and heteronuclear scalar coupling constants, projection-angle-dependent cross-correlated relaxation rates and residual dipolar couplings. The structure calculations were performed with the program CNS using the ARIA setup and protocols. The structure quality was further improved by a final refinement in explicit water using OPLS force field parameters for non-bonded interactions and charges. In addition, the 2′-hydroxyl groups have been assigned and their conformation has been analyzed based on NOE contacts. The structure currently defines a benchmark for the precision and accuracy amenable to RNA structure determination by NMR spectroscopy. Here, we discuss the impact of various NMR restraints on structure quality and discuss in detail the dynamics of this system as previously determined.     

GENFOLD: a genetic algorithm for folding protein structures using NMR restraints.

We report the development and validation of the program GENFOLD, a genetic algorithm that calculates protein structures using restraints obtained from NMR, such as distances derived from nuclear Overhauser effects, and dihedral angles derived from coupling constants. The program has been tested on three proteins: the POU domain (a small three-helix DNA-binding protein), bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), and the starch-binding domain from Aspergillus niger glucoamylase I, a 108-residue beta-sheet protein. Structures were calculated for each protein using published NMR restraints. In addition, structures were calculated for BPTI using artificial restraints generated from a high-resolution crystal structure. In all cases the fittest calculated structures were close to the target structure, and could be refined to structures indistinguishable from the target structures by means of a low-temperature simulated annealing refinement. The effectiveness of the program is similar to that of distance geometry and simulated annealing methods, and it is capable of using a very wide range of restraints as input. It can thus be readily extended to the calculation of structures of large proteins, for which few NOE restraints may be available.     

Global folds of proteins with low densities of NOEs using residual dipolar couplings: application to the 370-residue maltodextrin-binding protein

The global fold of maltose-binding protein in complex with the substrate beta-cyclodextrin was determined by solution NMR methods. The two-domain protein is comprised of a single polypeptide chain of 370 residues, with a molecular mass of 42 kDa. Distance information in the form of H(N)-H(N), H(N)-CH(3) and CH(3)-CH(3) NOEs was recorded on (15)N, (2)H and (15)N, (13)C, (2)H-labeled proteins with methyl protonation in Val, Leu, and Ile (C(delta1) only) residues. Distances to methyl protons, critical for the structure determination, comprised 77 % of the long-range restraints. Initial structures were calculated on the basis of 1943 NOEs, 48 hydrogen bond and 555 dihedral angle restraints. A global pair-wise backbone rmsd of 5.5 A was obtained for these initial structures with rmsd values for the N and C domains of 2.4 and 3.8 A, respectively. Direct refinement against one-bond (1)H(N)-(15)N, (13)C(alpha)-(13)CO, (15)N-(13)CO, two-bond (1)H(N)-(13)CO and three-bond (1)H(N)-(13)C(alpha) dipolar couplings resulted in structures with large numbers of dipolar restraint violations. As an alternative to direct refinement against measured dipolar couplings we have developed an approach where discrete orientations are calculated for each peptide plane on the basis of the dipolar couplings described above. The orientation which best matches that in initial NMR structures calculated from NOE and dihedral angle restraints exclusively is used to refine further the structures using a new module written for CNS. Modeling studies from four different proteins with diverse structural motifs establishes the utility of the methodology. When applied to experimental data recorded on MBP the precision of the family of structures generated improves from 5.5 to 2.2 A, while the rmsd with respect to the X-ray structure (1dmb) is reduced from 5.1 to 3.3 A.