Atomic-scale analysis of the solvation thermodynamics of hydrophobic hydration.

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to model the transfer thermodynamics of krypton from the gas phase into water. Extra long, nanosecond simulations are required to reduce the statistical uncertainty of the calculated "solvation" enthalpy to an acceptable level. Thermodynamic integration is used to calculate the "solvation" free energy, which together with the enthalpy is used to calculate the "solvation" entropy. A comparison series of simulations are conducted using a single Lennard-Jones sphere model of water to identify the contribution of hydrogen bonding to the thermodynamic quantities. In contrast to the classical "iceberg" model of hydrophobic hydration, the favorable enthalpy change for the transfer process at room temperature is found to be due primarily to the strong van der Waals interaction between the solute and solvent. Although some stabilization of hydrogen bonding does occur in the solvation shell, this is overshadowed by a destabilization due to packing constraints. Similarly, whereas some of the unfavorable change in entropy is attributed to the reduced rotational motion of the solvation shell waters, the major component is due to a decrease in the number of positional arrangements associated with the translational motions.     

Tertiary structure in 7.9 M guanidinium chloride--the role of Glu53 and Asp287 in Pyrococcus furiosus endo-beta-1,3-glucanase

The thermodynamic stability of family 16 endo-beta-1,3-glucanase(EC 3.2.1.39) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus is decreased upon single (D287A, E53A) and double (E53A/D287A) mutation of Asp287 and Glu53. In accordance with the homology model prediction,both carboxylic acids are involved in the composition of a calcium binding site, as shown by titration of the wild-type and the variant proteins with a chromophoric chelator. The present study shows that, in P. furiosus, endo-beta-1,3-glucanase residues Glu53 and Asp287 also make up a calcium binding site in 7.9 M guanidinium chloride. The persistence of tertiary structure in 7.9 M guanidinium chloride, a feature of the wild-type enzyme,is observed also for the three variant proteins. The DeltaG(H2O) values relative to the guanidinium chloride-induced equilibrium unfolding of the three variants are approximately 50% lower than that of the wild-type. The destabilizing effect of the combined mutations of the double mutant is non-additive, with an energy of interaction of 24.2 kJ x mol(-1), suggesting a communication between the two mutated residues. The decrease in the thermodynamic stability of D287A, E53A and E53A/D287A is contained almost exclusively in the m-values, a parameter which reflects the solvent exposed surface area upon unfolding. The decrease in m-value suggests that the substitution with alanine of two evenly charged repulsive side chains induces a stabilization of the non-native state in 7.9 M guanidinium chloride comparable to that induced by the presence of calcium on the wildtype. These results suggest that the stabilization of a compact non-native state may be a strategy for P. furiosus endo-beta-1,3-glucanase to thrive under adverse environmental conditions.     

Understanding of known drug-target interactions in the catalytic pocket of neuraminidase subtype N1

To provide detailed information and insight into the drug-target interaction, structure, solvation, and dynamic and thermodynamic properties, the three known-neuraminidase inhibitors-oseltamivir (OTV), zanamivir (ZNV), and peramivir (PRV)-embedded in the catalytic site of neuraminidase (NA) subtype N1 were studied using molecular dynamics simulations. In terms of ligand conformation, there were major differences in the structures of the guanidinium and the bulky groups. The atoms of the guanidinium group of PRV were observed to form many more hydrogen bonds with the surrounded residues and were much less solvated by water molecules, in comparison with the other two inhibitors. Consequently, D151 lying on the 150-loop (residues 147-152) of group-1 neuraminidase (N1, N4, N5, and N8) was considerably shifted to form direct hydrogen bonds with the --OH group of the PRV, which was located rather far from the 150-loop. For the bulky group, direct hydrogen bonds were detected only between the hydrophilic side chain of ZNV and residues R224, E276, and E277 of N1 with rather weak binding, 20-70% occupation. This is not the case for OTV and PRV, in which flexibility and steric effects due to the hydrophobic side chain lead to the rearrangement of the surrounded residues, that is, the negatively charged side chain of E276 was shifted and rotated to form hydrogen bonds with the positively charged moiety of R224. Taking into account all the ligand-enzyme interaction data, the gas phase MM interaction energy of -282.2 kcal/mol as well as the binding free energy (DeltaG(binding)) of -227.4 kcal/mol for the PRV-N1 are significantly lower than those of the other inhibitors. The ordering of DeltaG(binding) of PRV < ZNV < OTV agrees well with the ordering of experimental IC(50) value.     

Cooperative interaction of histone H1 with DNA.

The cooperative binding of histone H1 with DNA was studied using a fluorescently labelled histone H1. The titration data were analysed in terms of the large ligand model. The stoichiometric number, n = 65 +/- 10 bases/H1, was independent of NaCl concentration (0.02 - 0.35 M). The nucleation and the cooperative binding constants, K' and K, and the cooperativity parameter q were sensitive to salt concentration; K = 3.6 +/- 0.8 X 10(7) M-1 and q = 1.1 +/- 0.4 X 10(3) at 0.2 M NaCl. The dependence of K' on NaCl concentration revealed that 6 Na+ ions were released from DNA upon complex formation. An extrapolation of K' to 1M NaCl yielded a small value, K' = 5 +/- 2 M-1. Thus the binding of H1 is essentially electrostatic, being compatible with its independence of temperature. A calculation of K' based on the counterion release reproduced the salt concentration dependence of K'. Therefore, the binding of H1 is of an electrostatic territorial type. Thus, H1 may move along the DNA chain to a certain extent, when both salt concentration and the degree of saturation are sufficiently low. The condition is so restricted that the sliding would not play an important role in vivo. It was concluded from the DNA concentration independent binding isotherm that H1 can cooperatively bind onto a single DNA molecule. A simple power law dependence of the cooperativity parameter q upon NaCl concentration was found; q oc[NaCl]h with h = 0.72, though the physical basis of this dependence remains unknown.     

Protein–ligand interactions: Probing the energetics of a putative cation–π interaction

In order to probe the energetics associated with a putative cation–π interaction, thermodynamic parameters are determined for complex formation between the Grb2 SH2 domain and tripeptide derivatives of RCO–pTyr–Ac6c–Asn wherein the R group is varied to include different alkyl, cycloalkyl, and aryl groups. Although an indole ring is reputed to have the strongest interaction with a guanidinium ion, binding free energies, ΔG°, for derivatives of RCO–pTyr–Ac6c–Asn bearing cyclohexyl and phenyl groups were slightly more favorable than their indolyl analog. Crystallographic analysis of two complexes reveals that test ligands bind in similar poses with the notable exception of the relative orientation and proximity of the phenyl and indolyl rings relative to an arginine residue of the domain. These spatial orientations are consistent with those observed in other cation–π interactions, but there is no net energetic benefit to such an interaction in this biological system. Accordingly, although cation–π interactions are well documented as important noncovalent forces in molecular recognition, the energetics of such interactions may be mitigated by other nonbonded interactions and solvation effects in protein–ligand associations.     

The interaction of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and AMP with rat hepatic fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase

The binding of the inhibitory ligands fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and AMP to rat liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase has been investigated. 4 mol of fructose-2,6-P2 and 4 mol of AMP bind per mol of tetrameric enzyme at pH 7.4. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate exhibits negative cooperatively as indicated by K'1 greater than K'2 greater than K'3 greater than or equal to K'4 and a Hill plot, the curvature of which indicates K'2/K'1 less than 1, K'3/K'2 less than 1, and K'4/K'3 = 1. AMP binding, on the other hand, exhibits positive cooperativity as indicated by K'1 less than K'2 less than K'3 less than K'4 and an nH of 2.05. Fructose 2,6- and fructose 1,6-bisphosphates enhance the binding of AMP as indicated by an increase in the intrinsic association constants. At pH 9.2, where fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and AMP inhibition of the enzyme are diminished, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate binds with a lower affinity but in a positively cooperative manner, whereas AMP exhibits half-sites reactivity with only 2 mol of AMP bound per mol of tetramer. Ultraviolet difference spectroscopy confirmed the results of these binding studies. The site at which fructose 2,6-bisphosphate binds to fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase has been identified as the catalytic site on the basis of the following. 1) Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate binds with a stoichiometry of 1 mol/mol of monomer; 2) covalent modification of the active site with acetylimidazole inhibits fructose 2,6-bisphosphate binding; and 3) alpha-methyl D-fructofuranoside-1,6-P2 and beta-methyl D-fructofuranoside-1,6-P2, substrate analogs, block fructose 2,6-bisphosphate binding. We propose that fructose 2,6-bisphosphate enhances AMP affinity by binding to the active site of the enzyme and bringing about a conformational change which may be similar to that induced by AMP interaction at the allosteric site.     

Theoretical studies on solvation contribution to the thermodynamic stability of mutants of lysozyme T4

Atomic solvation parameters (ASPs) are widely used to estimate the solvation contribution to the thermodynamic stability of proteins as well as the free energy of association for protein-ligand complexes. In view of discrepancies in the results of free energies of solvation of folding for various proteins obtained using different atomic solvation parameter sets, systematic studies have been carried out for the calculation of accessible surface area and the changes in free energy of solvation of folding (deltaG(s,f)) for mutants of lysozyme T4 where threonine 157 is replaced by amino acids: cysteine, aspartate, glutamate, phenylalanine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, asparagine, arginine, serine and valine. The deviations of the calculated results from the experimental results are discussed to highlight the discrepancies in the atomic solvation parameter sets and possible reasons for them. The results are also discussed to throw light on the effect of chain free energy and hydrogen bonding on the stability of mutants. The octanol to water-based ASP sets 'Sch1' and 'EM' perform better than the vacuum to water-based ASP sets. The vacuum to water-based ASP sets 'Sch3' and 'WE' can be used to predict the stability of mutants if a proper method to calculate the hydrogen bond contribution to overall stability is in place.     

Solvation properties of natural and synthetic ionophores. I. Stoichiometry of complexes with alkali and alkaline earth cations in aprotic organic solvents.

Ion-solvent interactions play a very important role in the studies of stoichiometry, structure, and stability of complexes of cations with natural and synthetic ionophores. These compounds are extremely useful in study of the interaction of neutral salts with macromolecules and the mechanism of cation transport across biological membranes. Knowledge of the ionophore solvation properties enables one to choose a suitable solvent for complexation studies and to obtain detailed information on the solvent effect. We would like to present in this paper a very simple method of estimating the solvation properties of ionophores. We treat the ligand as an assembly of individual noninteracting binding sites. The solvation properties of solvents can be used to represent the solvation sites in natural and synthetic ligands. The solvation properties are represented by the Gutmann donor number (DN) of the model solvent. We can define the solvation ability of a ligand binding site be "donor number of binding site" (DN binding site), which in turn can be represented by the DN of the appropriate model solvent. The average DN of the ligand (DN average) is defined as [xi ni-1 (DN binding site)i]/n, where n is the number of the ligand binding sites. Comparison of the DN average with the DN solvent, together with the knowledge of the composition of the system, characterizes remarkably well the solvation properties of the ligand. This model explains (a) the stoichiometry of many alkali and alkaline earth cation complexes with natural and synthetic ligands in aprotic organic solvents, (b) the transport of alkali and alkaline earth cations across lipid bilayers, and (c) how polypeptides and proteins interact with neutral salts in solutions.     

Consequences of the non-specific binding of a protein to a linear polymer: reconciliation of stoichiometric and equilibrium titration data for the thrombin-heparin interaction

Theoretical aspects of the thermodynamic characterization of cooperative protein interactions with non-specific segments of a linear polymer lattice have been re-examined. This reconsideration has not only provided an alternative derivation of recursive expressions for the stoichiometry of random ligand binding prior to elimination of the parking problem but also extended that treatment to include binding with overlap of additional lattice units. The major obstacle to thermodynamic characterization of non-specific protein-polymer interactions is determination of the lattice capacity for ligand, which in turn defines the length of the polymer segment to which the protein binds. Although these parameters are most readily obtained from studies under conditions that ensure essentially stoichiometric interaction, the endpoint of such a titration is likely to reflect the irreversible rather than the equilibrium binding capacity of the lattice for ligand. Consideration of published results for spectrofluorometric titrations of the thrombin-heparin system under stoichiometric conditions in such terms has permitted their reconciliation with results of a later publication on the interaction under equilibrium conditions.     

Comparison of binding energies of SrcSH2-phosphotyrosyl peptides with structure-based prediction using surface area based empirical parameterization

The prediction of binding energies from the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a protein-ligand complex is an important goal of biophysics and structural biology. Here, we critically assess the use of empirical, solvent-accessible surface area-based calculations for the prediction of the binding of Src-SH2 domain with a series of tyrosyl phosphopeptides based on the high-affinity ligand from the hamster middle T antigen (hmT), where the residue in the pY+ 3 position has been changed. Two other peptides based on the C-terminal regulatory site of the Src protein and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) are also investigated. Here, we take into account the effects of proton linkage on binding, and test five different surface area-based models that include different treatments for the contributions to conformational change and protein solvation. These differences relate to the treatment of conformational flexibility in the peptide ligand and the inclusion of proximal ordered solvent molecules in the surface area calculations. This allowed the calculation of a range of thermodynamic state functions (deltaCp, deltaS, deltaH, and deltaG) directly from structure. Comparison with the experimentally derived data shows little agreement for the interaction of SrcSH2 domain and the range of tyrosyl phosphopeptides. Furthermore, the adoption of the different models to treat conformational change and solvation has a dramatic effect on the calculated thermodynamic functions, making the predicted binding energies highly model dependent. While empirical, solvent-accessible surface area based calculations are becoming widely adopted to interpret thermodynamic data, this study highlights potential problems with application and interpretation of this type of approach. There is undoubtedly some agreement between predicted and experimentally determined thermodynamic parameters: however, the tolerance of this approach is not sufficient to make it ubiquitously applicable.     

SANS/SAXS study of the BSA solvation properties in aqueous urea solutions via a global fit approach

We report on the solvation properties and intermolecular interactions of a model protein (bovine serum albumine, BSA) in urea aqueous solutions, as obtained by combining small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering experiments. According to a global fit strategy, all the whole set of scattering curves are analysed by considering a unique model which includes the BSA structure, the protein-protein interactions and the thermodynamic exchange process of water/urea molecules at the protein solvent interface. As a main result, the equilibrium constant that accounts for the difference in composition between the bulk solvent and the protein solvation layer is derived. Results confirm that urea preferentially sticks to the protein surface, inducing a noticeable change in both the repulsive and the attractive interaction potentials.     

Quantitative Characterization of Local Protein Solvation To Predict Solvent Effects on Protein Structure

Characterization of solvent preferences of proteins is essential to the understanding of solvent effects on protein structure and stability. Although it is generally believed that solvent preferences at distinct loci of a protein surface may differ, quantitative characterization of local protein solvation has remained elusive. In this study, we show that local solvation preferences can be quantified over the entire protein surface from extended molecular dynamics simulations. By subjecting microsecond trajectories of two proteins (lysozyme and antibody fragment D1.3) in 4 M glycerol to rigorous statistical analyses, solvent preferences of individual protein residues are quantified by local preferential interaction coefficients. Local solvent preferences for glycerol vary widely from residue to residue and may change as a result of protein side-chain motions that are slower than the longest intrinsic solvation timescale of ～10 ns. Differences of local solvent preferences between distinct protein side-chain conformations predict solvent effects on local protein structure in good agreement with experiment. This study extends the application scope of preferential interaction theory and enables molecular understanding of solvent effects on protein structure through comprehensive characterization of local protein solvation.     

Stability of phage T4 lysozymes. II. Unfolding with guanidinium chloride.

The denaturation by guanidinium chloride of three phage lysozymes (wild type and two mutants) was investigated. The study of solvent denaturation permitted the investigation of the relative stabilities of the proteins at neutral pH, in contrast to thermal denaturation studies reported earlier which could only be performed in acid pH. The results were interpreted assuming that the free energy of solution of proteins is a linear function of denaturant concentration. Using standard thermodynamic formulas this permits the calculation of the stabilities of the three proteins in the absence of guanidinium chloride. The single point mutation Trp 138 leads to Tyr leads to relatively large changes in stability and the interaction of the protein with guanidinium chloride. The changes associated with the subsequent double mutation, Trp 126 leads to Tyr, Trp 158 leads to Tyr, are much smaller indicating a relatively smooth adjustment of the protein structure to the changed side chains. Models of the structural effects of point mutations are discussed. It is found that the mutation at position 138 does not fit a model in which the effect of a substitution is to introduce an energetic strain in the structure. It does fit a model in which there is a partial unravelling of the structure as a result of the mutation. However, there are no changes in the backbone circular dichroism spectra associated with the mutation. The two observations are not necessarily in conflict. Further physical studies are required for the resolution of the problem.     

Membrane protein stability can be compromised by detergent interactions with the extramembranous soluble domains

Detergent interaction with extramembranous soluble domains (ESDs) is not commonly considered an important determinant of integral membrane protein (IMP) behavior during purification and crystallization, even though ESDs contribute to the stability of many IMPs. Here we demonstrate that some generally nondenaturing detergents critically destabilize a model ESD, the first nucleotide‐binding domain (NBD1) from the human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a model IMP. Notably, the detergents show equivalent trends in their influence on the stability of isolated NBD1 and full‐length CFTR. We used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to monitor changes in NBD1 stability and secondary structure, respectively, during titration with a series of detergents. Their effective harshness in these assays mirrors that widely accepted for their interaction with IMPs, i.e., anionic > zwitterionic > nonionic. It is noteworthy that including lipids or nonionic detergents is shown to mitigate detergent harshness, as will limiting contact time. We infer three thermodynamic mechanisms from the observed thermal destabilization by monomer or micelle: (i) binding to the unfolded state with no change in the native structure (all detergent classes); (ii) native state binding that alters thermodynamic properties and perhaps conformation (nonionic detergents); and (iii) detergent binding that directly leads to denaturation of the native state (anionic and zwitterionic). These results demonstrate that the accepted model for the harshness of detergents applies to their interaction with an ESD. It is concluded that destabilization of extramembranous soluble domains by specific detergents will influence the stability of some IMPs during purification.     

Protein interactions with urea and guanidinium chloride. A calorimetric study.

The interaction of urea and guanidinium chloride with proteins has been studied calorimetrically by titrating protein solutions with denaturants at various fixed temperatures, and by scanning them with temperature at various fixed concentrations of denaturants. It has been shown that the observed heat effects can be described in terms of a simple binding model with independent and similar binding sites. Using the calorimetric data, the number of apparent binding sites for urea and guanidinium chloride have been estimated for three proteins in their unfolded and native states (ribonuclease A, hen egg white lysozyme and cytochrome c). The intrinsic and total thermodynamic characteristics of their binding (the binding constant, the Gibbs energy, enthalpy, entropy and heat capacity effect of binding) have also been determined. It is found that the binding of urea and guanidinium chloride by protein is accompanied by a significant decrease of enthalpy and entropy. At all concentrations of denaturants the enthalpy term slightly dominates the entropy term in the Gibbs energy function. Correlation analysis of the number of binding sites and structural characteristics of these proteins suggests that the binding sites for urea and guanidinium chloride are likely to be formed by several hydrogen bonding groups. This type of binding of the denaturant molecules should lead to a significant restriction of conformational freedom within the polypeptide chain. This raises a doubt as to whether a polypeptide chain in concentrated solutions of denaturants can be considered as a standard of a random coil conformation.     

Binding of basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and related isoinhibitors to leukocytic elastase. Determination of thermodynamic parameters

The effect of temperature, ionic strength and solvation power of mono- and divalent cations on the interaction of BPTI-like inhibitors with human leukocytic elastase has been determined. The binding process is characterized by a non-linear dependence of the equilibrium association constant on 1/T indicating a thermal transition at temperature values ranging between 20 degrees C and 35 degrees C depending on the solvent. The marked dependence of the thermodynamic parameters (delta H degrees, delta S degrees, delta G degrees) and of the transition temperature on the concentration and nature of the cations present in solution seems to indicate that the transition, probably of conformational nature, is related to removal of water molecules upon enzyme/inhibitor complex formation.     

An enthalpic basis of additivity in biphenyl hydroxamic acid ligands for stromelysin-1

Fragment based drug discovery remains a successful tool for pharmaceutical lead discovery. Although based upon the principle of thermodynamic additivity, the underlying thermodynamic basis is poorly understood. A thermodynamic additivity analysis was performed using stromelysin-1 and a series of biphenyl hydroxamate ligands identified through fragment additivity. Our studies suggest that, in this instance, additivity arises from enthalpic effects, while interaction entropies are unfavorable; this thermodynamic behavior is masked by proton transfer. Evaluation of the changes in constant pressure heat capacities during binding suggest that solvent exclusion from the binding site does not account for the dramatic affinity enhancements observed.     

Studies on the trehalose-phosphate synthase of Mycobacterium smegmatis: binding of heparin to the enzyme

We have studied the binding of azide ion to ferrihemoglobin in various water/ethylene glycol mixtures. The results show that the thermodynamic parameters are strongly dependent on the mole fraction of ethylene glycol. This dependence has been explained in terms of solvent effects and the transition between two forms of ferrihemoglobin stabilized in water and ethylene glycol.