The Ribbon of Hydrogen Bonds in the Three-Dimensional Structure of Globular Proteins

We report quantum mechanical computations and experimental evidence which suggest that the backbone conformation of globular proteins depends generally on the conservation of that part of the hydrogen bond network or ribbon which is joined, in general, directly to the backbone and is largely independent of the remainder of this whole network of hydrogen bonds. The familiar hydrogen bonds of the helix and the sheet form about one-half of this ribbon of hydrogen bonds. Both water molecules and hydrogen bonding side chain groups are involved in the formation of the ribbon.This view of the three-dimensional structure of globular proteins in terms of the `molecule' allows us to deal with the non-secondary structure as well as with the familiar secondary structure. It also suggests that the ribbon contains approximately the same number of hydrogen bonds within all three structures – the helix, the sheet and the coil – and that this is the reason for the ease of interconversion of these three structures.The quantum mechanical computations on hydrogen bonding suggest that delocalised water molecules which have substantial mobility are an essential part of the ribbon. This situation arises because the hydrogen bonding groups of the protein molecule are not free to move to optimise the hydrogen bonding geometries as are the oxygen atoms in the waters and ices. Such delocalised water molecules either have high B values or are invisible in the X-ray data and yet are able to form a structure which is as strong as a normal hydrogen bond.The experimental data on the point mutations of the THRI57 residue of the T4 phage lysome provides an initial test of this model. Both the local backbone conformation and the ribbon of hydrogen bonds are conserved throughout all the mutations of residue 157,providing that the delocalised water molecules are accepted as a genuine part of the structure. These mutations include the introduction of hydrocarbon side chains at position 157 when water molecules or other side chain groups take over the formation of the hydrogen bonds.We suggest that, provided steric effects are not important, many point mutations succeed because they leave the ribbon of hydrogen bonds (and so the backbone conformation) largely unchanged.     

A simple and novel interpretation of the three-dimensional structure of globular proteins based on quantum-mechanical computations on small model molecules. I

It is suggested that the three-dimensional structure of globular proteins is partly determined by a framework of strengthened hydrogen bonds that involves both ionic side chains and water molecules in addition to the polypeptide backbone. This conclusion follows from a combination of the results of ab initio molecular-orbital computations on small model molecules and high-accuracy x-ray data on the rubredoxin molecule. The computations yield the idea of hydrogen-bonded bridges that are built from tens of atoms, and the experimental information yields the idea that the bridges are assembled into clusters, each of which is built from hundreds of atoms. Some 10 such clusters then form a globular protein.     

The pseudomolecule method and the structure of globular proteins. II. The example of ribonuclease F1 and T1

The pseudomolecule approach to the structure of globular proteins in which a small number of water molecules are incorporated into the "molecule" is tested again by comparing the ribbon of hydrogen bonds in two proteins, ribonuclease F1 and T1. These two molecules are 59% homologous and have the same backbone conformation both globally and locally. The two ribbons of hydrogen bonds that cover the whole of the backbone are conserved with an accuracy of some 95% providing that allowance is made for the intrusion into one of the pair of such extra factors as the presence of adducts or metal ions, the insertions and the absence of a few water molecules from one of the x-ray data sets. Without these corrections, the conservation of the ribbon is some 85%. There are 35 conserved hydrogen-bonding residues, nearly all of which show many unions to the backbone or interactions with the active site. There are 36 point mutations that involve one or two hydrogen-bonding side chains and nearly all of these have either none or one hydrogen bond to the backbone. These are minor contributors to the ribbon of hydrogen bonds. Of the 71 residues involved in these two categories, all but six fit into the pseudomolecular picture of the structure of globular proteins. The remaining 30 residues almost all contain conserved hydrocarbon side chains that may have a second order effect on the structure through their space filling effects.     

The ribbon of hydrogen bonds and the pseudomolecule in the three-dimensional structure of globular proteins. III. Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A and bovine seminal ribonuclease

The model of the three-dimensional structure of globular proteins, which is based on a ribbon of hydrogen bonds along the whole of the backbone, is now applied to the comparison between monomeric bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A and dimeric bovine seminal ribonuclease. Some waters are involved in the hydrogen bonding of the ribbon, and the protein molecule plus these waters forms a pseudomolecule. The conformations of the three backbones are essentially identical and the three ribbons of hydrogen bonds are conserved with greater than 90% accuracy. We suggest that the conservation of the backbone conformations of the two molecules is a consequence of the conservation of the ribbons of hydrogen bonds. There are 16 simple mutations between the two molecules, of which 15 involve only side-chain groups with no more than one hydrogen bond to the backbone. Such mutations are not sufficient to change the ribbon of hydrogen bonds and hence there is no change in the backbone conformation. Generalizing this result, we suggest that the conservation of the ribbon is the reason why single point mutations rarely change the conformation of the backbone of the globular proteins.     

The role of local hydrogen bonds in formation of irregular regions of globular protein polypeptide chains]

An assumption is made on the substantial role of local hydrogen bonds in formation of irregular regions of globular protein polypeptide chains. The statistics of the amino acid composition of irregular regions is examined from this point of view. A statistical analysis of side group-backbone hydrogen bonds is carried out for three proteins: alpha-chy-motrypsin, lysozyme and myoglobin. It is shown that short side groups participate in formation of local hydrogen bonds more often than long ones. Conformations of amino acid residues in the first and the last positions are studied in beta-bends of 9 proteins. It is shown that over 70% of these residues are in conformations corresponding to the formation of local hydrogen bonds of three types: backbone-backbone, side groupbackbone, backbone-water molecule-backbone. Thus, the participation of the cooperative hydrogen-bonding network in stabilization of beta-bends is demonstrated.     

Contribution of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds to the conformational stability of human lysozyme(,).

In globular proteins, there are intermolecular hydrogen bonds between protein and water molecules, and between water molecules, which are bound with the proteins, in addition to intramolecular hydrogen bonds. To estimate the contribution of these hydrogen bonds to the conformational stability of a protein, the thermodynamic parameters for denaturation and the crystal structures of five Thr to Val and five Thr to Ala mutant human lysozymes were determined. The denaturation Gibbs energy (DeltaG) of Thr to Val and Thr to Ala mutant proteins was changed from 4.0 to -5.6 kJ/mol and from 1.6 to -6.3 kJ/mol, respectively, compared with that of the wild-type protein. The contribution of hydrogen bonds to the stability (DeltaDeltaG(HB)) of the Thr and other mutant human lysozymes previously reported was extracted from the observed stability changes (DeltaDeltaG) with correction for changes in hydrophobicity and side chain conformational entropy between the wild-type and mutant structures. The estimation of the DeltaDeltaG(HB) values of all mutant proteins after removal of hydrogen bonds, including protein-water hydrogen bonds, indicates a favorable contribution of the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds to the protein stability. The net contribution of an intramolecular hydrogen bond (DeltaG(HB[pp])), an intermolecular one between protein and ordered water molecules (DeltaG(HB[pw])), and an intermolecular one between ordered water molecules (DeltaG(HB[ww])) could be estimated to be 8. 5, 5.2, and 5.0 kJ/mol, respectively, for a 3 A long hydrogen bond. This result shows the different contributions to protein stability of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The entropic cost due to the introduction of a water molecule (DeltaG(H)()2(O)) could be also estimated to be about 8 kJ/mol.     

Solvent structure in vitamin B12 coenzyme crystals

Both the ordered and disordered solvent networks of vitamin B₁₂ coenzyme crystal hydrate have been generated by Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Several different potential functions have been use to model both water-water and water-solute (i.e., water-coenzyme) interactions. The results have been analysed in terms of the structural properties of the water networks, such as mean water oxygen and hydrogen positions, coordination of each water molecule, and maxima of probability density maps in all four asymmetric units of this crystal.The following results were found: (I) Within each asymmetric unit only one hydrogen bonding network was predicted although there were several hydrogen atom positions for any one solvent molecule (defined as maxima in probability density). (II) Reasonable agreement was obtained between predicted and experimental positions in the ordered solvent region, independent of the potential function used. (III) The positions of the calculated probability density maxima for the disordered channel region were different in different asymmetric units; this led to different simulated hydrogen bond networks which were not always consistent with the experimentally determined alternative (lower occupancy) sites.The results suggest that it is advisable to simulate more than one asymmetric unit if one wishes to look at disorder in the solvent regions. Probability density maps were qualitatively very useful for picturing these disordered regions. However, there were no significant differences between quantitative results predicted using either average atomic positions or maxima of the probability density distributions.Problems in quantifying agreement between experimental and predicted disordered solvent networks are discussed. The potential which included hydrogen atoms explicitly (EMPWI) seemed to give the best overall agreement, mainly because it was successful in predicting the unusually short hydrogen bonds which are found in this crystal.     

Statistical and molecular dynamics studies of buried waters in globular proteins

Buried solvent molecules are common in the core of globular proteins and contribute to structural stability. Folding necessitates the burial of polar backbone atoms in the protein core, whose hydrogen-bonding capacities should be satisfied on average. Whereas the residues in alpha-helices and beta-sheets form systematic main-chain hydrogen bonds, the residues in turns, coils and loops often contain polar atoms that fail to form intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The statistical analysis of 842 high resolution protein structures shows that well-resolved, internal water molecules preferentially reside near residues without alpha-helical and beta-sheet secondary structures. These buried waters most often form primary hydrogen bonds to main-chain atoms not involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonds, providing strong evidence that hydrating main-chain atoms is a key structural role of buried water molecules. Additionally, the average B-factor of protein atoms hydrogen-bonded to waters is smaller than that of protein atoms forming intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and the average B-factor of water molecules involved in primary hydrogen bonds with main-chain atoms is smaller than the average B-factor of water molecules involved in secondary hydrogen bonds to protein atoms that form concurrent intramolecular hydrogen bonds. To study the structural coupling between internal waters and buried polar atoms in detail we simulated the dynamics of wild-type FKBP12, in which a buried water, Wat137, forms one side-chain and multiple main-chain hydrogen bonds. We mutated E60, whose side-chain hydrogen bonds with Wat137, to Q, N, S or A, to modulate the multiplicity and geometry of hydrogen bonds to the water. Mutating E60 to a residue that is unable to form a hydrogen bond with Wat137 results in reorientation of the water molecule and leads to a structural readjustment of residues that are both near and distant to the water. We predict that the E60A mutation will result in a significantly reduced affinity of FKBP12 for its ligand FK506. The propensity of internal waters to hydrogen bond to buried polar atoms suggests that ordered water molecules may constitute fundamental structural components of proteins, particularly in regions where alpha-helical or beta-sheet secondary structure is not present.     

High-resolution study of the three-dimensional structure of horse heart metmyoglobin

The three-dimensional structure of horse heart metmyoglobin has been refined to a final R-factor of 15.5% for all observed data in the 6.0 to 1.9 A resolution range. The final model consists of 1242 non-hydrogen protein atoms, 154 water molecules and one sulfate ion. This structure has nearly ideal bonding and bond angle geometry. A Luzzati plot of the variation in R-factor with resolution yields an estimated mean co-ordinate error of 0.18 A. An extensive analysis of the pattern of hydrogen bonds formed in horse heart metmyoglobin has been completed. Over 80% of the polypeptide chain is involved in eight helical segments, of which seven are composed mainly of alpha-helical (3.6(13))-type hydrogen bonds; the remaining helix is composed entirely of 3(10) hydrogen bonds. Altogether, of 102 hydrogen bonds between main-chain atoms only six are not involved in helical structures, and four of these six occur within beta-turns. The majority of water molecules in horse heart metmyoglobin are found in solvent networks that range in size from two to 35 members. The size of water molecule networks can be rationalized on the basis of three factors: the number of hydrogen bonds to the protein surface, the presence of charged side-chain atoms, and the ability to bridge to neighboring molecules in the crystal lattice. Bridging water networks form the dominant intermolecular interactions. The backbone conformation of horse heart metmyoglobin is very similar to sperm whale metmyoglobin, with significant differences in secondary structure occurring only near residues 119 and 120, where residues 120 to 123 in sperm whale form a distorted type I reverse turn and the horse heart protein has a type II turn at residues 119 to 122. Nearly all of the hydrogen bonds between main-chain atoms (occurring mainly in helical regions) are common to both proteins, and more than half of the hydrogen bonds involving side-chain atoms observed in horse heart are also found in sperm whale metmyoglobin. Unlike sperm whale metmyoglobin, the heme iron atom in horse heart metmyoglobin is not significantly displaced from the plane of the heme group.     

Structure,dynamics, and interactions of jacalin. Insights from molecular dynamics simulations examined in conjunction with results of X‐ray studies

Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out on all the jacalin–carbohydrate complexes of known structure, models of unliganded molecules derived from the complexes and also models of relevant complexes where X‐ray structures are not available. Results of the simulations and the available crystal structures involving jacalin permit delineation of the relatively rigid and flexible regions of the molecule and the dynamical variability of the hydrogen bonds involved in stabilizing the structure. Local flexibility appears to be related to solvent accessibility. Hydrogen bonds involving side chains and water bridges involving buried water molecules appear to be important in the stabilization of loop structures. The lectin–carbohydrate interactions observed in crystal structures, the average parameters pertaining to them derived from simulations, energetic contribution of the stacking residue estimated from quantum mechanical calculations, and the scatter of the locations of carbohydrate and carbohydrate‐binding residues are consistent with the known thermodynamic parameters of jacalin–carbohydrate interactions. The simulations, along with X‐ray results, provide a fuller picture of carbohydrate binding by jacalin than provided by crystallographic analysis alone. The simulations confirm that in the unliganded structures water molecules tend to occupy the positions occupied by carbohydrate oxygens in the lectin–carbohydrate complexes. Population distributions in simulations of the free lectin, the ligands, and the complexes indicate a combination of conformational selection and induced fit. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Buried waters and internal cavities in monomeric proteins

We have analyzed the buried water molecules and internal cavities in a set of 75 high-resolution, nonhomologous, monomeric protein structures. The number of hydrogen bonds formed between each water molecule and the protein varies from 0 to 4, with 3 being most common. Nearly half of the water molecules are found in pairs or larger clusters. Approximately 90% are shown to be associated with large cavities within the protein, as determined by a novel program, PRO_ACT. The total volume of a protein's large cavities is proportional to its molecular weight and is not dependent on structural class. The largest cavities in proteins are generally elongated rather than globular. There are many more empty cavities than hydrated cavities. The likelihood of a cavity being occupied by a water molecule increases with cavity size and the number of available hydrogen bond partners, with each additional partner typically stabilizing the occupied state by 0.6 kcal/mol.     

Networks of Water Molecules in a Proflavine Deoxydinucleoside Phosphate Complex

Abstract

Using previously reported ab-initio atom-atom potentials for the interactions of a water molecule with phosphates, sugars and bases and newly computed ab-initio atom-atom potentials for the interaction between a proflavine ion and water, we have analyzed with the Monte-Carlo Metropolis method networks of water molecules hydrating a 2:2 complex of proflavine and deoxycytidylyl-3′,5′-guanosine, recently studied with X-ray crystallography. From our simulations we have i) verified the quality of our atom-atom potentials by obtaining patterns of oxygen atoms in very good agreement with the X-ray patterns for the minor groove and in reasonable agreement in the major groove, ii) predicted the water's hydrogen atoms positions and iii) preliminarily predicted the number of water molecules not reported in the X-ray study but present in the major groove. The above data, even if preliminary, and the analyses on the energetics of the water-water, water-proflavine and water-dCpG interactions indicate that very detailed accounts on the water filaments in the above crystal can be obtained optimally by merging computer and X-ray experiments.     

Large-scale networks of hydration water molecules around proteins investigated by cryogenic X-ray crystallography.

The structures at protein-water interface, i.e. the hydration structure of proteins, have been investigated by cryogenic X-ray crystal structure analyses. Hydration structures appeared far clearer at cryogenic temperature than at ambient temperature, presumably because the motions of hydration water molecules were quenched by cooling. Based on the structural models obtained, the hydration structures were systematically analyzed with respect to the amount of water molecules, the interaction modes between water molecules and proteins, the local and the global distribution of them on the surface of proteins. The standard tetrahedral interaction geometry of water in bulk retained at the interface and enabled the three-dimensional chain connection of hydrogen bonds between hydration water molecules and polar protein atoms. Large-scale networks of hydrogen bonds covering the entire surface of proteins were quite flexible to accommodate to the large-scale conformational changes of proteins and seemed to have great influences on the dynamics and function of proteins. The present observation may provide a new concept for discussing the dynamics of proteins in aqueous solution.     

A "solvated rotamer" approach to modeling water-mediated hydrogen bonds at protein-protein interfaces

Water-mediated hydrogen bonds play critical roles at protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interfaces, and the interactions formed by discrete water molecules cannot be captured using continuum solvent models. We describe a simple model for the energetics of water-mediated hydrogen bonds, and show that, together with knowledge of the positions of buried water molecules observed in X-ray crystal structures, the model improves the prediction of free-energy changes upon mutation at protein-protein interfaces, and the recovery of native amino acid sequences in protein interface design calculations. We then describe a "solvated rotamer" approach to efficiently predict the positions of water molecules, at protein-protein interfaces and in monomeric proteins, that is compatible with widely used rotamer-based side-chain packing and protein design algorithms. Finally, we examine the extent to which the predicted water molecules can be used to improve prediction of amino acid identities and protein-protein interface stability, and discuss avenues for overcoming current limitations of the approach.     

Distinguishing thermodynamic and kinetic views of the preferential hydration of protein surfaces

Motivated by a quasi-chemical view of protein hydration, we define specific hydration sites on the surface of globular proteins in terms of the local water density at each site relative to bulk water density. The corresponding kinetic definition invokes the average residence time for a water molecule at each site and the average time that site remains unoccupied. Bound waters are identified by high site occupancies using either definition. In agreement with previous molecular dynamics simulation studies, we find only a weak correlation between local water densities and water residence times for hydration sites on the surface of two globular proteins, lysozyme and staphylococcal nuclease. However, a strong correlation is obtained when both the average residence and vacancy times are appropriately taken into account. In addition, two distinct kinetic regimes are observed for hydration sites with high occupancies: long residence times relative to vacancy times for a single water molecule, and short residence times with high turnover involving multiple water molecules. We also correlate water dynamics, characterized by average occupancy and vacancy times, with local heterogeneities in surface charge and surface roughness, and show that both features are necessary to obtain sites corresponding to kinetically bound waters.     

Networks of water molecules in a proflavine deoxydinucleoside phosphate complex

Using previously reported ab-initio atom-atom potentials for the interactions of a water molecule with phosphates, sugars and bases and newly computed ab-initio atom-atom potentials for the interaction between a proflavine ion and water, we have analyzed with the Monte-Carlo Metropolis method networks of water molecules hydrating a 2:2 complex of proflavine and deoxycytidylyl-3',5'-guanosine, recently studied with X-ray crystallography. From our simulations we have i) verified the quality of our atom-atom potentials by obtaining patterns of oxygen atoms in very good agreement with the X-ray patterns for the minor groove and in reasonable agreement in the major groove, ii) predicted the water's hydrogen atoms positions and iii) preliminarily predicted the number of water molecules not reported in the X-ray study but present in the major groove. The above data, even if preliminary, and the analyses on the energetics of the water-water, water-proflavine and water-dCpG interactions indicate that very detailed accounts on the water filaments in the above crystal can be obtained optimally by merging computer and X-ray experiments.     

Crystal structure of beta-cyclodextrin-benzoic acid inclusion complex

The inclusion complex of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) with benzoic acid (BA) has been characterized crystallographically. Two beta-CDs cocrystallize with two BAs, 0.7 ethanol and 20.65 water molecules [2(C(6)H(10)O(5))(7).2(C(7)H(6)O(2)).0.7(C(2)H(6)O).20.65H(2)O] in the triclinic space group P1 with unit cell constants: a=15.210(1), b=15.678(1), c=15.687(1) A, alpha=89.13(1), beta=74.64(1), gamma=76.40(1) degrees. The anisotropic refinement of 1840 atomic parameters against 16,201 X-ray diffraction data converged at R=0.078. In the crystal lattice, beta-CD forms dimers stabilized by direct O-2(m)_1/O-3(m)_1...O-2(n)_2/O-3(n)_2 hydrogen bonds (intradimer) and by indirect O-6(m)_1...,O-6(n)_2 hydrogen bonds with one or two bridging water molecules joined in between (interdimer). These dimers are stacked like coins in a roll constructing endless channels where the guest molecules are included. The BA molecules protrude with their COOH groups at the beta-CD O-6-sides and are maintained in positions by hydrogen bonding to the surrounding O-6-H groups and water molecules. Water molecules (20.65) are distributed over 30 positions in the interstices between beta-CD molecules, except the water sites W-1, W-2 that are located in the channel of the beta-CD dimer. Water site W-2 is hydrogen bonded to the disordered ethanol molecule (occupancy 0.7).     

Water structure in [Phe4 Val6] antamanide X 12H2O crystallized from dioxane

Crystals of [Phe4 Val6] antamanide (cyclic [ValProProPhePhe]2) grown from dioxane/H2O, with space group P21212 and cell parameters a = 15.099(4), b = 22.008(5) and c = 11.024(3) A, are almost identical to crystals grown from H2O/acetone, the structure of which was determined a number of years ago. Per peptide molecule there are the equivalent of 12 water molecules occupying 16 sites in both crystals; however, in the new investigation a number of water molecules present at one-half occupancy have been found in different positions than in the earlier analysis. The interpretation of the hydrogen bonding between peptide/water and between water/water is much more satisfactory. Pentagonal water assemblies are present in the solvent channel. There is a distinct indication of the occurrence of a bifurcated bond between two water molecules, as well as the presence of three-center hydrogen bonds joining three water molecules. This may be the first experimental example of a bifurcated bond between two water molecules.     

A comparative analysis of interhelical polar interactions of various alpha-helix packings in proteins

One hundred twenty globular proteins and forty five "leucine zippers" representing all types of packing of long alpha-helices were studied in terms of revealing and comparing their interhelical hydrogen and salt bonds. Many previous studies of "leucine zippers" and their analogs showed that interhelical interactions between polar groups could impart specificity to packing of an alpha-helix. The current comparison demonstrated that basically, globular proteins and "leucine zippers" had similar interhelical polar interactions with presumably a similar structural role. However, depending on packing of alpha-helices, the networks of interhelical polar bonds were shown to be distinct and determined both by physicochemical properties of involved amino acid residues and by the relative positions of hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues on the surface of alpha-helices. The revealed distinction is probably crucial for selecting the unique packing of an alpha-helix.     

Interaction of nucleic acid bases with water molecules and formation of mismatched nucleotide pairs

The possibility of the inclusion of water molecules in the formation of mismatched nucleotide pairs was considered in relation to the mechanisms of point errors in template directed biosynthesis. Calculations of the intermolecular interaction energy for systems containing two bases and one water molecule were carried out by the method of atom-atom potential functions. There exist energy minima for each base pair, corresponding to a single N--H...O or N--H...N H-bond between the bases and H-bonding of the water molecule with both bases. The relative positions of glycosyl bonds in some of these minima are closer to those for Watson--Crick pairs, than the positions of minima for these pairs without water. For other minima, the H-bond formation between the water molecule and the two bases additionally stabilizes the relative base position in wobble-pairs with two H-bonds between the bases. The base and water positions in energy minima are compared with the positions in some pairs proposed on the basis of NMR and X-ray data for double helical oligonucleotides.