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Molecular dynamics simulations of peptides containing an unnatural amino acid: Dimerization, folding, and protein binding

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posted on 2024-11-14, 14:45 authored by Haibo YuHaibo Yu, Xavier Daura, Wilfred van Gunsteren
We have performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the dimerization, folding, and binding to a protein of peptides containing an unnatural amino acid. NMR studies have shown that the substitution of one residue in a tripeptide β-strand by the unnatural amino acid Hao (5-HO2CCONH-2-MeO-C6H3-CO-NHNH2) modifies the conformational flexibility of the β-strand and the hydrogen-bonding properties of its two edges: The number of hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors increases at one edge, whereas at the other, they are sterically hindered. In simulations in chloroform, the Hao-containing peptide 9 (i-PrCO-Phe-Hao-Val-NHBu) forms a β-sheet–like hydrogen-bonded dimer, in good agreement with the available experimental data. Addition of methanol to the solution induces instability of this β-sheet, as confirmed by the experiments. MD simulations also reproduce the folding of the synthetic peptide 1a (i-PrCO-Hao-Ut-Phe-Ile-Leu-NHMe) into a β-hairpin–like structure in chloroform. Finally, the Hao-containing peptide, Ac-Ala-Hao-Ala-NHMe, is shown to form a stable complex with the Ras analogue, Rap1 A, in water at room temperature. Together with the available experimental data, these simulation studies indicate that Hao-containing peptides may serve as inhibitors of β-sheet interactions between proteins.

History

Citation

Yu, H., Daura, X. & van Gunsteren, W. (2004). Molecular dynamics simulations of peptides containing an unnatural amino acid: Dimerization, folding, and protein binding. Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics, 54 (1), 116-127.

Journal title

Proteins: Structure, Function and Genetics

Volume

54

Issue

1

Pagination

116-127

Language

English

RIS ID

38779

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