Three-dimensional structure and dynamics of a de novo designed, amphiphilic, metallo-porphyrin-binding protein maquette at soft interfaces by molecular dynamics simulations

J Phys Chem B. 2007 Feb 22;111(7):1823-33. doi: 10.1021/jp0666378. Epub 2007 Jan 27.

Abstract

The three-dimensional structure and dynamics of de novo designed, amphiphilic four-helix bundle peptides (or "maquettes"), capable of binding metallo-porphyrin cofactors at selected locations along the length of the core of the bundle, are investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. The rapid evolution of the initial design to stable three-dimensional structures in the absence (apo-form) and presence (holo-form) of bound cofactors is described for the maquettes at two different soft interfaces between polar and nonpolar media. This comparison of the apo- versus holo-forms allows the investigation of the effects of cofactor incorporation on the structure of the four-helix bundle. The simulation results are in qualitative agreement with available experimental data describing the structures at lower resolution and limited dimension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Metalloporphyrins / chemistry*
  • Octanes / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Solvents / chemistry*
  • Time Factors
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Metalloporphyrins
  • Octanes
  • Peptides
  • Proteins
  • Solvents
  • Water
  • octane