Connecting protein conformational dynamics with catalytic function as illustrated in dihydrofolate reductase

Biochemistry. 2013 Mar 26;52(12):2036-49. doi: 10.1021/bi301559q. Epub 2013 Jan 16.

Abstract

Combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the M20 loop conformational dynamics of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is severely restricted at the transition state of the hydride transfer as a result of the M42W/G121V double mutation. Consequently, the double-mutant enzyme has a reduced entropy of activation, i.e., increased entropic barrier, and altered temperature dependence of kinetic isotope effects in comparison with those of wild-type DHFR. Interestingly, in both wild-type DHFR and the double mutant, the average donor-acceptor distances are essentially the same in the Michaelis complex state (~3.5 Å) and the transition state (2.7 Å). It was found that an additional hydrogen bond is formed to stabilize the M20 loop in the closed conformation in the M42W/G121V double mutant. The computational results reflect a similar aim designed to knock out precisely the dynamic flexibility of the M20 loop in a different double mutant, N23PP/S148A.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Mutation
  • Protein Conformation
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / chemistry*
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase