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Protein-water interactions studied by molecular dynamics simulations

Persson, Filip LU (2018)
Abstract
Most proteins have evolved to function optimally in aqueous environments, and the interactions between protein and water therefore play a fundamental role in the stability, dynamics, and function of proteins. Although we understand many details of water, we understand much less about the protein-water interface. In this thesis we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to cast light on many structural and dynamical properties of protein hydration for which a detailed picture is lacking.

We show that the 1 ms MD simulation of the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) by Shaw \textsl{et al.} (Science 2010, 330, 341) reproduces the mean survival times from magnetic relaxation dispersion (MRD) experiments by computing the... (More)
Most proteins have evolved to function optimally in aqueous environments, and the interactions between protein and water therefore play a fundamental role in the stability, dynamics, and function of proteins. Although we understand many details of water, we understand much less about the protein-water interface. In this thesis we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to cast light on many structural and dynamical properties of protein hydration for which a detailed picture is lacking.

We show that the 1 ms MD simulation of the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) by Shaw \textsl{et al.} (Science 2010, 330, 341) reproduces the mean survival times from magnetic relaxation dispersion (MRD) experiments by computing the relevant survival correlation function that is probed by these experiments. The simulation validates several assumptions in the model used to interpret MRD data, and reveals a possible mechanism for the water-exchange; water molecules gain access to the internal sites by a transient aqueduct mechanism, migrating as single-file water chains through transient tunnels or pores. The same simulation was also used to reveal a possible mechanism for hydrogen exchange of backbone amides, involving short-lived locally distorted conformations of the protein whereby the amide is presolvated by two water molecules before the catalyst can approach the amide through a water wire.

We perform MD simulations of several small globular proteins in dilute aqueous solution to spatially resolve protein hydration. Defining mono-molecular thick hydration shells as a metric from the protein surface, we compute structural and dynamical properties of water in these shells and show that the protein-induced water perturbation is short ranged, essentially only affecting water molecules in the first hydration shell, thus validating the model used to interpret MRD data. Compared to the bulk, the first shell is 6 \% more dense and 25-30 \% less compressible. The shell-averaged rotation of water molecules in the first hydration shell is retarded by a factor 4-5 compared to bulk, and the contributions to this retardation can be resolved based on a universal confinement index. The dynamical heterogeneity in the first shell is a result of water molecules rotating by different mechanisms on a spectrum between two extremes: a collective bulk-like mechanism and a protein-coupled mechanism where water molecules in confined sites are orientationally restricted and require an exchange event. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Lindorff-Larsen, Kresten, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
MD simulations, NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), MRD, water dynamics, protein dynamics, protein hydration, Amide hydrogen exchange, Internal water, compressibility
pages
408 pages
publisher
Department of Chemistry, Lund University
defense location
lecture hall KC:G, Kemicentrum, Naturvetarvägen 14, Lund University, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund
defense date
2018-03-22 10:15:00
ISBN
978-91-7422-573-0
978-91-7422-574-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ad60c457-9940-40b3-b2d3-186153b9204b
date added to LUP
2018-02-08 09:50:11
date last changed
2021-11-25 15:05:26
@phdthesis{ad60c457-9940-40b3-b2d3-186153b9204b,
  abstract     = {{Most proteins have evolved to function optimally in aqueous environments, and the interactions between protein and water therefore play a fundamental role in the stability, dynamics, and function of proteins. Although we understand many details of water, we understand much less about the protein-water interface. In this thesis we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to cast light on many structural and dynamical properties of protein hydration for which a detailed picture is lacking.<br/><br/>We show that the 1 ms MD simulation of the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) by Shaw \textsl{et al.} (Science 2010, 330, 341) reproduces the mean survival times from magnetic relaxation dispersion (MRD) experiments by computing the relevant survival correlation function that is probed by these experiments. The simulation validates several assumptions in the model used to interpret MRD data, and reveals a possible mechanism for the water-exchange; water molecules gain access to the internal sites by a transient aqueduct mechanism, migrating as single-file water chains through transient tunnels or pores. The same simulation was also used to reveal a possible mechanism for hydrogen exchange of backbone amides, involving short-lived locally distorted conformations of the protein whereby the amide is presolvated by two water molecules before the catalyst can approach the amide through a water wire.<br/><br/>We perform MD simulations of several small globular proteins in dilute aqueous solution to spatially resolve protein hydration.  Defining mono-molecular thick hydration shells as a metric from the protein surface, we compute structural and dynamical properties of water in these shells and show that the protein-induced water perturbation is short ranged, essentially only affecting water molecules in the first hydration shell, thus validating the model used to interpret MRD data. Compared to the bulk, the first shell is 6 \% more dense and 25-30 \% less compressible. The shell-averaged rotation of water molecules in the first hydration shell is retarded by a factor 4-5 compared to bulk, and the  contributions to this retardation can be resolved based on a universal confinement index. The dynamical heterogeneity in the first shell is a result of water molecules rotating by different mechanisms on a spectrum between two extremes: a collective bulk-like mechanism and a protein-coupled mechanism where water molecules in confined sites are orientationally restricted and require an exchange event.}},
  author       = {{Persson, Filip}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7422-573-0}},
  keywords     = {{MD simulations; NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance); MRD; water dynamics; protein dynamics; protein hydration; Amide hydrogen exchange; Internal water; compressibility}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Chemistry, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Protein-water interactions studied by molecular dynamics simulations}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/39053586/FP_thesis_kappa.pdf}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}