1
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Lama B, Sarma M. Ultrafast Hot Exciton Nonadiabatic Excited-State Dynamics in Green Fluorescent Protein Chromophore Analogue. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6786-6796. [PMID: 38959128 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c02733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The ultrafast high-energy nonadiabatic excited-state dynamics of the benzylidenedimethylimidazolinone chromophore dimer has been investigated using an electronic structure method coupled with on-the-fly quantitative wave function analysis to gain insight into the photophysics of hot excitons in biological systems. The dynamical simulation provides a rationalization of the behavior of the exciton in a dimer after the photoabsorption of light to higher-energy states. The results suggest that hot exciton localization within the manifold of excited states is caused by the hindrance of torsional rotation due to imidazolinone (I) or phenolate (P) bonds i.e., ΦI- or ΦP-dihedral rotation, in the monomeric units of a dimer. This hindrance arises due to weak π-π stacking interaction in the dimer, resulting in an energetically uphill excited-state barrier for ΦI- and ΦP-twisted rotation, impeding the isomerization process in the chromophore. Thus, this study highlights the potential impact of the weak π-π interaction in regulating the photodynamics of the green fluorescent protein chromophore derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bittu Lama
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Manabendra Sarma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
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2
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Salvadori G, Mazzeo P, Accomasso D, Cupellini L, Mennucci B. Deciphering Photoreceptors Through Atomistic Modeling from Light Absorption to Conformational Response. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168358. [PMID: 37944793 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the successes and challenges of the atomistic modeling of photoreceptors. Throughout our presentation, we integrate explanations of the primary methodological approaches, ranging from quantum mechanical descriptions to classical enhanced sampling methods, all while providing illustrative examples of their practical application to specific systems. To enhance the effectiveness of our analysis, our primary focus has been directed towards the examination of applications across three distinct photoreceptors. These include an example of Blue Light-Using Flavin (BLUF) domains, a bacteriophytochrome, and the orange carotenoid protein (OCP) employed by cyanobacteria for photoprotection. Particular emphasis will be placed on the pivotal role played by the protein matrix in fine-tuning the initial photochemical event within the embedded chromophore. Furthermore, we will investigate how this localized perturbation initiates a cascade of events propagating from the binding pocket throughout the entire protein structure, thanks to the intricate network of interactions between the chromophore and the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Salvadori
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Mazzeo
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide Accomasso
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cupellini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Benedetta Mennucci
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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3
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Revisiting the inhibitory potential of protein kinase inhibitors against NEK7 protein via comprehensive computational investigations. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4304. [PMID: 36922575 PMCID: PMC10017757 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31499-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The NEK7 protein is required for spindle formation, cell division, and the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome receptor. The aberrant expression of NEK7 has been implicated to the growth of metastasis and severe inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and gout. An emergent target for the development of anti-cancer drugs is NEK7. In this context, the PubChem database was used to retrieve the 675 compound library and FDA-approved protein kinase inhibitors, which were then thoroughly examined via in-silico experiments. Computational studies investigated the binding orientation, electronic, and thermodynamic characteristics of drug candidates related to target protein. Drugs were investigated using density functional theory and molecular docking to find binding interactions with NEK7. Molecular dynamic simulations assessed interactions and stability of protein-ligand complex. DFT analyses showed that selected compounds maintained a significant amount of chemical reactivity in both liquid and gaseous states. Alectinib, Crizotinib, and compound 146476703 all displayed promising molecular interactions, according to molecular docking studies, with docking scores of - 32.76, - 30.54, and - 34.34 kJ/mol, respectively. Additionally, MD simulations determined the stability and dynamic characteristics of the complex over a 200 ns production run. The current study's findings indicate that the drugs Alectinib, Crizotinib, and compound 146476703 can successfully inhibit the overexpression of the NEK7 protein. To discover more potent drugs against NEK7, it is recommended to synthesize the derivatives of Alectinib and Crizotinib and carry out additional in-vitro and in-vivo studies at the molecular level.
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4
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Grigorenko B, Domratcheva T, Nemukhin A. QM/MM Modeling of the Flavin Functionalization in the RutA Monooxygenase. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28052405. [PMID: 36903648 PMCID: PMC10005588 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxygenase activity of the flavin-dependent enzyme RutA is commonly associated with the formation of flavin-oxygen adducts in the enzyme active site. We report the results of quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) modeling of possible reaction pathways initiated by various triplet state complexes of the molecular oxygen with the reduced flavin mononucleotide (FMN) formed in the protein cavities. According to the calculation results, these triplet-state flavin-oxygen complexes can be located at both re-side and si-side of the isoalloxazine ring of flavin. In both cases, the dioxygen moiety is activated by electron transfer from FMN, stimulating the attack of the arising reactive oxygen species at the C4a, N5, C6, and C8 positions in the isoalloxazine ring after the switch to the singlet state potential energy surface. The reaction pathways lead to the C(4a)-peroxide, N(5)-oxide, or C(6)-hydroperoxide covalent adducts or directly to the oxidized flavin, depending on the initial position of the oxygen molecule in the protein cavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bella Grigorenko
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Tatiana Domratcheva
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Alexander Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Correspondence:
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5
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Perrella F, Petrone A, Rega N. Understanding Charge Dynamics in Dense Electronic Manifolds in Complex Environments. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:626-639. [PMID: 36602443 PMCID: PMC9878732 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Photoinduced charge transfer (CT) excited states and their relaxation mechanisms can be highly interdependent on the environment effects and the consequent changes in the electronic density. Providing a molecular interpretation of the ultrafast (subpicosecond) interplay between initial photoexcited states in such dense electronic manifolds in condensed phase is crucial for improving and understanding such phenomena. Real-time time-dependent density functional theory is here the method of choice to observe the charge density, explicitly propagated in an ultrafast time domain, along with all time-dependent properties that can be easily extracted from it. A designed protocol of analysis for real-time electronic dynamics to be applied to time evolving electronic density related properties to characterize both in time and in space CT dynamics in complex systems is here introduced and validated, proposing easy to be read cross-correlation maps. As case studies to test such tools, we present the photoinduced charge-transfer electronic dynamics of 5-benzyluracil, a mimic of nucleic acid/protein interactions, and the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer electronic dynamics in water solution of [Ru(dcbpy)2(NCS)2]4-, dcbpy = (4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine), or "N34-", a dye sensitizer for solar cells. Electrostatic and explicit ab initio treatment of solvent molecules have been compared in the latter case, revealing the importance of the accurate modeling of mutual solute-solvent polarization on CT kinetics. We observed that explicit quantum mechanical treatment of solvent slowed down the charge carriers mobilities with respect to the gas-phase. When all water molecules were modeled instead as simpler embedded point charges, the electronic dynamics appeared enhanced, with a reduced hole-electron distance and higher mean velocities due to the close fixed charges and an artificially increased polarization effect. Such analysis tools and the presented case studies can help to unveil the influence of the electronic manifold, as well as of the finite temperature-induced structural distortions and the environment on the ultrafast charge motions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulvio Perrella
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli
Federico II, Complesso Universitario di
M.S. Angelo, via Cintia 21, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessio Petrone
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli
Federico II, Complesso Universitario di
M.S. Angelo, via Cintia 21, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
- Scuola
Superiore Meridionale, Largo San Marcellino 10, I-80138, Napoli, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare, sezione di Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo ed. 6, via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italia
| | - Nadia Rega
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli
Federico II, Complesso Universitario di
M.S. Angelo, via Cintia 21, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
- Scuola
Superiore Meridionale, Largo San Marcellino 10, I-80138, Napoli, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare, sezione di Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo ed. 6, via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italia
- CRIB,
Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca sui Biomateriali, Piazzale Tecchio 80, I-80125, Napoli, Italy
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6
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Modeling Light-Induced Chromophore Hydration in the Reversibly Photoswitchable Fluorescent Protein Dreiklang. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020505. [PMID: 36677562 PMCID: PMC9863226 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
We report the results of a computational study of the mechanism of the light-induced chemical reaction of chromophore hydration in the fluorescent protein Dreiklang, responsible for its switching from the fluorescent ON-state to the dark OFF-state. We explore the relief of the charge-transfer excited-state potential energy surface in the ON-state to locate minimum energy conical intersection points with the ground-state energy surface. Simulations of the further evolution of model systems allow us to characterize the ground-state reaction intermediate tentatively suggested in the femtosecond studies of the light-induced dynamics in Dreiklang and finally to arrive at the reaction product. The obtained results clarify the details of the photoswitching mechanism in Dreiklang, which is governed by the chemical modification of its chromophore.
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7
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Lama B, Sarma M. Unraveling the Mechanistic Pathway for the Dual Fluorescence in Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) Chromophore Analogue: A Detailed Theoretical Investigation. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:9930-9944. [PMID: 36354358 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c03842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The photophysical properties of the para-sulfonamide (p-TsABDI) analogue of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore with both proton donating and accepting sites have been exploited in polar solvents to understand the origin of the unusual dual fluorescence nature of the chromophore. In the polar solvents, the compound undergoes structural rearrangement upon photoexcitation, leading to the ultrafast excited-state intermolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) phenomenon at the S1 surface. In this work, we employed both the static electronic structure calculations and on-the-fly molecular dynamics simulation to unravel the underlying reason for this peculiar behavior of the p-TsABDI analogue in polar solvents. To represent this adequately and provide extensive information on the ESIPT mechanism mediated by the solvent molecules, we considered explicit solvent molecules using the integral equation formalism variant of polarizable continuum (IEFPCM) model. From the static calculation analysis, we can conclude that the dual emissive behavior of the compound is ascribed to the proton transfer (PT) phenomena in the excited-state. However, based on the static calculation exclusively, it is hard to ascertain the mechanistic pathway of the PT phenomena. Hence, to investigate the dynamics and reaction mechanism for the ESIPT process, we performed the on-the-fly dynamics simulation for p-TsABDI in solvent clusters. Dynamics simulation results reveal that, based on the time lag between all the proton transfer processes, the ESIPT mechanism occurs in a stepwise manner from the benzylidene moiety of the chromophore to its imidazolinone moiety. However, the nonexistence of crossings between the S1- and S0-states confirms the PT characteristics of the reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bittu Lama
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam781039, India
| | - Manabendra Sarma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam781039, India
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8
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Li G, Hu Y, Pei S, Meng J, Wang J, Wang J, Yue S, Wang Z, Wang S, Liu X, Weng Y, Peng X, Zhao Q. Excited-state dynamics of all-trans protonated retinal Schiff base in CRABPII-based rhodopsin mimics. Biophys J 2022; 121:4109-4118. [PMID: 36181266 PMCID: PMC9675042 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The rhodopsin mimic is a chemically synthetized complex with retinyl Schiff base (RSB) formed between protein and the retinal chromophore that can mimic the natural rhodopsin-like protein. The artificial rhodopsin mimic is more stable and designable than the natural protein and hence has wider uses in photon detection devices. The mimic structure RSB, like the case in the actual rhodopsin-like protein, undergoes isomerization and protonation throughout the photoreaction process. As a result, understanding the dynamics of the RSB in the photoreaction process is critical. In this study, the ultrafast transient absorption spectra of three mutants of the cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II-based rhodopsin mimic at acidic environment were recorded, from which the related excited-state dynamics of the all-trans protonated RSB (AT-PRSB) were investigated. The transient fluorescence spectra measurements are used to validate some of the dynamic features. We find that the excited-state dynamics of AT-PRSB in three mutants share a similar pattern that differs significantly from the dynamics of 15-cis PRSB of the rhodopsin mimic in neutral solution. By comparing the dynamics across the three mutants, we discovered that the aromatic residues near the β-ionone ring structure of the retinal may help stabilize the AT-PRSB and hence slow down its isomerization rate. The experimental results provide implications on designing a rhodopsin-like protein with significant infrared fluorescence, which can be particularly useful in the applications in biosensing or bioimaging in deeper tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoshang Li
- Center for Quantum Technology Research, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Quantum Architecture and Measurements (MOE), School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yongnan Hu
- Center for Quantum Technology Research, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Quantum Architecture and Measurements (MOE), School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Sizhu Pei
- Center for Quantum Technology Research, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Quantum Architecture and Measurements (MOE), School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajia Meng
- Center for Quantum Technology Research, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Quantum Architecture and Measurements (MOE), School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayu Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ju Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, Department of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Yue
- National Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuan Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shufeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, Department of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinfeng Liu
- National Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxiang Weng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xubiao Peng
- Center for Quantum Technology Research, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Quantum Architecture and Measurements (MOE), School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Qing Zhao
- Center for Quantum Technology Research, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Quantum Architecture and Measurements (MOE), School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, Beijing, China.
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9
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Rydzewski J, Walczewska-Szewc K, Czach S, Nowak W, Kuczera K. Enhancing the Inhomogeneous Photodynamics of Canonical Bacteriophytochrome. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:2647-2657. [PMID: 35357137 PMCID: PMC9014414 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The ability of phytochromes
to act as photoswitches in plants and
microorganisms depends on interactions between a bilin-like chromophore
and a host protein. The interconversion occurs between the spectrally
distinct red (Pr) and far-red (Pfr) conformers. This conformational
change is triggered by the photoisomerization of the chromophore D-ring
pyrrole. In this study, as a representative example of a phytochrome-bilin
system, we consider biliverdin IXα (BV) bound to bacteriophytochrome
(BphP) from Deinococcus radiodurans. In the absence
of light, we use an enhanced sampling molecular dynamics (MD) method
to overcome the photoisomerization energy barrier. We find that the
calculated free energy (FE) barriers between essential metastable
states agree with spectroscopic results. We show that the enhanced
dynamics of the BV chromophore in BphP contributes to triggering nanometer-scale
conformational movements that propagate by two experimentally determined
signal transduction pathways. Most importantly, we describe how the
metastable states enable a thermal transition known as the dark reversion
between Pfr and Pr, through a previously unknown intermediate state
of Pfr. We present the heterogeneity of temperature-dependent Pfr
states at the atomistic level. This work paves a way toward understanding
the complete mechanism of the photoisomerization of a bilin-like chromophore
in phytochromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Rydzewski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Walczewska-Szewc
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Sylwia Czach
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Wieslaw Nowak
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kuczera
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
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10
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Khrenova MG, Mulashkin FD, Nemukhin AV. Modeling Spectral Tuning in Red Fluorescent Proteins Using the Dipole Moment Variation upon Excitation. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:5125-5132. [PMID: 34601882 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We describe a model for spectral tuning in red fluorescent proteins (RFPs) based on the relation between an electronic structure descriptor, the dipole moment variation upon excitation (DMV), and the excitation energy of a protein. This approach aims to overcome the problem of accurate prediction of excitation energies in RFPs, which span a very narrow window of band maxima. The latter roughly corresponds to the energy range of 0.1 eV, which is comparable with typical errors in calculations of the excitation energy by conventional quantum chemistry methods. In this work, we demonstrate a strong quantitative correlation between DMV values, obtained computationally with modest efforts, and excitation energies ΔEex at the experimental excitation band maxima for a series of RFPs with bands between 570 and 605 nm. Protein models are constructed by motifs of the relevant crystal structures, and atomic coordinates are optimized in quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations with QM-subsystems composed of large chromophore-containing regions. DMV values are evaluated with the electron density computed at the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) level using several functionals and basis sets. We show that the results obtained with the CAM-B3LYP, BHHLYP, and M06-2X functionals demonstrate favorable correlations between DMV and ΔEex with the mean absolute error less than 0.01 eV. Taking into account the solid theoretical grounds of the relation between the DMV and the excitation energy in fluorescent proteins, the described modeling strategy presents a rational tool for spectral tuning in these efficient markers for in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Khrenova
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation.,Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology", Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russian Federation
| | - Fedor D Mulashkin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander V Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation.,Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russian Federation
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11
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Beaujean P, Champagne B, Grimme S, de Wergifosse M. All-Atom Quantum Mechanical Calculation of the Second-Harmonic Generation of Fluorescent Proteins. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:9684-9690. [PMID: 34590850 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c02911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are biotags of choice for second-harmonic imaging microscopy (SHIM). Because of their large size, computing their second-harmonic generation (SHG) response represents a great challenge for quantum chemistry. In this contribution, we propose a new all-atom quantum mechanics methodology to compute SHG of large systems. This is now possible because of two recent implementations: the tight-binding GFN2-xTB method to optimize geometries and a related version of the simplified time-dependent density functional theory (sTD-DFT-xTB) to evaluate quadratic response functions. In addition, a new dual-threshold configuration selection scheme is introduced to reduce the computational costs while retaining overall similar accuracy. This methodology was tested to evaluate the SHG of the proteins iLOV and bacteriorhodopsin (bR). In the case of bR, quantitative agreement with respect to experiment was reached for the out-of-resonance low-energy part of the βHRS frequency dispersion. This work paves the way toward an accurate prediction of the SHG of large structures-a requirement for the design of new and improved SHIM biotags.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Beaujean
- Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry, Unit of Theoretical and Structural Physical Chemistry, Namur Institute of Structured Matter, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Benoît Champagne
- Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry, Unit of Theoretical and Structural Physical Chemistry, Namur Institute of Structured Matter, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Stefan Grimme
- Mulliken Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Universität Bonn, Berings. 4, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc de Wergifosse
- Mulliken Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Universität Bonn, Berings. 4, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
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12
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Macaluso V, Hashem S, Nottoli M, Lipparini F, Cupellini L, Mennucci B. Ultrafast Transient Infrared Spectroscopy of Photoreceptors with Polarizable QM/MM Dynamics. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:10282-10292. [PMID: 34476939 PMCID: PMC8450903 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c05753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Ultrafast transient infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy is widely used to measure the excitation-induced structural changes of protein-bound chromophores. Here, we design a novel and general strategy to compute TRIR spectra of photoreceptors by combining μs-long MM molecular dynamics with ps-long QM/AMOEBA Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) trajectories for both ground and excited electronic states. As a proof of concept, the strategy is here applied to AppA, a blue-light-utilizing flavin (BLUF) protein, found in bacteria. We first analyzed the short-time evolution of the embedded flavin upon excitation revealing that its dynamic Stokes shift is ultrafast and mainly driven by the internal reorganization of the chromophore. A different normal-mode representation was needed to describe ground- and excited-state IR spectra. In this way, we could assign all of the bands observed in the measured transient spectrum. In particular, we could characterize the flavin isoalloxazine-ring region of the spectrum, for which a full and clear description was missing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michele Nottoli
- Dipartimento di Chimica e
Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Lipparini
- Dipartimento di Chimica e
Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cupellini
- Dipartimento di Chimica e
Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Benedetta Mennucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica e
Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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13
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Auhim HS, Grigorenko BL, Harris TK, Aksakal OE, Polyakov IV, Berry C, Gomes GDP, Alabugin IV, Rizkallah PJ, Nemukhin AV, Jones DD. Stalling chromophore synthesis of the fluorescent protein Venus reveals the molecular basis of the final oxidation step. Chem Sci 2021; 12:7735-7745. [PMID: 34168826 PMCID: PMC8188506 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06693a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) have revolutionised the life sciences, but the mechanism of chromophore maturation is still not fully understood. Here we show that incorporation of a photo-responsive non-canonical amino acid within the chromophore stalls maturation of Venus, a yellow FP, at an intermediate stage; a crystal structure indicates the presence of O2 located above a dehydrated enolate form of the imidazolone ring, close to the strictly conserved Gly67 that occupies a twisted conformation. His148 adopts an "open" conformation so forming a channel that allows O2 access to the immature chromophore. Absorbance spectroscopy supported by QM/MM simulations suggests that the first oxidation step involves formation of a hydroperoxyl intermediate in conjunction with dehydrogenation of the methylene bridge. A fully conjugated mature chromophore is formed through release of H2O2, both in vitro and in vivo. The possibility of interrupting and photochemically restarting chromophore maturation and the mechanistic insights open up new approaches for engineering optically controlled fluorescent proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Husam Sabah Auhim
- School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University Sir Martin Evans Building Cardiff CF10 3AX UK +44 (0)29 2087 4290
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad Baghdad Iraq
| | - Bella L Grigorenko
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University Leninskie Gory, 1-3 Moscow Russian Federation +7 495 939 1096
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russian Federation
| | - Tessa K Harris
- School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University Sir Martin Evans Building Cardiff CF10 3AX UK +44 (0)29 2087 4290
| | - Ozan E Aksakal
- School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University Sir Martin Evans Building Cardiff CF10 3AX UK +44 (0)29 2087 4290
| | - Igor V Polyakov
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University Leninskie Gory, 1-3 Moscow Russian Federation +7 495 939 1096
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russian Federation
| | - Colin Berry
- School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University Sir Martin Evans Building Cardiff CF10 3AX UK +44 (0)29 2087 4290
| | - Gabriel Dos Passos Gomes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto 80 St. George Street Toronto ON M5S 3H6 Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto 214 College St. Toronto Ontario M5T 3A1 Canada
| | - Igor V Alabugin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University Tallahassee Fl 32306 USA +1 850 644 5795
| | | | - Alexander V Nemukhin
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University Leninskie Gory, 1-3 Moscow Russian Federation +7 495 939 1096
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russian Federation
| | - D Dafydd Jones
- School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University Sir Martin Evans Building Cardiff CF10 3AX UK +44 (0)29 2087 4290
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14
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Remeeva A, Nazarenko VV, Kovalev K, Goncharov IM, Yudenko A, Astashkin R, Gordeliy V, Gushchin I. Insights into the mechanisms of light-oxygen-voltage domain color tuning from a set of high-resolution X-ray structures. Proteins 2021; 89:1005-1016. [PMID: 33774867 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) domains are widespread photosensory modules that can be used in fluorescence microscopy, optogenetics and controlled production of reactive oxygen species. All of the currently known LOV domains have absorption maxima in the range of ~440 to ~450 nm, and it is not clear whether they can be shifted significantly using mutations. Here, we have generated a panel of LOV domain variants by mutating the key chromophore-proximal glutamine aminoacid of a thermostable flavin based fluorescent protein CagFbFP (Gln148) to asparagine, aspartate, glutamate, histidine, lysine and arginine. Absorption spectra of all of the mutants are blue-shifted, with the maximal shift of 8 nm observed for the Q148H variant. While CagFbFP and its Q148N/D/E variants are not sensitive to pH, Q148H/K/R reveal a moderate red shift induced byacidic pH. To gain further insight, we determined high resolution crystal structures of all of the mutants studied at the resolutions from 1.07 Å for Q148D to 1.63 Å for Q148R. Whereas in some of the variants, the aminoacid 148 remains in the vicinity of the flavin, in Q148K, Q148R and partially Q148D, the C-terminus of the protein unlatches and the side chain of the residue 148 is reoriented away from the chromophore. Our results explain the absence of color shifts from replacing Gln148 with charged aminoacids and pave the way for rational design of color-shifted flavin based fluorescent proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Remeeva
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Vera V Nazarenko
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Kirill Kovalev
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Institut de Biologie Structurale J.-P. Ebel, Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, Grenoble, France
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- JuStruct: Jülich Center for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Crystallography, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ivan M Goncharov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Anna Yudenko
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Roman Astashkin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Institut de Biologie Structurale J.-P. Ebel, Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, Grenoble, France
| | - Valentin Gordeliy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Institut de Biologie Structurale J.-P. Ebel, Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, Grenoble, France
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- JuStruct: Jülich Center for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Ivan Gushchin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
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15
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Rathnachalam S, Menger MFS, Faraji S. Influence of the Environment on Shaping the Absorption of Monomeric Infrared Fluorescent Proteins. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:2231-2240. [PMID: 33626280 PMCID: PMC7957859 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Infrared fluorescent proteins (iRFPs) are potential candidates for deep-tissue in vivo imaging. Here, we provide molecular-level insights into the role of the protein environment in the structural stability of the chromophore within the protein binding pocket through the flexible hydrogen-bonding network using molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, we present systematic excited-state analysis to characterize the nature of the first two excited states and the role of the environment in shaping the nature of the chromophore's excited states within the hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics framework. Our results reveal that the environment red-shifts the absorption of the chromophore by about 0.32 eV compared to the isolated counterpart, and besides the structural stability, the protein environment does not alter the nature of the excited state of the chromophore significantly. Our study contributes to the fundamental understanding of the excited-state processes of iRFPs in a complex environment and provides a design principle for developing iRFPs with desired spectral properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivasudhan Rathnachalam
- Theoretical Chemistry
Group,
Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Maximilian F. S.
J. Menger
- Theoretical Chemistry
Group,
Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Shirin Faraji
- Theoretical Chemistry
Group,
Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
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16
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Macaluso V, Salvadori G, Cupellini L, Mennucci B. The structural changes in the signaling mechanism of bacteriophytochromes in solution revealed by a multiscale computational investigation. Chem Sci 2021; 12:5555-5565. [PMID: 34168792 PMCID: PMC8179611 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc00186h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytochromes are red-light sensing proteins, with important light-regulatory roles in different organisms, which are capturing an increasing interest in bioimaging and optogenetics. Upon absorption of light by the embedded bilin chromophore, they undergo structural changes that extend from the chromophore to the protein and finally drive the biological function. Up to now, the underlying mechanism still has to be characterized fully. Here we investigate the Pfr activated form of a bacterial phytochrome, by combining extensive molecular dynamics simulations with a polarizable QM/MM description of the spectroscopic properties, revealing a large structure relaxation in solution, compared to the crystal structure, both in the chromophore-binding pocket and in the overall structure of the phytochrome. Our results indicate that the final opening of the dimeric structure is preceded by an important internal reorganization of the phytochrome specific (PHY) domain involving a bend of the helical spine connecting the PHY domain with the chromophore-binding domain, opening the way to a new understanding of the activation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Macaluso
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Giacomo Salvadori
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cupellini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Benedetta Mennucci
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa 56124 Pisa Italy
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17
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Cardoso
Ramos F, Cupellini L, Mennucci B. Computational Investigation of Structural and Spectroscopic Properties of LOV-Based Proteins with Improved Fluorescence. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:1768-1777. [PMID: 33566620 PMCID: PMC7917436 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Flavin-based fluorescent proteins are a class of fluorescent reporters derived from light, oxygen, and voltage (LOV) sensing proteins. Through mutagenesis, natural LOV proteins have been engineered to obtain improved fluorescence properties. In this study, we combined extended classical Molecular Dynamics simulations and multiscale Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics methods to clarify the relationship between structural and dynamic changes induced by specific mutations and the spectroscopic response. To reach this goal we compared two LOV variants, one obtained by the single mutation needed to photochemically inactivate the natural system, and the other (iLOV) obtained through additional mutations and characterized by a significantly improved fluorescence. Our simulations confirmed the "flipping and crowding" effect induced in iLOV by the additional mutations and revealed its mechanism of action. We also showed that these mutations, and the resulting differences in the composition and flexibility of the binding pockets, are not reflected in significant shifts of the excitation and emission energies, in agreement with the similarity of the spectra measured for the two systems. However, a small but consistent reduction was found in the Stokes shift of iLOV, suggesting a reduction of the intermolecular reorganization experienced by the chromophore after excitation, which could slow down its internal conversion to the ground state and improve the fluorescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Cardoso
Ramos
- Dipartimento di Chimica e
Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, Pisa, I-56124, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cupellini
- Dipartimento di Chimica e
Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, Pisa, I-56124, Italy
| | - Benedetta Mennucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica e
Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, Pisa, I-56124, Italy
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18
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Grigorenko BL, Polyakov IV, Nemukhin AV. Modeling photophysical properties of the bacteriophytochrome-based fluorescent protein IFP1.4. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:065101. [PMID: 33588533 DOI: 10.1063/5.0026475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An enhanced interest in the phytochrome-based fluorescent proteins is explained by their ability to absorb and emit light in the far-red and infra-red regions particularly suitable for bioimaging. The fluorescent protein IFP1.4 was engineered from the chromophore-binding domain of a bacteriophytochrome in attempts to increase the fluorescence quantum yield. We report the results of simulations of structures in the ground S0 and excited S1 electronic states of IFP1.4 using the methods of quantum chemistry and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics. We construct different protonation states of the biliverdin (BV) chromophore in the red-absorbing form of the protein by moving protons from the BV pyrrole rings to a suitable acceptor within the system and show that these structures are close in energy but differ by absorption bands. For the first time, we report structures of the minimum energy conical intersection points S1/S0 on the energy surfaces of BV in the protein environment and describe their connection to the local minima in the excited S1 state. These simulations allow us to characterize the deactivation routes in IFP1.4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bella L Grigorenko
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/3, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Igor V Polyakov
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/3, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander V Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/3, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
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19
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Mroginski MA, Adam S, Amoyal GS, Barnoy A, Bondar AN, Borin VA, Church JR, Domratcheva T, Ensing B, Fanelli F, Ferré N, Filiba O, Pedraza-González L, González R, González-Espinoza CE, Kar RK, Kemmler L, Kim SS, Kongsted J, Krylov AI, Lahav Y, Lazaratos M, NasserEddin Q, Navizet I, Nemukhin A, Olivucci M, Olsen JMH, Pérez de Alba Ortíz A, Pieri E, Rao AG, Rhee YM, Ricardi N, Sen S, Solov'yov IA, De Vico L, Wesolowski TA, Wiebeler C, Yang X, Schapiro I. Frontiers in Multiscale Modeling of Photoreceptor Proteins. Photochem Photobiol 2021; 97:243-269. [PMID: 33369749 DOI: 10.1111/php.13372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This perspective article highlights the challenges in the theoretical description of photoreceptor proteins using multiscale modeling, as discussed at the CECAM workshop in Tel Aviv, Israel. The participants have identified grand challenges and discussed the development of new tools to address them. Recent progress in understanding representative proteins such as green fluorescent protein, photoactive yellow protein, phytochrome, and rhodopsin is presented, along with methodological developments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suliman Adam
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gil S Amoyal
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Avishai Barnoy
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ana-Nicoleta Bondar
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Veniamin A Borin
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jonathan R Church
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tatiana Domratcheva
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Department Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bernd Ensing
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Science and Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Francesca Fanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Ofer Filiba
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Laura Pedraza-González
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ronald González
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Rajiv K Kar
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lukas Kemmler
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Seung Soo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jacob Kongsted
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anna I Krylov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yigal Lahav
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,MIGAL - Galilee Research Institute, S. Industrial Zone, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Michalis Lazaratos
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Qays NasserEddin
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Isabelle Navizet
- MSME, Univ Gustave Eiffel, CNRS UMR 8208, Univ Paris Est Creteil, Marne-la-Vallée, France
| | - Alexander Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Massimo Olivucci
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy.,Chemistry Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | - Jógvan Magnus Haugaard Olsen
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Chemistry, Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Alberto Pérez de Alba Ortíz
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Science and Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisa Pieri
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR, Marseille, France
| | - Aditya G Rao
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Young Min Rhee
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Niccolò Ricardi
- Département de Chimie Physique, Université de Genève, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Saumik Sen
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Luca De Vico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Christian Wiebeler
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Xuchun Yang
- Chemistry Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | - Igor Schapiro
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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20
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Sen T, Ma Y, Polyakov IV, Grigorenko BL, Nemukhin AV, Krylov AI. Interplay between Locally Excited and Charge Transfer States Governs the Photoswitching Mechanism in the Fluorescent Protein Dreiklang. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:757-770. [PMID: 33411528 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c09221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We present the results of high-level electronic structure and dynamics simulations of the photoactive protein Dreiklang. With the goal of understanding the details of the Dreiklang photocycle, we carefully characterize the excited states of the ON- and OFF-forms of Dreiklang. The key finding of our study is the existence of a low-lying excited state of a charge-transfer character in the neutral ON form and that population of this state, which is nearly isoenergetic with the locally excited bright state, initiates a series of steps that ultimately lead to the formation of the hydrated dark chromophore (OFF state). These results allow us to refine the mechanistic picture of Dreiklang's photocycle and photoactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirthendu Sen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0482, United States
| | - Yingying Ma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0482, United States
| | - Igor V Polyakov
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119992, Russia.,Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Bella L Grigorenko
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119992, Russia.,Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Alexander V Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119992, Russia.,Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Anna I Krylov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0482, United States
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21
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Khrenova MG, Mulashkin FD, Bulavko ES, Zakharova TM, Nemukhin AV. Dipole Moment Variation Clears Up Electronic Excitations in the π-Stacked Complexes of Fluorescent Protein Chromophores. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:6288-6297. [PMID: 33206518 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c01028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We propose a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model for prediction of spectral tuning in cyan, green, orange, and red fluorescent proteins, which are engineered by motifs of the green fluorescent protein. Protein variants, in which their chromophores are involved in the π-stacking interaction with amino acid residues tyrosine, phenylalanine, and histidine, are prospective markers useful in bioimaging and super-resolution microscopy. In this work, we constructed training sets of the π-stacked complexes of four fluorescent protein chromophores (of the green, orange, red, and cyan series) with various substituted benzenes and imidazoles and tested the use of dipole moment variation upon excitation (DMV) as a descriptor to evaluate the vertical excitation energies in these systems. To validate this approach, we computed and analyzed electron density distributions of the π-stacked complexes and correlated the QSPR predictions with the reference values of the transition energies obtained using the high-level ab initio quantum chemistry methods. According to our results, the use of the DMV descriptor allows one to predict excitation energies in the π-stacked complexes with errors not exceeding 0.1 eV, which makes this model a practically useful tool in the development of efficient fluorescent markers for in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Khrenova
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation.,Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology" of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russian Federation
| | - Fedor D Mulashkin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Egor S Bulavko
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Tatiana M Zakharova
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander V Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation.,Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russian Federation
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22
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Cercola R, Fischer KC, Sherman SL, Garand E, Wong NGK, Hammerback LA, Lynam JM, Fairlamb IJS, Dessent CEH. Direct Measurement of the Visible to UV Photodissociation Processes for the PhotoCORM TryptoCORM. Chemistry 2020; 26:10297-10306. [PMID: 32275091 PMCID: PMC7496620 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202001077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PhotoCORMs are light-triggered compounds that release CO for medical applications. Here, we apply laser spectroscopy in the gas phase to TryptoCORM, a known photoCORM that has been shown to destroy Escherichia coli upon visible-light activation. Our experiments allow us to map TryptoCORM's photochemistry across a wide wavelength range by using novel laser-interfaced mass spectrometry (LIMS). LIMS provides the intrinsic absorption spectrum of the photoCORM along with the production spectra of all of its ionic photoproducts for the first time. Importantly, the photoproduct spectra directly reveal the optimum wavelengths for maximizing CO ejection, and the extent to which CO ejection is compromised at redder wavelengths. A series of comparative studies were performed on TryptoCORM-CH3 CN which exists in dynamic equilibrium with TryptoCORM in solution. Our measurements allow us to conclude that the presence of the labile CH3 CN facilitates CO release over a wider wavelength range. This work demonstrates the potential of LIMS as a new methodology for assessing active agent release (e.g. CO, NO, H2 S) from light-activated prodrugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Cercola
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of YorkHeslingtonYorkYO10 5DDUK
| | | | - Summer L. Sherman
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonWI53706USA
| | - Etienne Garand
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonWI53706USA
| | | | | | - Jason M. Lynam
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of YorkHeslingtonYorkYO10 5DDUK
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23
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Jin X, Glover WJ, He X. Fragment Quantum Mechanical Method for Excited States of Proteins: Development and Application to the Green Fluorescent Protein. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:5174-5188. [PMID: 32551640 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.9b00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the excited-state properties of luminescent biomolecules is of central importance to their biophysical applications. In this study, we develop the Electrostatically Embedded Generalized Molecular Fractionation with Conjugate Caps (EE-GMFCC) method for quantitatively characterizing properties of covalently bonded systems with localized excitations (i.e., involving a single chromophore), such as fluorescent proteins. The excitation energy, transition dipole moment, and oscillator strength of wild-type Green Fluorescent Protein (wt-GFP) calculated by EE-GMFCC are found to be in excellent agreement with full system time-dependent density functional theory results. We also applied the Polarized Protein-Specific Charge model to wt-GFP, and found that electronic polarization of the protein is critical in stabilizing hydrogen bonding interactions in wt-GFP, which influences its absorption spectrum. The predicted absorption spectra of wt-GFP in the A and B states qualitatively agree with experiment. The fragmentation approach further allows a straightforward per residue decomposition of the excitation which reveals the influence of the protein environment on the absorption spectra of wt-GFP A and B states. Our results demonstrate that the EE-GMFCC method is both accurate and efficient for excited-state property calculations on proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinsheng Jin
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - William J Glover
- NYU Shanghai, 1555 Century Avenue, Shanghai 200122, China.,NYU-ECNU Center for Computational Chemistry at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, China.,Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Xiao He
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.,NYU-ECNU Center for Computational Chemistry at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, China
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24
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Kapusta DP, Kulakova AM, Khrenova MG. Modeling the Tautomeric Equilibrium and Absorption Spectrum of 4,5-Dimethyl-2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazole. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0036024420050118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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25
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Minezawa N, Nakajima T. Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical trajectory surface hopping molecular dynamics simulation by spin-flip time-dependent density functional theory. J Chem Phys 2020; 152:024119. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5132879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Noriyuki Minezawa
- Computational Molecular Science Research Team, RIKEN Center for Computational Science, 7-1-26 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Takahito Nakajima
- Computational Molecular Science Research Team, RIKEN Center for Computational Science, 7-1-26 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
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26
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Macaluso V, Cupellini L, Salvadori G, Lipparini F, Mennucci B. Elucidating the role of structural fluctuations, and intermolecular and vibronic interactions in the spectroscopic response of a bacteriophytochrome. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:8585-8594. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cp00372g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics and a multiscale polarizable QM/MM strategy allow reproducing absorption, circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectra of a bacteriophytochrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Macaluso
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
- University of Pisa
- Pisa
- Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cupellini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
- University of Pisa
- Pisa
- Italy
| | - Giacomo Salvadori
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
- University of Pisa
- Pisa
- Italy
| | - Filippo Lipparini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
- University of Pisa
- Pisa
- Italy
| | - Benedetta Mennucci
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
- University of Pisa
- Pisa
- Italy
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27
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Competing excited-state deactivation processes in bacteriophytochromes. ADVANCES IN QUANTUM CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aiq.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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28
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Goings JJ, Hammes-Schiffer S. Early Photocycle of Slr1694 Blue-Light Using Flavin Photoreceptor Unraveled through Adiabatic Excited-State Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical Dynamics. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:20470-20479. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b11196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J. Goings
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, 225 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Sharon Hammes-Schiffer
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, 225 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
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29
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Grigorenko BL, Polyakov IV, Krylov AI, Nemukhin AV. Computational Modeling Reveals the Mechanism of Fluorescent State Recovery in the Reversibly Photoswitchable Protein Dreiklang. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:8901-8909. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b06988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bella L. Grigorenko
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Igor V. Polyakov
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Anna I. Krylov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0482, United States
| | - Alexander V. Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
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