What are the roles of substrate-assisted catalysis and proximity effects in peptide bond formation by the ribosome?

Competing Reaction Mechanisms of Peptide Bond Formation in Water Revealed by Deep Potential Molecular Dynamics and Path Sampling

The formation of an amide bond is an essential step in the synthesis of materials and drugs, and in the assembly of amino acids to form peptides. The mechanism of this reaction has been studied extensively, in particular to understand how it can be catalyzed, but a representation capable of explaining all the experimental data is still lacking. Numerical simulation should provide the necessary molecular description, but the solvent involvement poses a number of challenges. Here, we combine the efficiency and accuracy of neural network potential-based reactive molecular dynamics with the extensive and unbiased exploration of reaction pathways provided by transition path sampling. Using microsecond-scale simulations at the density functional theory level, we show that this method reveals the presence of two competing distinct mechanisms for peptide bond formation between alanine esters in aqueous solution. We describe how both reaction pathways, via a general base catalysis mechanism and via direct cleavage of the tetrahedral intermediate respectively, change with pH. This result contrasts with the conventional mechanism involving a single pathway in which only the barrier heights are affected by pH. We show that this new proposal involving two competing mechanisms is consistent with the experimental data, and we discuss the implications for peptide bond formation under prebiotic conditions and in the ribosome. Our work shows that integrating deep potential molecular dynamics with path sampling provides a powerful approach for exploring complex chemical mechanisms.

Engineering tRNAs for the Ribosomal Translation of Non-proteinogenic Monomers

Ribosome-dependent protein biosynthesis is an essential cellular process mediated by transfer RNAs (tRNAs). Generally, ribosomally synthesized proteins are limited to the 22 proteinogenic amino acids (pAAs: 20 l-α-amino acids present in the standard genetic code, selenocysteine, and pyrrolysine). However, engineering tRNAs for the ribosomal incorporation of non-proteinogenic monomers (npMs) as building blocks has led to the creation of unique polypeptides with broad applications in cellular biology, material science, spectroscopy, and pharmaceuticals. Ribosomal polymerization of these engineered polypeptides presents a variety of challenges for biochemists, as translation efficiency and fidelity is often insufficient when employing npMs. In this Review, we will focus on the methodologies for engineering tRNAs to overcome these issues and explore recent advances both in vitro and in vivo. These efforts include increasing orthogonality, recruiting essential translation factors, and creation of expanded genetic codes. After our review on the biochemical optimizations of tRNAs, we provide examples of their use in genetic code manipulation, with a focus on the in vitro discovery of bioactive macrocyclic peptides containing npMs. Finally, an analysis of the current state of tRNA engineering is presented, along with existing challenges and future perspectives for the field.

The energy landscape of the ribosome

The ribosome is a prototypical assembly that can be used to establish general principles and techniques for the study of biological molecular machines. Motivated by the fact that the dynamics of every biomolecule is governed by an underlying energy landscape, there has been great interest to understand and quantify ribosome energetics. In the present review, we will focus on theoretical and computational strategies for probing the interactions that shape the energy landscape of the ribosome, with an emphasis on more recent studies of the elongation cycle. These efforts include the application of quantum mechanical methods for describing chemical kinetics, as well as classical descriptions to characterize slower (microsecond to millisecond) large-scale (10-100 Å) rearrangements, where motion is described in terms of diffusion across an energy landscape. Together, these studies provide broad insights into the factors that control a diverse range of dynamical processes in this assembly.

Translation Factor Accelerating Peptide Bond Formation on the Ribosome: EF-P and eIF5A as Entropic Catalysts and a Potential Drug Targets

Elongation factor P (EF-P) and its eukaryotic homolog eIF5A are auxiliary translation factors that facilitate peptide bond formation when several sequential proline (Pro) residues are incorporated into the nascent chain. EF-P and eIF5A bind to the exit (E) site of the ribosome and contribute to favorable entropy of the reaction by stabilizing tRNA binding in the peptidyl transferase center of the ribosome. In most organisms, EF-P and eIF5A carry a posttranslational modification that is crucial for catalysis. The chemical nature of the modification varies between different groups of bacteria and between pro- and eukaryotes, making the EF-P-modification enzymes promising targets for antibiotic development. In this review, we summarize our knowledge of the structure and function of EF-P and eIF5A, describe their modification enzymes, and present an approach for potential drug screening aimed at EarP, an enzyme that is essential for EF-P modification in several pathogenic bacteria.

Application of Coarse-Grained (CG) Models to Explore Conformational Pathway of Large-Scale Protein Machines

Protein machines are clusters of protein assemblies that function in order to control the transfer of matter and energy in cells. For a specific protein machine, its working mechanisms are not only determined by the static crystal structures, but also related to the conformational transition dynamics and the corresponding energy profiles. With the rapid development of crystallographic techniques, the spatial scale of resolved structures is reaching up to thousands of residues, and the concomitant conformational changes become more and more complicated, posing a great challenge for computational biology research. Previously, a coarse-grained (CG) model aiming at conformational free energy evaluation was developed and showed excellent ability to reproduce the energy profiles by accurate electrostatic interaction calculations. In this study, we extended the application of the CG model to a series of large-scale protein machine systems. The spike protein trimer of SARS-CoV-2, ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) tetramer, and P4-ATPases systems were carefully studied and discussed as examples. It is indicated that the CG model is effective to depict the energy profiles of the conformational pathway between two endpoint structures, especially for large-scale systems. Both the energy change and energy barrier between endpoint structures provide reasonable mechanism explanations for the associated biological processes, including the opening of receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein, the phospholipid transportation of P4-ATPase, and the loop translocation of ACLY. Taken together, the CG model provides a suitable alternative in mechanistic studies related to conformational change in large-scale protein machines.

The Peptidyl Transferase Center: a Window to the Past

In his 2001 article, "Translation: in retrospect and prospect," the late Carl Woese made a prescient observation that there was a need for the then-current view of translation to be "reformulated to become an all-embracing perspective about which 21st century Biology can develop" (RNA 7:1055-1067, 2001, https://doi.org/10.1017/s1355838201010615). The quest to decipher the origins of life and the road to the genetic code are both inextricably linked with the history of the ribosome. After over 60 years of research, significant progress in our understanding of how ribosomes work has been made. Particularly attractive is a model in which the ribosome may facilitate an ∼180° rotation of the CCA end of the tRNA from the A-site to the P-site while the acceptor stem of the tRNA would then undergo a translation from the A-site to the P-site. However, the central question of how the ribosome originated remains unresolved. Along the path from a primitive RNA world or an RNA-peptide world to a proto-ribosome world, the advent of the peptidyl transferase activity would have been a seminal event. This functionality is now housed within a local region of the large-subunit (LSU) rRNA, namely, the peptidyl transferase center (PTC). The PTC is responsible for peptide bond formation during protein synthesis and is usually considered to be the oldest part of the modern ribosome. What is frequently overlooked is that by examining the origins of the PTC itself, one is likely going back even further in time. In this regard, it has been proposed that the modern PTC originated from the association of two smaller RNAs that were once independent and now comprise a pseudosymmetric region in the modern PTC. Could such an association have survived? Recent studies have shown that the extant PTC is largely depleted of ribosomal protein interactions. It is other elements like metallic ion coordination and nonstandard base/base interactions that would have had to stabilize the association of RNAs. Here, we present a detailed review of the literature focused on the nature of the extant PTC and its proposed ancestor, the proto-ribosome.

Theoretical Study of the Mechanism of Ribosomal Peptide Bond Formation Using the ONIOM Method

Peptide bond formation in living cells occurs at the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) of the large ribosomal subunit and involves the transfer of the peptidyl group from peptidyl-tRNA to aminoacyl-tRNA. Despite numerous kinetic and theoretical studies, many details of this reaction -such as whether it proceeds via a stepwise or concerted mechanism- remain unclear. In this study, we calculated the geometry and energy of the transition states and intermediates in peptide bond formation in the PTC environment using the ONIOM (our own n-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics) method. The calculations indicated that the energy of the transition states of stepwise mechanisms are lower than those of concerted mechanisms and suggested that the reaction involves a neutral tetrahedral intermediate that is stabilized through the hydrogen-bonding network in the PTC environment. The results will lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of peptidyl transfer reaction, and resolve fundamental questions of the steps and molecular intermediates involved in peptide bond formation in the ribosome.

Mechanistic alternatives for peptide bond formation on the ribosome

The peptidyl transfer reaction on the large ribosomal subunit depends on the protonation state of the amine nucleophile and exhibits a large kinetic solvent isotope effect (KSIE ∼8). In contrast, the related peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis reaction involved in termination shows a KSIE of ∼4 and a pH-rate profile indicative of base catalysis. It is, however, unclear why these reactions should proceed with different mechanisms, as the experimental data suggests. One explanation is that two competing mechanisms may be operational in the peptidyl transferase center (PTC). Herein, we explored this possibility by re-examining the previously proposed proton shuttle mechanism and testing the feasibility of general base catalysis also for peptide bond formation. We employed a large cluster model of the active site and different reaction mechanisms were evaluated by density functional theory calculations. In these calculations, the proton shuttle and general base mechanisms both yield activation energies comparable to the experimental values. However, only the proton shuttle mechanism is found to be consistent with the experimentally observed pH-rate profile and the KSIE. This suggests that the PTC promotes the proton shuttle mechanism for peptide bond formation, while prohibiting general base catalysis, although the detailed mechanism by which general base catalysis is excluded remains unclear.

Large-scale simulations of nucleoprotein complexes: ribosomes, nucleosomes, chromatin, chromosomes and CRISPR

Recent advances in biotechnology such as Hi-C, CRISPR/Cas9 and ribosome display have placed nucleoprotein complexes at center stage. Understanding the structural dynamics of these complexes aids in optimizing protocols and interpreting data for these new technologies. The integration of simulation and experiment has helped advance mechanistic understanding of these systems. Coarse-grained simulations, reduced-description models, and explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations yield useful complementary perspectives on nucleoprotein complex structural dynamics. When combined with Hi-C, cryo-EM, and single molecule measurements, these simulations integrate disparate forms of experimental data into a coherent mechanism.

Translation in Prokaryotes

This review summarizes our current understanding of translation in prokaryotes, focusing on the mechanistic and structural aspects of each phase of translation: initiation, elongation, termination, and ribosome recycling. The assembly of the initiation complex provides multiple checkpoints for messenger RNA (mRNA) and start-site selection. Correct codon-anticodon interaction during the decoding phase of elongation results in major conformational changes of the small ribosomal subunit and shapes the reaction pathway of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis. The ribosome orchestrates proton transfer during peptide bond formation, but requires the help of elongation factor P (EF-P) when two or more consecutive Pro residues are to be incorporated. Understanding the choreography of transfer RNA (tRNA) and mRNA movements during translocation helps to place the available structures of translocation intermediates onto the time axis of the reaction pathway. The nascent protein begins to fold cotranslationally, in the constrained space of the polypeptide exit tunnel of the ribosome. When a stop codon is reached at the end of the coding sequence, the ribosome, assisted by termination factors, hydrolyzes the ester bond of the peptidyl-tRNA, thereby releasing the nascent protein. Following termination, the ribosome is dissociated into subunits and recycled into another round of initiation. At each step of translation, the ribosome undergoes dynamic fluctuations between different conformation states. The aim of this article is to show the link between ribosome structure, dynamics, and function.

RNA Structural Dynamics As Captured by Molecular Simulations: A Comprehensive Overview

With both catalytic and genetic functions, ribonucleic acid (RNA) is perhaps the most pluripotent chemical species in molecular biology, and its functions are intimately linked to its structure and dynamics. Computer simulations, and in particular atomistic molecular dynamics (MD), allow structural dynamics of biomolecular systems to be investigated with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. We here provide a comprehensive overview of the fast-developing field of MD simulations of RNA molecules. We begin with an in-depth, evaluatory coverage of the most fundamental methodological challenges that set the basis for the future development of the field, in particular, the current developments and inherent physical limitations of the atomistic force fields and the recent advances in a broad spectrum of enhanced sampling methods. We also survey the closely related field of coarse-grained modeling of RNA systems. After dealing with the methodological aspects, we provide an exhaustive overview of the available RNA simulation literature, ranging from studies of the smallest RNA oligonucleotides to investigations of the entire ribosome. Our review encompasses tetranucleotides, tetraloops, a number of small RNA motifs, A-helix RNA, kissing-loop complexes, the TAR RNA element, the decoding center and other important regions of the ribosome, as well as assorted others systems. Extended sections are devoted to RNA-ion interactions, ribozymes, riboswitches, and protein/RNA complexes. Our overview is written for as broad of an audience as possible, aiming to provide a much-needed interdisciplinary bridge between computation and experiment, together with a perspective on the future of the field.

Origin of the Non-Arrhenius Behavior of the Rates of Enzymatic Reactions

The origin of the non-Arrhenius behavior of the rate constant for hydride transfer enzymatic reactions has been a puzzling problem since its initial observation. This effect has been used originally to support the idea that enzymes work by dynamical effects and more recently to suggest an entropy funnel model. Our analysis, however, has advanced the idea that the reason for the non-Arrhenius trend reflects the temperature dependence of the rearrangements of the protein polar groups in response to the change in the charge distribution of the reacting system during the transition from the ground state (GS) to the transition state (TS). Here we examine the validity of our early proposal by simulating the catalytic reaction of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and determine the microscopic origin of the entropic and enthalpic contributions to the activation barrier. The corresponding analysis establishes the origin of the non-Arrhenius behaviors and quantifies our original suggestion that the classical effect is due to the entropic contributions of the environment. We also find that the quantum effects reflect in part the temperature dependence of the donor-acceptor distance.

Mechanistic Insights Into Catalytic RNA-Protein Complexes Involved in Translation of the Genetic Code

The contemporary world is an "RNA-protein world" rather than a "protein world" and tracing its evolutionary origins is of great interest and importance. The different RNAs that function in close collaboration with proteins are involved in several key physiological processes, including catalysis. Ribosome-the complex megadalton cellular machinery that translates genetic information encoded in nucleotide sequence to amino acid sequence-epitomizes such an association between RNA and protein. RNAs that can catalyze biochemical reactions are known as ribozymes. They usually employ general acid-base catalytic mechanism, often involving the 2'-OH of RNA that activates and/or stabilizes a nucleophile during the reaction pathway. The protein component of such RNA-protein complexes (RNPCs) mostly serves as a scaffold which provides an environment conducive for the RNA to function, or as a mediator for other interacting partners. In this review, we describe those RNPCs that are involved at different stages of protein biosynthesis and in which RNA performs the catalytic function; the focus of the account is on highlighting mechanistic aspects of these complexes. We also provide a perspective on such associations in the context of proofreading during translation of the genetic code. The latter aspect is not much appreciated and recent works suggest that this is an avenue worth exploring, since an understanding of the subject can provide useful insights into how RNAs collaborate with proteins to ensure fidelity during these essential cellular processes. It may also aid in comprehending evolutionary aspects of such associations.

A close-up view of codon selection in eukaryotic initiation

When given an option to choose among a set of alternatives and only one selection is right, one might stop and reflect over which one is best. However, the ribosome has no time to stop and make such reflections, proteins need to be produced and very fast. Eukaryotic translation initiation is an example of such a conundrum. Here, scanning for the correct codon match must be fast, efficient and accurate. We highlight our recent computational findings, which show how the initiation machinery manages to recognize one specific codon among many possible challengers, by fine-tuning the energetic landscape of base-pairing with the aid of the initiation factors eIF1 and eIF1A. Using a recent 3-dimensional structure of the eukaryotic initiation complex we have performed simulations of codon recognition in atomic detail. These calculations provide an in-depth energetic and structural view of how discrimination against near-cognate codons is achieved by the initiation complex.

Entropy and Enzyme Catalysis

The role played by entropy for the enormous rate enhancement achieved by enzymes has been debated for many decades. There are, for example, several confirmed cases where the activation free energy is reduced by around 10 kcal/mol due to entropic effects, corresponding to a rate enhancement of ∼10⁷ compared to the uncatalyzed reaction. However, despite substantial efforts from both the experimental and theoretical side, no real consensus has been reached regarding the origin of such large entropic contributions to enzyme catalysis. Another remarkable instance of entropic effects is found in enzymes that are adapted by evolution to work at low temperatures, near the freezing point of water. These cold-adapted enzymes invariably show a more negative entropy and a lower enthalpy of activation than their mesophilic orthologs, which counteracts the exponential damping of reaction rates at lower temperature. The structural origin of this universal phenomenon has, however, remained elusive. The basic problem with connecting macroscopic thermodynamic quantities, such as activation entropy and enthalpy derived from Arrhenius plots, to the 3D protein structure is that the underlying detailed (microscopic) energetics is essentially inaccessible to experiment. Moreover, attempts to calculate entropy contributions by computer simulations have mostly focused only on substrate entropies, which do not provide the full picture. We have recently devised a new approach for accessing thermodynamic activation parameters of both enzyme and solution reactions from computer simulations, which turns out to be very successful. This method is analogous to the experimental Arrhenius plots and directly evaluates the temperature dependence of calculated reaction free energy profiles. Hence, by extensive molecular dynamics simulations and calculations of up to thousands of independent free energy profiles, we are able to extract activation parameters with sufficient precision for making direct comparisons to experiment. We show here that the agreement with the measured quantities, for both enzyme catalyzed and spontaneous solution reactions, is quite remarkable. Importantly, we can now address some of the most spectacular entropy effects in enzymes and clarify their detailed microscopic origin. Herein, we discuss as examples the conversion of cytidine to uridine catalyzed by cytidine deaminase and reactions taking place on the ribosome, namely, peptide bond formation and GTP hydrolysis by elongation factor Tu. It turns out that the large entropy contributions to catalysis in these cases can now be rationalized by our computational approach. Finally, we address the problem of cold adaptation of enzyme reaction rates and prove by computational experiments that the universal activation enthalpy-entropy phenomenon originates from mechanical properties of the outer protein surface.

Review: Translational GTPases

Translational GTPases (trGTPases) play key roles in facilitating protein synthesis on the ribosome. Despite the high degree of evolutionary conservation in the sequences of their GTP-binding domains, the rates of GTP hydrolysis and nucleotide exchange vary broadly between different trGTPases. EF-Tu, one of the best-characterized model G proteins, evolved an exceptionally rapid and tightly regulated GTPase activity, which ensures rapid and accurate incorporation of amino acids into the nascent chain. Other trGTPases instead use the energy of GTP hydrolysis to promote movement or to ensure the forward commitment of translation reactions. Recent data suggest the GTPase mechanism of EF-Tu and provide an insight in the catalysis of GTP hydrolysis by its unusual activator, the ribosome. Here we summarize these advances in understanding the functional cycle and the regulation of trGTPases, stimulated by the elucidation of their structures on the ribosome and the progress in dissecting the reaction mechanism of GTPases. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 463-475, 2016.

Induced fit of the peptidyl-transferase center of the ribosome and conformational freedom of the esterified amino acids

The catalytic site of most enzymes can efficiently handle only one substrate. In contrast, the ribosome is capable of polymerizing at a similar rate at least 20 different kinds of amino acids from aminoacyl-tRNA carriers while using just one catalytic site, the peptidyl-transferase center (PTC). An induced-fit mechanism has been uncovered in the PTC, but a possible connection between this mechanism and the uniform handling of the substrates has not been investigated. We present an analysis of published ribosome structures supporting the hypothesis that the induced fit eliminates unreactive rotamers predominantly populated for some A-site aminoacyl esters before induction. We show that this hypothesis is fully consistent with the wealth of kinetic data obtained with these substrates. Our analysis reveals that induction constrains the amino acids into a reactive conformation in a side-chain independent manner. It allows us to highlight the rationale of the PTC structural organization, which confers to the ribosome the very unusual ability to handle large as well as small substrates.

Role of Proteome Physical Chemistry in Cell Behavior

We review how major cell behaviors, such as bacterial growth laws, are derived from the physical chemistry of the cell’s proteins. On one hand, cell actions depend on the individual biological functionalities of their many genes and proteins. On the other hand, the common physics among proteins can be as important as the unique biology that distinguishes them. For example, bacterial growth rates depend strongly on temperature. This dependence can be explained by the folding stabilities across a cell’s proteome. Such modeling explains how thermophilic and mesophilic organisms differ, and how oxidative damage of highly charged proteins can lead to unfolding and aggregation in aging cells. Cells have characteristic time scales. For example, E. coli can duplicate as fast as 2–3 times per hour. These time scales can be explained by protein dynamics (the rates of synthesis and degradation, folding, and diffusional transport). It rationalizes how bacterial growth is slowed down by added salt. In the same way that the behaviors of inanimate materials can be expressed in terms of the statistical distributions of atoms and molecules, some cell behaviors can be expressed in terms of distributions of protein properties, giving insights into the microscopic basis of growth laws in simple cells.

Peptide Bond Formation Mechanism Catalyzed by Ribosome

In this paper we present a study of the peptide bond formation reaction catalyzed by ribosome. Different mechanistic proposals have been explored by means of Free Energy Perturbation methods within hybrid QM/MM potentials, where the chemical system has been described by the M06-2X functional and the environment by means of the AMBER force field. According to our results, the most favorable mechanism in the ribosome would proceed through an eight-membered ring transition state, involving a proton shuttle mechanism through the hydroxyl group of the sugar and a water molecule. This transition state is similar to that described for the reaction in solution (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 8708-8719), but the reaction mechanisms are noticeably different. Our simulations reproduce the experimentally determined catalytic effect of ribosome that can be explained by the different behavior of the two environments. While the solvent reorganizes during the chemical process involving an entropic penalty, the ribosome is preorganized in the formation of the Michaelis complex and does not suffer important changes along the reaction, dampening the charge redistribution of the chemical system.

Mathematical and computational modeling in biology at multiple scales

A variety of topics are reviewed in the area of mathematical and computational modeling in biology, covering the range of scales from populations of organisms to electrons in atoms. The use of maximum entropy as an inference tool in the fields of biology and drug discovery is discussed. Mathematical and computational methods and models in the areas of epidemiology, cell physiology and cancer are surveyed. The technique of molecular dynamics is covered, with special attention to force fields for protein simulations and methods for the calculation of solvation free energies. The utility of quantum mechanical methods in biophysical and biochemical modeling is explored. The field of computational enzymology is examined.

The ribosome as a versatile catalyst: reactions at the peptidyl transferase center

In all contemporary organisms, the active site of the ribosome--the peptidyl transferase center--catalyzes two distinct reactions, peptide bond formation between peptidyl-tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA as well as the hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA with the help of a release factor. However, when provided with appropriate substrates, ribosomes can also catalyze a broad range of other chemical reaction, which provides the basis for orthogonal translation and synthesis of alloproteins from unnatural building blocks. Advances in understanding the mechanisms of the two ubiquitous reactions, the peptide bond formation and peptide release, provide insights into the versatility of the active site of the ribosome. Release factors 1 and 2 and elongation factor P are auxiliary factors that augment the intrinsic catalytic activity of the ribosome in special cases.

Why nature really chose phosphate

Phosphoryl transfer plays key roles in signaling, energy transduction, protein synthesis, and maintaining the integrity of the genetic material. On the surface, it would appear to be a simple nucleophile displacement reaction. However, this simplicity is deceptive, as, even in aqueous solution, the low-lying d-orbitals on the phosphorus atom allow for eight distinct mechanistic possibilities, before even introducing the complexities of the enzyme catalyzed reactions. To further complicate matters, while powerful, traditional experimental techniques such as the use of linear free-energy relationships (LFER) or measuring isotope effects cannot make unique distinctions between different potential mechanisms. A quarter of a century has passed since Westheimer wrote his seminal review, 'Why Nature Chose Phosphate' (Science 235 (1987), 1173), and a lot has changed in the field since then. The present review revisits this biologically crucial issue, exploring both relevant enzymatic systems as well as the corresponding chemistry in aqueous solution, and demonstrating that the only way key questions in this field are likely to be resolved is through careful theoretical studies (which of course should be able to reproduce all relevant experimental data). Finally, we demonstrate that the reason that nature really chose phosphate is due to interplay between two counteracting effects: on the one hand, phosphates are negatively charged and the resulting charge-charge repulsion with the attacking nucleophile contributes to the very high barrier for hydrolysis, making phosphate esters among the most inert compounds known. However, biology is not only about reducing the barrier to unfavorable chemical reactions. That is, the same charge-charge repulsion that makes phosphate ester hydrolysis so unfavorable also makes it possible to regulate, by exploiting the electrostatics. This means that phosphate ester hydrolysis can not only be turned on, but also be turned off, by fine tuning the electrostatic environment and the present review demonstrates numerous examples where this is the case. Without this capacity for regulation, it would be impossible to have for instance a signaling or metabolic cascade, where the action of each participant is determined by the fine-tuned activity of the previous piece in the production line. This makes phosphate esters the ideal compounds to facilitate life as we know it.

Computational enzymology

Techniques for modelling enzyme-catalyzed reaction mechanisms are making increasingly important contributions to biochemistry. They can address fundamental questions in enzyme catalysis and have the potential to contribute to practical applications such as drug development.

Addressing open questions about phosphate hydrolysis pathways by careful free energy mapping

The nature and mechanism of phosphate hydrolysis reactions are of great interest in view of the crucial role of these reactions in key biological processes. Although it is becoming clearer that the ultimate way of resolving mechanistic controversies must involve reliable theoretical studies, it is not widely realized that such studies cannot be performed at present by using most existing automated ways and that only careful systematic studies can lead to meaningful conclusions. The present work clarifies the above point by considering the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters. The clarification starts by defining the actual issues that should be addressed in careful studies and by highlighting the problems with studies that ignore the need for unique mechanistic definitions (e.g., works that confuse associative and dissociative pathways). We then focus on the analysis of the proton transfer (PT) pathways in phosphate hydrolysis and on recent suggestions that PT involves more than one water molecule. Here we point out that most of the studies that found a proton transfer through several water molecules have not involved a sufficient systematic search of the relevant reaction coordinates. This includes both energy minimization approaches as well as a recent metadynamics (MTD) simulation study. To illustrate the crucial need of exploring the potential surfaces reliably, rather than relying on automated approaches, we present here a very careful study of the free energy landscape along a 3D reaction coordinate (RC) exploring both the standard 2D RC, comprised of the attacking and leaving group reaction coordinates, as well as of the proton transfer (PT) coordinate. Our study points out that QM/MM minimization or MTD studies that concluded that the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters involves a PT through several water molecules, have not explored carefully the single water (1W) path (that involves a direct PT form the attacking water molecule to the phosphate oxygen). Furthermore, we identified the most likely reason for the difficulty in finding the 1W path by QM/MM minimization methods, as well as by the current MTD simulations. We also discuss the problems with current studies that challenge the phosphate as a base mechanism and emphasize that all recent studies found associative/concerted paths (although many have not realized the meaning of their results). Finally, although we clearly do not have the last word about the 1W versus 2W paths we believe that we illustrated that the crucial mechanistic problems with alternative pathways should not be resolved by just running black box search approaches.

Electrostatic origin of the catalytic effect of a supramolecular host catalyst

The development of enzyme mimetic catalysts as well as the analysis of the catalytic effects of such catalysts has been a major challenge for synthetic chemists. One of the impressive examples of artificial catalysts has been the development of a highly charged host compound that provides a significant acceleration to the hydrolysis of orthoformates and other systems. However, the origin of the catalytic effect has not been quantified, and its origin remains somewhat unclear. The understanding of the corresponding supramolecular catalysis has thus become a major challenge, both in terms of computational modeling and in terms of the analysis of the corresponding acid-catalyzed reaction. Here we present a computer simulation study and kinetic analyses that reproduce the experimentally observed catalytic effect, establishing that this effect is due to electrostatic stabilization of the positively charged transition state (relative to the uncharged bound complex). Our study illustrates the crucial need for careful analysis of the complex kinetics of the catalytic effect and the host system, as well as the need for computational modeling in analyzing the catalytic effect and in the potential design of better catalysts. Finally, our finding of the large stabilization of the bound H(3)O(+) points out the very low "local pH" inside the host system even when the solvent is kept at a high pH.

Exploring, refining, and validating the paradynamics QM/MM sampling

The performance of the paradynamics (PD) reference potential approach in QM/MM calculations is examined. It is also clarified that, in contrast to some possible misunderstandings, this approach provides a rigorous strategy for QM/MM free energy calculations. In particular, the PD approach provides a gradual and controlled way of improving the evaluation of the free energy perturbation associated with moving from the EVB reference potential to the target QM/MM surface. This is achieved by moving from the linear response approximation to the full free energy perturbation approach in evaluating the free energy changes. We also present a systematic way of improving the reference potential by using Gaussian-based correction potentials along a reaction coordinate. In parallel, we review other recent adaptations of the reference potential approach, emphasizing and demonstrating the advantage of using the EVB potential as a reference potential, relative to semiempirical QM/MM molecular orbital potentials. We also compare the PD results to those obtained by direct calculations of the potentials of the mean force (PMF). Additionally, we propose a way of accelerating the PMF calculations by using Gaussian-based negative potentials along the reaction coordinate (which are also used in the PD refinement). Finally, we discuss performance of the PD and the metadynamics approaches in ab initio QM/MM calculations and emphasize the advantage of using the PD approach.

Bridging the gap between ribosome structure and biochemistry by mechanistic computations

The wealth of structural and biochemical data now available for protein synthesis on the ribosome presents major new challenges for computational biochemistry. Apart from technical difficulties in modeling ribosome systems, the complexity of the overall translation cycle with a multitude of different kinetic steps presents a formidable problem for computational efforts where we have only seen the beginning. However, a range of methodologies including molecular dynamics simulations, free energy calculations, molecular docking and quantum chemical approaches have already been put to work with promising results. In particular, the combined efforts of structural biology, biochemistry, kinetics and computational modeling can lead towards a quantitative structure-based description of translation.

A computational investigation on the connection between dynamics properties of ribosomal proteins and ribosome assembly

Assembly of the ribosome from its protein and RNA constituents has been studied extensively over the past 50 years, and experimental evidence suggests that prokaryotic ribosomal proteins undergo conformational changes during assembly. However, to date, no studies have attempted to elucidate these conformational changes. The present work utilizes computational methods to analyze protein dynamics and to investigate the linkage between dynamics and binding of these proteins during the assembly of the ribosome. Ribosomal proteins are known to be positively charged and we find the percentage of positive residues in r-proteins to be about twice that of the average protein: Lys+Arg is 18.7% for E. coli and 21.2% for T. thermophilus. Also, positive residues constitute a large proportion of RNA contacting residues: 39% for E. coli and 46% for T. thermophilus. This affirms the known importance of charge-charge interactions in the assembly of the ribosome. We studied the dynamics of three primary proteins from E. coli and T. thermophilus 30S subunits that bind early in the assembly (S15, S17, and S20) with atomic molecular dynamic simulations, followed by a study of all r-proteins using elastic network models. Molecular dynamics simulations show that solvent-exposed proteins (S15 and S17) tend to adopt more stable solution conformations than an RNA-embedded protein (S20). We also find protein residues that contact the 16S rRNA are generally more mobile in comparison with the other residues. This is because there is a larger proportion of contacting residues located in flexible loop regions. By the use of elastic network models, which are computationally more efficient, we show that this trend holds for most of the 30S r-proteins.

Ribosomes are complex cellular machines that synthesize new proteins in the cell. The accurate and efficient assembly of ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) to form a functional ribosome is important for cell growth, metabolic reactions, and other cellular processes. Additionally, some antibacterial drugs are believed to target the bacterial ribosome during its construction. Hence, ribosomal assembly has been an active research topic for many years because understanding the assembly mechanisms can provide insight into protein/RNA recognitions important in many other cellular processes, as well as optimize the development of antibacterial therapeutics. Experimental studies thus far have provided still limited understanding about the assembly process. To further understand the assembly process, we have computationally studied the dynamic properties that r-proteins exhibit during assembly and the relationship between dynamics, physical properties, and binding propensity. We observe significant charged interactions between r-proteins and rRNA. We also detect a strong correlation between contact residues and their dynamic mobilities. Protein residues contacting with rRNA are observed to be more mobile in comparison with other residues. We also relate the location of the r-protein in the fully assembled ribosome to its susceptibility for large conformational changes prior to binding.

Analysis of enzymatic transacylase Brønsted studies with application to the ribosome

Preferential binding of an enzyme to the transition state relative to the ground state is a key strategy for enzyme catalysis. When there is a difference between the ground and transition state charge distributions, enzymes maximize electrostatic interactions to achieve this enhanced transition state binding. Although the transition state is difficult to observe directly by structural methods, the chemical details of this transient species can be characterized by studies of substituent effects (Brønsted, Hammett, Swain-Scott, etc.) and isotope effects. Brønsted analysis can provide an estimate of transition state charges for the nucleophile and leaving group of a reaction. This Account will discuss the theoretical basis of Brønsted analysis and describe its practical application to the study of transacylase enzyme systems including the peptidyl transferase reaction of the ribosome. The Brønsted coefficient is derived from the linear free energy relationship (LFER) that correlates the acidity (pK(a)) of a reactive atom to the log of its rate constant. The Brønsted coefficient establishes the change in atomic charge as the reaction proceeds from the ground state to the transition state. Bonding events alter the electrostatics of atoms and the extent of bonding can be extrapolated from transition state charges. Therefore, well-defined nucleophile and leaving group transition state charges limit the number of mechanisms that are consistent with a particular transition state. Brønsted results are most informative when interpreted in the context of other mechanistic data, especially for enzymatic studies where an active site may promote a transition state that differs significantly from a prediction based on uncatalyzed solution reactions. Here we review Brønsted analyses performed on transacylases to illustrate how these data enhanced the enzymatic mechanistic studies. Through a systematic comparison of five enzymes, we reveal a wide spectrum of Brønsted values that are possible for what otherwise appear to be similar chemical reactions. The variations in the Brønsted coefficients predict different transition states for the various enzymes. This Account explores an overriding theme in the enzymatic mechanisms that catalysis enhances commensurate bond formation and proton abstraction events. The extent of the two bonding events in relationship to each other can be inferred from the Brønsted coefficient. When viewed in the context of recent ribosomal studies, this interpretation provides mechanistic insights into peptide bond formation.

Computational studies of molecular machines: the ribosome

The past decade has produced an avalanche of experimental data on the structure and dynamics of the ribosome. Groundbreaking studies in structural biology and kinetics have placed important constraints on ribosome structural dynamics. However, a gulf remains between static structures and time dependent data. In particular, X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM studies produce static models of the ribosome in various states, but lack dynamic information. Single molecule studies produce information on the rates of transitions between these states but do not have high-resolution spatial information. Computational studies have aided in bridging this gap by providing atomic resolution simulations of structural fluctuations and transitions between configurations.

Simulating electrostatic energies in proteins: perspectives and some recent studies of pKas, redox, and other crucial functional properties

Electrostatic energies provide what is arguably the most effective tool for structure-function correlation of biological molecules. Here, we provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art simulations of electrostatic energies in macromolecules, emphasizing the microscopic perspective but also relating it to macroscopic approaches. We comment on the convergence issue and other problems of the microscopic models and the ways of keeping the microscopic physics while moving to semi-macroscopic directions. We discuss the nature of the protein dielectric "constants" reiterating our long-standing point that the dielectric "constants" in semi-macroscopic models depend on the definition and the specific treatment. The advances and the challenges in the field are illustrated considering different functional properties including pK(a)'s, redox potentials, ion and proton channels, enzyme catalysis, ligand binding, and protein stability. We emphasize the microscopic overcharging approach for studying pK(a) 's of internal groups in proteins and give a demonstration of power of this approach. We also emphasize recent advances in coarse grained models with a physically based electrostatic treatment and provide some examples including further directions in treating voltage activated ion channels.

Entropy-driven mechanism of an E3 ligase

Ubiquitin-like modifications are macromolecular chemistry for which our understanding of the enzymatic mechanisms is lacking. Most E3 ligases in ubiquitin-like modifications do not directly participate in chemistry but are thought to confer allosteric effects; however, the nature of the allosteric effects has been elusive. Recent molecular dynamics simulations suggested that an E3 binding enhances the population of the conformational states of the E2·SUMO thioester that favor reactions. In this study, we conducted the first temperature-dependent enzyme kinetic analysis to investigate the role of an E3 on activation entropy and enthalpy. The small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) E3, RanBP2, confers unusually large, favorable activation entropy to lower the activation energy of the reaction. Mutants of RanBP2, designed to alter the flexibilities of the E2·SUMO thioester, showed a direct correlation of their favorable entropic effects with their ability to restrict the conformational flexibility of the E2·SUMO thioester. While the more favorable activation entropy is consistent with the previously suggested role of E3 in conformational selection, the large positive entropy suggests a significant role of solvent in catalysis. Indeed, molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water revealed that the more stable E2·SUMO thioester upon E3 binding results in stabilization of a large number of bound water molecules. Liberating such structured water at the transition state can result in large favorable activation entropy but unfavorable activation enthalpy. The entropy-driven mechanism of the E3 is consistent with the lack of structural conservation among E3s despite their similar functions. This study also illustrates how proteins that bind both SUMO and E2 can function as E3s and how intrinsically unstructured proteins can enhance macromolecular chemistry in addition to their known advantages in protein--protein interactions.