scholarly journals Accurate model of liquid-liquid phase behaviour of intrinsically-disordered proteins from data-driven optimization of single-chain properties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Tesei ◽  
Thea K. Schulze ◽  
Ramon Crehuet ◽  
Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Phase Behaviour ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered

Many intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) may undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and participate in the formation of membraneless organelles in the cell, thereby contributing to the regulation and compartmentalisation of intracellular biochemical reactions. The phase behaviour of IDPs is sequence-dependent, and its investigation through molecular simulations requires protein models that combine computational efficiency with an accurate description of intra- and intermolecular interactions. We developed a general coarse-grained model of IDPs, with residue-level detail, based on an extensive set of experimental data on single-chain properties. Ensemble-averaged experimental observables are predicted from molecular simulations, and a data-driven parameter-learning procedure is used to identify the residue-specific model parameters that minimize the discrepancy between predictions and experiments. The model accurately reproduces the experimentally observed conformational propensities of a set of IDPs. Through two-body as well as large-scale molecular simulations, we show that the optimization of the intramolecular interactions results in improved predictions of protein self-association and LLPS.

scholarly journals Accurate model of liquid–liquid phase behavior of intrinsically disordered proteins from optimization of single-chain properties

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (44) ◽  
pp. e2111696118
Author(s):  
Giulio Tesei ◽  
Thea K. Schulze ◽  
Ramon Crehuet ◽  
Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Phase Behavior ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Intramolecular Interactions ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered

Many intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) may undergo liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and participate in the formation of membraneless organelles in the cell, thereby contributing to the regulation and compartmentalization of intracellular biochemical reactions. The phase behavior of IDPs is sequence dependent, and its investigation through molecular simulations requires protein models that combine computational efficiency with an accurate description of intramolecular and intermolecular interactions. We developed a general coarse-grained model of IDPs, with residue-level detail, based on an extensive set of experimental data on single-chain properties. Ensemble-averaged experimental observables are predicted from molecular simulations, and a data-driven parameter-learning procedure is used to identify the residue-specific model parameters that minimize the discrepancy between predictions and experiments. The model accurately reproduces the experimentally observed conformational propensities of a set of IDPs. Through two-body as well as large-scale molecular simulations, we show that the optimization of the intramolecular interactions results in improved predictions of protein self-association and LLPS.

scholarly journals Coupling Bulk Phase Separation of Disordered Proteins to Membrane Domain Formation in Molecular Simulations on a Bespoke Compute Fabric

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Julian C. Shillcock ◽  
David B. Thomas ◽  
Jonathan R. Beaumont ◽  
Graeme M. Bragg ◽  
Mark L. Vousden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Lipid Membrane ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Computational Techniques ◽  
Domain Formation ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Ideal Mixing

Phospholipid membranes surround the cell and its internal organelles, and their multicomponent nature allows the formation of domains that are important in cellular signalling, the immune system, and bacterial infection. Cytoplasmic compartments are also created by the phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins into biomolecular condensates. The ubiquity of lipid membranes and protein condensates raises the question of how three-dimensional droplets might interact with two-dimensional domains, and whether this coupling has physiological or pathological importance. Here, we explore the equilibrium morphologies of a dilute phase of a model disordered protein interacting with an ideal-mixing, two-component lipid membrane using coarse-grained molecular simulations. We find that the proteins can wet the membrane with and without domain formation, and form phase separated droplets bound to membrane domains. Results from much larger simulations performed on a novel non-von-Neumann compute architecture called POETS, which greatly accelerates their execution compared to conventional hardware, confirm the observations. Reducing the wall clock time for such simulations requires new architectures and computational techniques. We demonstrate here an inter-disciplinary approach that uses real-world biophysical questions to drive the development of new computing hardware and simulation algorithms.

scholarly journals Model for disordered proteins with strongly sequence-dependent liquid phase behavior

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Statt ◽  
Helena Casademunt ◽  
Clifford P. Brangwynne ◽  
Athanassios Z. Panagiotopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Phase Behavior ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins is important for the formation of membraneless organelles, or biomolecular condensates, which play key roles in the regulation of biochemical processes within cells. In this work, we investigated the phase separation of different sequences of a coarse-grained model for intrinsically disordered proteins and discovered a surprisingly rich phase behavior. We studied both the fraction of total hydrophobic parts and the distribution of hydrophobic parts. Not surprisingly, sequences with larger hydrophobic fractions showed conventional liquid-liquid phase separation. The location of the critical point was systematically influenced by the terminal beads of the sequence, due to changes in interfacial composition and tension. For sequences with lower hydrophobicity, we observed not only conventional liquid-liquid phase separation, but also reentrant phase behavior, in which the liquid phase density decreases at lower temperatures. For some sequences, we observed formation of open phases consisting of aggregates, rather than a normal liquid. These aggregates had overall lower densities than the conventional liquid phases, and exhibited complex geometries with large interconnected string-like or membrane-like clusters. Our findings suggest that minor alterations in the ordering of residues may lead to large changes in the phase behavior of the protein, a fact of significant potential relevance for biology.

scholarly journals Structure of biomolecular condensates from dissipative particle dynamics simulations

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian C. Shillcock ◽  
Maelick Brochut ◽  
Etienne Chénais ◽  
John H. Ipsen
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
End Caps ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

ABSTRACTPhase separation of immiscible fluids is a common phenomenon in polymer chemistry, and is recognized as an important mechanism by which cells compartmentalize their biochemical reactions. Biomolecular condensates are condensed fluid droplets in cells that form by liquid-liquid phase separation of intrinsically-disordered proteins. They have a wide range of functions and are associated with chronic neurodegenerative diseases in which they become pathologically rigid. Intrinsically-disordered proteins are conformationally flexible and possess multiple, distributed binding sites for each other or for RNA. However, it remains unclear how their material properties depend on the molecular structure of the proteins. Here we use coarse-grained simulations to explore the phase behavior and structure of a model biomolecular condensate composed of semi-flexible polymers with attractive end-caps in a good solvent. Although highly simplified, the model contains the minimal molecular features that are sufficient to observe liquid-liquid phase separation of soluble polymers. The polymers condense into a porous, three-dimensional network in which their end-caps reversibly bind at junctions. The spatial separation of connected junctions scales with the polymer backbone length as a self-avoiding random walk over a wide range of concentration with a weak affinity-dependent prefactor. By contrast, the average number of polymers that meet at the junctions depends strongly on the end-cap affinity but only weakly on the polymer length. The regularity and porosity of the condensed network suggests a mechanism for cells to regulate biomolecular condensates. Interaction sites along a protein may be turned on or off to modulate the condensate’s porosity and tune the diffusion and interaction of additional proteins.

scholarly journals Competitive Binding of HIF-1α and CITED2 to the TAZ1 Domain of CBP from Molecular Simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Ruiz-Ortiz ◽  
David De Sancho
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Bound State ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Transactivation Domains

<div>Many intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are involved in complex signalling networks inside the cell. </div><div>Their particular binding modes elicit different types of responses and subtle regulation of biological responses. </div><div>Here we study the binding of two disordered transactivation domains from proteins HIF-1α and CITED2, whose binding to the TAZ1 domain of CBP is critical for the hypoxic response. Experiments have shown that both IDPs compete for their shared partner, and that this competition is mediated by the formation of a ternary intermediate state. Here we use molecular simulations with a coarse-grained model to provide a glimpse of the structure of this intermediate. </div><div>We find that the conserved LP(Q/E)L motif may have a critical role in the displacement of HIF-1α by CITED2 and show a possible mechanism for the transition from the intermediate to the bound state. We also explore the role of TAZ1 dynamics in the binding. The results of our simulations are consistent with many of the experimental observations and provide a detailed molecular description of the emergent properties in the complex binding of these IDPs.</div>

scholarly journals Competitive Binding of HIF-1α and CITED2 to the TAZ1 Domain of CBP from Molecular Simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Ruiz-Ortiz ◽  
David De Sancho
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Bound State ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Transactivation Domains

<div>Many intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are involved in complex signalling networks inside the cell. </div><div>Their particular binding modes elicit different types of responses and subtle regulation of biological responses. </div><div>Here we study the binding of two disordered transactivation domains from proteins HIF-1α and CITED2, whose binding to the TAZ1 domain of CBP is critical for the hypoxic response. Experiments have shown that both IDPs compete for their shared partner, and that this competition is mediated by the formation of a ternary intermediate state. Here we use molecular simulations with a coarse-grained model to provide a glimpse of the structure of this intermediate. </div><div>We find that the conserved LP(Q/E)L motif may have a critical role in the displacement of HIF-1α by CITED2 and show a possible mechanism for the transition from the intermediate to the bound state. We also explore the role of TAZ1 dynamics in the binding. The results of our simulations are consistent with many of the experimental observations and provide a detailed molecular description of the emergent properties in the complex binding of these IDPs.</div>

scholarly journals Investigating the Conformational Ensembles of Intrinsically-Disordered Proteins with a Simple Physics-Based Model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yani Zhao ◽  
Robinson Cortes-Huerto ◽  
Kurt Kremer ◽  
Joseph F. Rudzinski
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Conformational Ensemble ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Conformational Ensembles ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
The Impact

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play an important role in an array of biological processes but present a number of fundamental challenges for computational modeling. Recently, simple polymer models have re-gained popularity for interpreting the experimental characterization of IDPs. Homopolymer theory provides a strong foundation for understanding generic features of phenomena ranging from single-chain conformational dynamics to the properties of entangled polymer melts, but is difficult to extend to the copolymer context. This challenge is magnified for proteins due to the variety of competing interactions and large deviations in side-chain properties. In this work, we apply a simple physics-based coarse-grained model for describing largely disordered conformational ensembles of peptides, based on the premise that sampling sterically-forbidden conformations can compromise the faithful description of both static and dynamical properties. The Hamiltonian of the employed model can be easily adjusted to investigate the impact of distinct interactions and sequence specificity on the randomness of the resulting conformational ensemble. In particular, starting with a bead-spring-like model and then adding more detailed interactions one by one, we construct a hierarchical set of models and perform a detailed comparison of their properties. Our analysis clarifies the role of generic attractions, electrostatics and side-chain sterics, while providing a foundation for developing efficient models for IDPs that retain an accurate description of the hierarchy of conformational dynamics, which is nontrivially influenced by interactions with surrounding proteins and solvent molecules.

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