Mechanism of Force Generation in Kinesin Motility

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wonmuk Hwang ◽  
Matthew J. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Forward Bias ◽  
Tight Binding ◽  
Basic Mechanism ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Force Generation ◽  
Power Stroke ◽  
Additional Element ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Motor Head

Conventional kinesin is a dimeric motor protein that uses adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to walk processively along the microtubule. Although its nucleotide dependent conformational switching and binding of the neck linker (NL) on the motor head are known to be key events in kinesin motility, the basic mechanism by which it amplifies a small conformational change upon ATP binding to generate the force of the walking stroke has not been known. We combined structural analysis with a set of molecular dynamics simulations to identify the 9-residue long N-terminal region, which we named the ‘cover strand’ (CS), as an additional element essential for kinesin’s power stroke. It operates by differentially forming a β-sheet with NL when ATP binds, whereby the ‘cover-neck bundle’ (CNB) has an inherent conformational bias that drives NL into its binding pocket on the motor head. After the initial stroke, the later half of NL, starting with the ‘asparagine latch’ in the middle, forms specific bonds with the motor head to ensure tight binding. We constructed the force map generated by CNB, which showed a forward bias in agreement with single molecule motility measurements. Our result is consistent with other experimental observations, including the estimated stall force and the transverse anisotropy. The novel mechanism of force generation by the dynamic folding of CNB appears to hold in various kinesin families, and elucidates the economy in the design principle of the smallest known processive motor.

scholarly journals Molecular mechanism of extreme mechanostability in a pathogen adhesin

Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 359 (6383) ◽  
pp. 1527-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas F. Milles ◽  
Klaus Schulten ◽  
Hermann E. Gaub ◽  
Rafael C. Bernardi
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Force Spectroscopy ◽  
Covalent Bond ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Peptide Backbone ◽  
Human Fibrinogen ◽  
Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

High resilience to mechanical stress is key when pathogens adhere to their target and initiate infection. Using atomic force microscopy–based single-molecule force spectroscopy, we explored the mechanical stability of the prototypical staphylococcal adhesin SdrG, which targets a short peptide from human fibrinogen β. Steered molecular dynamics simulations revealed, and single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments confirmed, the mechanism by which this complex withstands forces of over 2 nanonewtons, a regime previously associated with the strength of a covalent bond. The target peptide, confined in a screwlike manner in the binding pocket of SdrG, distributes forces mainly toward the peptide backbone through an intricate hydrogen bond network. Thus, these adhesins can attach to their target with exceptionally resilient mechanostability, virtually independent of peptide side chains.

scholarly journals The allosteric mechanism of substrate-specific transport in SLC6 is mediated by a volumetric sensor

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (32) ◽  
pp. 15947-15956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael V. LeVine ◽  
Daniel S. Terry ◽  
George Khelashvili ◽  
Zarek S. Siegel ◽  
Matthias Quick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Coupled Transport ◽  
Specific Transport ◽  
Slc6 Family ◽  
Transport Of Ions ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Neurotransmitter:sodium symporters (NSSs) in the SLC6 family terminate neurotransmission by coupling the thermodynamically favorable transport of ions to the thermodynamically unfavorable transport of neurotransmitter back into presynaptic neurons. Results from many structural, functional, and computational studies on LeuT, a bacterial NSS homolog, have provided critical insight into the mechanism of sodium-coupled transport, but the mechanism underlying substrate-specific transport rates is still not understood. We present a combination of molecular dynamics simulations, single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) imaging, and measurements of Na+ binding and substrate transport that reveals an allosteric substrate specificity mechanism. In this mechanism, residues F259 and I359 in the substrate binding pocket couple the binding of substrate to Na+ release from the Na2 site by allosterically modulating the stability of a partially open, inward-facing state. We propose a model for transport selectivity in which residues F259 and I359 act as a volumetric sensor that inhibits the transport of bulky amino acids.

scholarly journals Finite-Temperature Single Molecule Vibrational Dynamics from Combined Density Functional Tight Binding Extended Lagrangian Dynamics Simulations and Time Series Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 201-212
Author(s):  
Bojana Koteska ◽  
Anastas Mishev ◽  
Ljupco Pejov
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Tight Binding ◽  
Range Data ◽  
Computationally Efficient ◽  
Vibrational Dynamics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractCombining a computationally efficient and affordable molecular dynamics approach, based on atom-centered density matrix propagation scheme, with the density functional tight binding semiempirical quantum mechanics, we study the vibrational dynamics of a single molecule at series of finite temperatures, spanning quite wide range. Data generated by molecular dynamics simulations are further analyzed and processed using time series analytic methods, based on correlation functions formalism, leading to both vibrational density of states spectra and infrared absorption spectra at finite temperatures. The temperature-induced dynamics in structural intramolecular parameters is correlated to the observed changes in the spectral regions relevant to molecular detection. In particular, we consider a case when an intramolecular X-H stretching vibrational states are notably dependent on the intramolecular torsional degree of freedom, the dynamics of which is, on the other hand, strongly temperature-dependent.

scholarly journals Quantification and demonstration of the collective constriction-by-ratchet mechanism in the dynamin molecular motor

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (28) ◽  
pp. e2101144118
Author(s):  
Oleg M. Ganichkin ◽  
Renee Vancraenenbroeck ◽  
Gabriel Rosenblum ◽  
Hagen Hofmann ◽  
Alexander S. Mikhailov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Molecular Motor ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Power Stroke ◽  
Ratchet Mechanism ◽  
Cross Bridges ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Gtpase Cycle

Dynamin oligomerizes into helical filaments on tubular membrane templates and, through constriction, cleaves them in a GTPase-driven way. Structural observations of GTP-dependent cross-bridges between neighboring filament turns have led to the suggestion that dynamin operates as a molecular ratchet motor. However, the proof of such mechanism remains absent. Particularly, it is not known whether a powerful enough stroke is produced and how the motor modules would cooperate in the constriction process. Here, we characterized the dynamin motor modules by single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and found strong nucleotide-dependent conformational preferences. Integrating smFRET with molecular dynamics simulations allowed us to estimate the forces generated in a power stroke. Subsequently, the quantitative force data and the measured kinetics of the GTPase cycle were incorporated into a model including both a dynamin filament, with explicit motor cross-bridges, and a realistic deformable membrane template. In our simulations, collective constriction of the membrane by dynamin motor modules, based on the ratchet mechanism, is directly reproduced and analyzed. Functional parallels between the dynamin system and actomyosin in the muscle are seen. Through concerted action of the motors, tight membrane constriction to the hemifission radius can be reached. Our experimental and computational study provides an example of how collective motor action in megadalton molecular assemblies can be approached and explicitly resolved.

Structural dynamics of P-type ATPase ion pumps

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1247-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateusz Dyla ◽  
Sara Basse Hansen ◽  
Poul Nissen ◽  
Magnus Kjaergaard
Keyword(s):  
Structural Dynamics ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
P Type

Abstract P-type ATPases transport ions across biological membranes against concentration gradients and are essential for all cells. They use the energy from ATP hydrolysis to propel large intramolecular movements, which drive vectorial transport of ions. Tight coordination of the motions of the pump is required to couple the two spatially distant processes of ion binding and ATP hydrolysis. Here, we review our current understanding of the structural dynamics of P-type ATPases, focusing primarily on Ca2+ pumps. We integrate different types of information that report on structural dynamics, primarily time-resolved fluorescence experiments including single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer and molecular dynamics simulations, and interpret them in the framework provided by the numerous crystal structures of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase. We discuss the challenges in characterizing the dynamics of membrane pumps, and the likely impact of new technologies on the field.

Impact of vibronic coupling effects on light-driven charge transfer in pyrene-functionalized middle and large-sized Metalloid Gold Nanoclusters from Ehrenfest dynamics.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Dominguez-Castro ◽  
Thomas Frauenheim
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Charge Transfer ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Gold Nanoclusters ◽  
Tight Binding ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Dependent Density

Theoretical calculations are an effective strategy to comple- ment and understand experimental results in atomistic detail. Ehrenfest molecular dynamics simulations based on the real-time time-dependent density functional tight-binding (RT-TDDFTB) approach...

scholarly journals Optimal Relabeling of Water Molecules and Single-Molecule Entropy Estimation

Biophysica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-296
Author(s):  
Federico Fogolari ◽  
Gennaro Esposito
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Maximum Information ◽  
Nearest Neighbours ◽  
Biomolecular Simulations ◽  
Solvent Molecules ◽  
Solvation Entropy ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Internal Degrees Of Freedom

Estimation of solvent entropy from equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations is a long-standing problem in statistical mechanics. In recent years, methods that estimate entropy using k-th nearest neighbours (kNN) have been applied to internal degrees of freedom in biomolecular simulations, and for the rigorous computation of positional-orientational entropy of one and two molecules. The mutual information expansion (MIE) and the maximum information spanning tree (MIST) methods were proposed and used to deal with a large number of non-independent degrees of freedom, providing estimates or bounds on the global entropy, thus complementing the kNN method. The application of the combination of such methods to solvent molecules appears problematic because of the indistinguishability of molecules and of their symmetric parts. All indistiguishable molecules span the same global conformational volume, making application of MIE and MIST methods difficult. Here, we address the problem of indistinguishability by relabeling water molecules in such a way that each water molecule spans only a local region throughout the simulation. Then, we work out approximations and show how to compute the single-molecule entropy for the system of relabeled molecules. The results suggest that relabeling water molecules is promising for computation of solvation entropy.

Advances in the study of the mechanochemical coupling of kinesin

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (18) ◽  
pp. 1840001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Li ◽  
Zhong-Can Ou-Yang ◽  
Yao-Gen Shu
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Intracellular Transport ◽  
Coordination Mechanism ◽  
Personal Perspective ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Mechanochemical Coupling ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Made In

Kinesin is a two-headed linear motor for intracellular transport. It can walk a long distance in a hand-over-hand manner along the track before detaching (i.e., high processivity), and it consumes one ATP molecule for each step (i.e., tight mechanochemical coupling). The mechanisms of the coordination of its two heads and the mechanochemical coupling are the central issues of numerous researches. A few advances have been made in recent decades, thanks to the development of single-molecule technologies and molecular dynamics simulations. In this paper, we review some progress of the studies on the kinematics, energetics, coordination mechanism, mechanochemical mechanism of kinesin. We also present a personal perspective on the future studies of kinesin.

scholarly journals Tight-Binding Molecular Dynamics Simulations on Point Defects Diffusion and Interactions in Crystalline Silicon

1995 ◽  
Vol 396 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. tang ◽  
L. colombo ◽  
T. Diaz De La Rubia
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Point Defects ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Tight Binding ◽  
Diffusion Path ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
Defect Clusters ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractTight-binding molecular dynamics (TBMD) simulations are performed (i) to evaluate the formation and binding energies of point defects and defect clusters, (ii) to compute the diffusivity of self-interstitial and vacancy in crystalline silicon, and (iii) to characterize the diffusion path and mechanism at the atomistic level. In addition, the interaction between individual defects and their clustering is investigated.

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