scholarly journals Water Dynamics in a Peptide-appended Pillar[5]arene Artificial Channel in Lipid and Biomimetic Membranes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ryan Barden ◽  
Harish Vashisth
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Water Channel ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
High Water ◽  
Chem Phys ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Free Energy Surface ◽  
Biological Water ◽  
Single File ◽  
Single File Transport

Peptide-appended Pillar[5]arene (PAP) is an artificial water channel that can be incorporated into lipid and polymeric membranes to achieve high permeability and enhanced selectivity for angstrom-scale separations [Shen et al. Nat. Commun.9:2294 (2018)]. In comparison to commonly studied rigid carbon nanotubes, PAP channels are conformationally flexible, yet these channels allow a high water permeability [Y. Liu and H. Vashisth Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.21:22711 (2019)]. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we study water dynamics in PAP channels embedded in biological (lipid) and biomimetic (block-copolymer) membranes to probe the effect of the membrane environment on water transport characteristics of PAP channels. We have resolved the free energy surface and local minima for water diffusion within the channel in each type of membrane. We find that water follows single file transport with low free-energy barriers in regions surroundings the central ring of the PAP channel and the single file diffusivity of water correlates with the number of hydrogen bonding sites within the channel, as is known for other sub-nm pore-size synthetic and biological water channels [Horner et al. Sci. Adv.1:e1400083 (2015)].

scholarly journals Thermodynamics and free energy landscape of BAR-domain dimerization from molecular simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adip Jhaveri ◽  
Dhruw Maisuria ◽  
Matthew Varga ◽  
Dariush Mohammadyani ◽  
Margaret E Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Energy Surface ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Enhanced Sampling ◽  
Free Energies ◽  
Free Energy Surface ◽  
Bar Domain ◽  
Bar Domains ◽  
Protein Models

AbstractNearly all proteins interact specifically with other proteins, often forming reversible bound structures whose stability is critical to function. Proteins with BAR domains function to bind to, bend, and remodel biological membranes, where the dimerization of BAR domains is a key step in this function. Here we characterize the binding thermodynamics of homodimerization between the LSP1 BAR domain proteins in solution, using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. By combining the MARTINI coarse-grained protein models with enhanced sampling through metadynamics, we construct a two-dimensional free energy surface quantifying the bound versus unbound ensembles as a function of two distance variables. Our simulations portray a heterogeneous and extraordinarily stable bound ensemble for these modeled LSP1 proteins. The proper crystal structure dimer has a large hydrophobic interface that is part of a stable minima on the free energy surface, which is enthalpically the minima of all bound structures. However, we also find several other stable nonspecific dimers with comparable free energies to the specific dimer. Through structure-based clustering of these bound structures, we find that some of these ‘nonspecific’ contacts involve extended tail regions that help stabilize the higher-order oligomers formed by BAR-domains, contacts that are separated from the homodimer interface. We find that the known membrane-binding residues of the LSP1 proteins rarely participate in any of the bound interfaces, but that both patches of residues are aligned to interact with the membrane in the specific dimer. Hence, we would expect a strong selection of the specific dimer in binding to the membrane. The effect of a 100mM NaCl buffer reduces the relative stability of nonspecific dimers compared to the specific dimer, indicating that it would help prevent aggregation of the proteins. With these results, we provide the first free energy characterization of interaction pathways in this important class of membrane sculpting domains, revealing a variety of interfacial contacts outside of the specific dimer that may help stabilize its oligomeric assemblies.

scholarly journals The energetic barrier to single-file water flow through narrow channels

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juergen Pfeffermann ◽  
Nikolaus Goessweiner-Mohr ◽  
Peter Pohl
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Bilayers ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Water Channel ◽  
Water Channels ◽  
Bulk Water ◽  
State Theory ◽  
Narrow Channels ◽  
Biological Water ◽  
Free Energy Of Activation ◽  
Single File

AbstractVarious nanoscopic channels of roughly equal diameter and length facilitate single-file diffusion at vastly different rates. The underlying variance of the energetic barriers to transport is poorly understood. First, water partitioning into channels so narrow that individual molecules cannot overtake each other incurs an energetic penalty. Corresponding estimates vary widely depending on how the sacrifice of two out of four hydrogen bonds is accounted for. Second, entropy differences between luminal and bulk water may arise: additional degrees of freedom caused by dangling OH-bonds increase entropy. At the same time, long-range dipolar water interactions decrease entropy. Here, we dissect different contributions to Gibbs free energy of activation, ΔG‡, for single-file water transport through narrow channels by analyzing experimental results from water permeability measurements on both bare lipid bilayers and biological water channels that (i) consider unstirred layer effects and (ii) adequately count the channels in reconstitution experiments. First, the functional relationship between water permeabilities and Arrhenius activation energies indicates negligible differences between the entropies of intraluminal water and bulk water. Second, we calculate ΔG‡ from unitary water channel permeabilities using transition state theory. Plotting ΔG‡ as a function of the number of H-bond donating or accepting pore-lining residues results in a 0.1 kcal/mol contribution per residue. The resulting upper limit for partial water dehydration amounts to 2 kcal/mol. In the framework of biomimicry, our analysis provides valuable insights for the design of synthetic water channels. It thus may aid in the urgent endeavor towards combating global water scarcity.

scholarly journals Single-file transport of water through membrane channels

2018 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 9-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Horner ◽  
Peter Pohl
Keyword(s):  
Potassium Channels ◽  
Water Permeability ◽  
Transport Theory ◽  
Water Channel ◽  
Gramicidin A ◽  
Membrane Channels ◽  
Short Introduction ◽  
Channel Proteins ◽  
Single File ◽  
Single File Transport

After a short introduction into the single-file transport theory, we analyze experiments in which the unitary water permeability, pf, of water channel proteins (aquaporins, AQPs), potassium channels (KcsA), and antibiotics (gramicidin-A derivatives) has been obtained. A short outline of the underlying methods is also provided.

scholarly journals Predicting the Structure and Dynamics of Membrane Protein GerAB from Bacillus subtilis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3793
Author(s):  
Sophie Blinker ◽  
Jocelyne Vreede ◽  
Peter Setlow ◽  
Stanley Brul
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Spore Germination ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Transmembrane Protein ◽  
Homology Modelling ◽  
Water Channel ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Starting Point

Bacillus subtilis forms dormant spores upon nutrient depletion. Germinant receptors (GRs) in spore’s inner membrane respond to ligands such as L-alanine, and trigger spore germination. In B. subtilis spores, GerA is the major GR, and has three subunits, GerAA, GerAB, and GerAC. L-Alanine activation of GerA requires all three subunits, but which binds L-alanine is unknown. To date, how GRs trigger germination is unknown, in particular due to lack of detailed structural information about B subunits. Using homology modelling with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we present structural predictions for the integral membrane protein GerAB. These predictions indicate that GerAB is an α-helical transmembrane protein containing a water channel. The MD simulations with free L-alanine show that alanine binds transiently to specific sites on GerAB. These results provide a starting point for unraveling the mechanism of L-alanine mediated signaling by GerAB, which may facilitate early events in spore germination.

scholarly journals Single-File Water Flux Through Two-Dimensional Nanoporous Membranes

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Myung Eun Suk
Keyword(s):  
Water Flux ◽  
Interaction Strength ◽  
High Water ◽  
Potential Of Mean Force ◽  
Proximal Region ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Nanoporous Membranes ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Single File

Abstract Recent advances in the development of two-dimensional (2D) materials have facilitated a wide variety of surface chemical characteristics obtained by composing atomic species, pore functionalization, etc. The present study focused on how chemical characteristics such as hydrophilicity affects the water transport rate in hexagonal 2D membranes. The membrane–water interaction strength was tuned to change the hydrophilicity, and the sub-nanometer pore was used to investigate single-file flux, which is known to retain excellent salt rejection. Due to the dewetting behavior of the hydrophobic pore, the water flux was zero or nominal below the threshold interaction strength. Above the threshold interaction strength, water flux decreased with an increase in interaction strength. From the potential of mean force analysis and diffusion coefficient calculations, the proximal region of the pore entrance was found to be the dominant factor degrading water flux at the highly hydrophilic pore. Furthermore, the superiority of 2D membranes over 3D membranes appeared to depend on the interaction strength. The present findings will have implications in the design of 2D membranes to retain a high water filtration rate.

scholarly journals Exploration of Free Energy Surface and Thermal Effects on Relative Population and Infrared Spectrum of the Be6B11− Fluxional Cluster

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Carlos Emiliano Buelna-Garcia ◽  
José Luis Cabellos ◽  
Jesus Manuel Quiroz-Castillo ◽  
Gerardo Martinez-Guajardo ◽  
Cesar Castillo-Quevedo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Infrared Spectrum ◽  
Infrared Spectra ◽  
Thermal Effects ◽  
Global Minimum ◽  
Energy Surface ◽  
Weighted Sums ◽  
Free Energy Surface ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Relative Population

The starting point to understanding cluster properties is the putative global minimum and all the nearby local energy minima; however, locating them is computationally expensive and difficult. The relative populations and spectroscopic properties that are a function of temperature can be approximately computed by employing statistical thermodynamics. Here, we investigate entropy-driven isomers distribution on Be6B11− clusters and the effect of temperature on their infrared spectroscopy and relative populations. We identify the vibration modes possessed by the cluster that significantly contribute to the zero-point energy. A couple of steps are considered for computing the temperature-dependent relative population: First, using a genetic algorithm coupled to density functional theory, we performed an extensive and systematic exploration of the potential/free energy surface of Be6B11− clusters to locate the putative global minimum and elucidate the low-energy structures. Second, the relative populations’ temperature effects are determined by considering the thermodynamic properties and Boltzmann factors. The temperature-dependent relative populations show that the entropies and temperature are essential for determining the global minimum. We compute the temperature-dependent total infrared spectra employing the Boltzmann factor weighted sums of each isomer’s infrared spectrum and find that at finite temperature, the total infrared spectrum is composed of an admixture of infrared spectra that corresponds to the spectra of the lowest-energy structure and its isomers located at higher energies. The methodology and results describe the thermal effects in the relative population and the infrared spectra.

scholarly journals The Influence of Starch Origin on the Properties of Starch Films: Packaging Performance

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1146
Author(s):  
Zuzanna Żołek-Tryznowska ◽  
Alicja Kałuża
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Free Energy ◽  
Surface Free Energy ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Energy Surface ◽  
Free Energy Surface ◽  
Casting Method ◽  
Starch Solution ◽  
Film Properties ◽  
Starch Films

Starch films can be used as materials for food packaging purposes. The goal of this study is to compare how the starch origin influence the selected starch film properties. The films were made from various starches such as that from maize, potato, oat, rice, and tapioca using 50%w of glycerine as a plasticizer. The obtained starch-based films were made using the well-known casting method from a starch solution in water. The properties of the films that were evaluated were tensile strength, water vapour transition rate, moisture content, wettability, and their surface free energy. Surface free energy (SFE) and its polar and dispersive components were calculated using the Owens-Wendt-Rabel-Kaelbe approach. The values of SFE in the range of 51.64 to 70.81 mJ∙m−2 for the oat starch-based film and the maize starch-based film. The films revealed worse mechanical properties than those of conventional plastics for packaging purposes. The results indicated that the poorest tensile strength was exhibited by the starch-based films made from oat (0.36 MPa) and tapioca (0.78 MPa) and the greatest tensile strength (1.49 MPa) from potato.

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