Variation in structure of a protein (H2AX) with knowledge-based interactions

PLoS One. 2013 May 31;8(5):e64507. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064507. Print 2013.

Abstract

The structure of a protein (H2AX) as a function of temperature is examined by three knowledge-based phenomenological interactions, MJ (Miyazawa and Jernigan), BT (Betancourt and Thirumalai), and BFKV (Bastolla et al.) to identify similarities and differences in results. Data from the BT and BFKV residue-residue interactions verify finding with the MJ interaction, i.e., the radius of gyration (Rg ) of H2AX depends non-monotonically on temperature. The increase in Rg is followed by a decay on raising the temperature with a maximum at a characteristic value, Tc , which depends on the knowledge-based contact matrix, TcBFKV ≤ TcMJ ≤ TcBT . The range (ΔT) of non-monotonic thermal response and its decay pattern with the temperature are sensitive to interaction. A rather narrow temperature range of ΔTMJ ≈ 0.015-0.022 with the MJ interaction expands and shifts up to ΔTBT ≈ 0.018-0.30 at higher temperatures with the BT interaction and shifts down with the BFKV interaction to ΔTBFKV ≈ 0.011-0.018. The scaling of the structure factor with the wave vector reveals that the structure of the protein undergoes a transformation from a random coil at high temperature to a globular conformation at low temperatures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Histones / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Knowledge Bases
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Temperature
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • H2AX protein, human
  • Histones

Grants and funding

This work is supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.