Molecular modeling and MM-PBSA free energy analysis of endo-1,4-β-xylanase from Ruminococcus albus 8

Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Sep 26;15(10):17284-303. doi: 10.3390/ijms151017284.

Abstract

Endo-1,4-β-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) is the enzyme from Ruminococcus albus 8 (R. albus 8) (Xyn10A), and catalyzes the degradation of arabinoxylan, which is a major cell wall non-starch polysaccharide of cereals. The crystallographic structure of Xyn10A is still unknown. For this reason, we report a computer-assisted homology study conducted to build its three-dimensional structure based on the known sequence of amino acids of this enzyme. In this study, the best similarity was found with the Clostridium thermocellum (C. thermocellum) N-terminal endo-1,4-β-D-xylanase 10 b. Following the 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, a reliable model was obtained for further studies. Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) methods were used for the substrate xylotetraose having the reactive sugar, which was bound in the -1 subsite of Xyn10A in the 4C1 (chair) and 2SO (skew boat) ground state conformations. According to the simulations and free energy analysis, Xyn10A binds the substrate with the -1 sugar in the 2SO conformation 39.27 kcal·mol(-1) tighter than the substrate with the sugar in the 4C1 conformation. According to the Xyn10A-2SO Xylotetraose (X4(sb) interaction energies, the most important subsite for the substrate binding is subsite -1. The results of this study indicate that the substrate is bound in a skew boat conformation with Xyn10A and the -1 sugar subsite proceeds from the 4C1 conformation through 2SO to the transition state. MM-PBSA free energy analysis indicates that Asn187 and Trp344 in subsite -1 may an important residue for substrate binding. Our findings provide fundamental knowledge that may contribute to further enhancement of enzyme performance through molecular engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Clostridium thermocellum / enzymology
  • Databases, Factual
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases / chemistry
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases / metabolism*
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Quantum Theory
  • Ruminococcus / enzymology*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thermodynamics
  • Xylans / metabolism

Substances

  • Xylans
  • arabinoxylan
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases