New Monte Carlo Based Technique To Study DNA-Ligand Interactions

J Chem Theory Comput. 2015 Dec 8;11(12):5598-605. doi: 10.1021/acs.jctc.5b00838. Epub 2015 Nov 11.

Abstract

We present a new all-atom Monte Carlo technique capable of performing quick and accurate DNA-ligand conformational sampling. In particular, and using the PELE software as a frame, we have introduced an additional force field, an implicit solvent, and an anisotropic network model to effectively map the DNA energy landscape. With these additions, we successfully generated DNA conformations for a test set composed of six DNA fragments of A-DNA and B-DNA. Moreover, trajectories generated for cisplatin and its hydrolysis products identified the best interacting compound and binding site, producing analogous results to microsecond molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, a combination of the Monte Carlo trajectories with Markov State Models produced noncovalent binding free energies in good agreement with the published molecular dynamics results, at a significantly lower computational cost. Overall our approach will allow a quick but accurate sampling of DNA-ligand interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cisplatin / chemistry
  • Cisplatin / metabolism
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA, A-Form / chemistry
  • DNA, B-Form / chemistry
  • Ligands*
  • Markov Chains
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation

Substances

  • DNA, A-Form
  • DNA, B-Form
  • Ligands
  • DNA
  • Cisplatin