Conformational energy landscape of the acyl pocket loop in acetylcholinesterase: a Monte Carlo-generalized Born model study

Biophys Chem. 2004 Oct 1;111(2):143-57. doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2004.05.007.

Abstract

The X-ray crystal structure of the reaction product of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with the inhibitor diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP) showed significant structural displacement in a loop segment of residues 287-290. To understand this conformational selection, a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation study was performed of the energy landscape for the loop segment. A computational strategy was applied by using a combined simulated annealing and room temperature Metropolis sampling approach with solvent polarization modeled by a generalized Born (GB) approximation. Results from thermal annealing reveal a landscape topology of broader basin opening and greater distribution of energies for the displaced loop conformation, while the ensemble average of conformations at 298 K favored a shift in populations toward the native by a free-energy difference in good agreement with the estimated experimental value. Residue motions along a reaction profile of loop conformational reorganization are proposed where Arg-289 is critical in determining electrostatic effects of solvent interaction versus Coulombic charging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / chemistry*
  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Acylation
  • Animals
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Energy Transfer*
  • Isoflurophate / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Thermodynamics
  • Torpedo / metabolism*

Substances

  • Isoflurophate
  • Acetylcholinesterase