Changes in transmembrane helix alignment by arginine residues revealed by solid-state NMR experiments and coarse-grained MD simulations

J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Apr 28;132(16):5803-11. doi: 10.1021/ja100598e.

Abstract

Independent experimental and computational approaches show agreement concerning arginine/membrane interactions when a single arginine is introduced at selected positions within the membrane-spanning region of acetyl-GGALW(5)LALALAL(12)AL(14)ALALW(19)LAGA-ethanolamide, designated GWALP23. Peptide sequence isomers having Arg in position 12 or position 14 display markedly different behaviors, as deduced by both solid-state NMR experiments and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations. With respect to the membrane normal of DOPC or DPPC lipid bilayer membranes, GWALP23-R14 shows one major state whose apparent average tilt is approximately 10 degrees greater than that of GWALP23. The presence of R14 furthermore induces bilayer thinning and peptide displacement to "lift" the charged guanidinium toward the bilayer surface. By contrast, GWALP23-R12 exhibits multiple states that are in slow exchange on the NMR time scale, with CG-MD simulations indicating two distinct positions with different screw rotation angles in the membrane, along with an increased tendency to exit the lipid bilayer.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Arginine*
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Rotation

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Arginine