Correlation spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to study the structural features of proteins

PLoS One. 2013 Jun 4;8(6):e64840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064840. Print 2013.

Abstract

In this work, we used a combination of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation methodologies to acquire structural information on pH-induced unfolding of the maltotriose-binding protein from Thermus thermophilus (MalE2). FCS has emerged as a powerful technique for characterizing the dynamics of molecules and it is, in fact, used to study molecular diffusion on timescale of microsecond and longer. Our results showed that keeping temperature constant, the protein diffusion coefficient decreased from 84±4 µm(2)/s to 44±3 µm(2)/s when pH was changed from 7.0 to 4.0. An even more marked decrease of the MalE2 diffusion coefficient (31±3 µm(2)/s) was registered when pH was raised from 7.0 to 10.0. According to the size of MalE2 (a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of 43 kDa) as well as of its globular native shape, the values of 44 µm(2)/s and 31 µm(2)/s could be ascribed to deformations of the protein structure, which enhances its propensity to form aggregates at extreme pH values. The obtained fluorescence correlation data, corroborated by circular dichroism, fluorescence emission and light-scattering experiments, are discussed together with the MD simulations results.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Thermus thermophilus
  • Trisaccharides / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Trisaccharides
  • saccharide-binding proteins
  • maltotriose

Grants and funding

This project was realized in the frame of the CNR Commessa “Diagnostica Avanzata ed Alimentazione” (AV, MS, SD) and in the frame of CNR Italian Bioinformatics Network (AM) (CNR-National Research Council). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.