Nevena Todorova

Nanomaterials in biological environment: a review of computer modelling studies

Nanotechnology is set to impact a vast range of fields, including computer science, materials technology, engineering/manufacturing and medicine. As nanotechnology grows so does exposure to nanostructured materials, thus investigation of the effects of nanomaterials on biological systems is paramount. Computational techniques can allow investigation of these systems at the nanoscale, providing insight into otherwise unexaminable properties, related to both the intentional and unintentional effects of nanomaterials. Herein, we review the current literature involving computational modelling of nanoparticles and biological systems. This literature has highlighted the common modes in which nanostructured materials interact with biological molecules such as membranes, peptides/proteins and DNA. Hydrophobic interactions are the most favoured, with π-stacking of the aromatic side-chains common when binding to a carbonaceous nanoparticle or surface. van der Waals forces are found to dominate in the insertion process of DNA molecules into carbon nanotubes. Generally, nanoparticles have been observed to disrupt the tertiary structure of proteins due to the curvature and atomic arrangement of the particle surface. Many hydrophobic nanoparticles are found to be able to transverse a lipid membrane, with some nanoparticles even causing mechanical damage to the membrane, thus potentially leading to cytotoxic effects. Current computational techniques have revealed how some nanoparticles interact with biological systems. However, further research is required to determine both useful applications and possible cytotoxic effects that nanoparticles may have on DNA, protein and membrane structure and function within biosystems.

Systematic Comparison of Empirical Forcefields for Molecular Dynamic Simulation of Insulin

The use of atomistic simulation methodologies based on empirical forcefields has enhanced our understanding of many physical processes governing protein structure and dynamics. However, the forcefields used in classical modeling studies are often designed for a particular class of proteins and rely on continuous improvement and validation by comparison of simulations with experimental data. We present a comprehensive comparison of five popular forcefields for simulating insulin. The effect of each forcefield on the conformational evolution and structural properties of the peptide is analyzed in detail and compared with available experimental results. In this study we observed that different forcefields favor different structural trends. However, the all-atom forcefield CHARMM27 and the united-atom forcefield GROMOS 43A1 delivered the best representation of the experimentally observed dynamic behavior of chain B of insulin.

Dimensionality of carbon nanomaterials determines the binding and dynamics of amyloidogenic peptides: multiscale theoretical simulations

Experimental studies have demonstrated that nanoparticles can affect the rate of protein self-assembly, possibly interfering with the development of protein misfolding diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons and prion disease caused by aggregation and fibril formation of amyloid-prone proteins. We employ classical molecular dynamics simulations and large-scale density functional theory calculations to investigate the effects of nanomaterials on the structure, dynamics and binding of an amyloidogenic peptide apoC-II(60-70). We show that the binding affinity of this peptide to carbonaceous nanomaterials such as C60, nanotubes and graphene decreases with increasing nanoparticle curvature. Strong binding is facilitated by the large contact area available for π-stacking between the aromatic residues of the peptide and the extended surfaces of graphene and the nanotube. The highly curved fullerene surface exhibits reduced efficiency for π-stacking but promotes increased peptide dynamics. We postulate that the increase in conformational dynamics of the amyloid peptide can be unfavorable for the formation of fibril competent structures. In contrast, extended fibril forming peptide conformations are promoted by the nanotube and graphene surfaces which can provide a template for fibril-growth.

Understanding and Designing the Gold–Bio Interface: Insights from Simulations

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are an integral part of many exciting and novel biomedical applications, sparking the urgent need for a thorough understanding of the physicochemical interactions occurring between these inorganic materials, their functional layers, and the biological species they interact with. Computational approaches are instrumental in providing the necessary molecular insight into the structural and dynamic behavior of the Au-bio interface with spatial and temporal resolutions not yet achievable in the laboratory, and are able to facilitate a rational approach to AuNP design for specific applications. A perspective of the current successes and challenges associated with the multiscale computational treatment of Au-bio interfacial systems, from electronic structure calculations to force field methods, is provided to illustrate the links between different approaches and their relationship to experiment and applications.

Effects of mutation on the amyloidogenic propensity of apolipoprotein C-II60–70 peptide

Using experimental and computational methods we identified the effects of mutation on the structure and dynamics of the amyloidogenic peptide apoC-II(60-70), in monomeric and oligomeric states. Methionine (Met60) substitutions to hydrophilic Gln, hydrophobic Val, and methionine sulfoxide residues were investigated and the results compared with observations of fibril formation by the wild-type, Met60Gln, Met60Val, and oxidised Met60 (oxi-Met) apoC-II(60-70) peptides. ThT fluorescence measurements showed fibril formation by all peptides, however with different kinetics. The wild-type and Met60Val peptides formed fibrils fastest, while oxi-Met and Met60Gln peptides exhibited significantly longer lag phases. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the mutated monomers exhibited structural features consistent with fibril-forming propensity, such as β-hairpin conformation and a hydrophobic core. However, important differences to the wild-type were also noted, such as increased structural flexibility (oxi-Met and Met60Gln systems) and a broader distribution of the aromatic angle orientation, which could contribute to the different fibrillation kinetics observed in these peptides. Our results also showed that the critical nucleus size for fibril formation by apoC-II(60-70) may not be very large, since tetrameric oligomers in anti-parallel configuration were very stable within the 100 ns of simulations. The single-point mutations Met60Val and Met60Gln had no significant effect on the structural stability of the tetramer. The rate of fibril formation by apoC-II(60-70) peptides was generally much faster compared to longer apoC-II(56-76) peptides. Also, the effects of amino acid modifications on the kinetics of peptide fibril formation differ from the effects observed for apoC-II(56-76) and full-length apoC-II, suggesting that additional mechanisms are involved in fibril formation by mature apoC-II.

Electromagnetic-field effects on structure and dynamics of amyloidogenic peptides

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are ever-present, and so is the need to better understand their influence on human health and biological matter in general. The interaction between a molecular system and external EMF can alter the structure, and dynamical behaviour, and, hence, biological function of proteins with uncertain health consequences. This urges a detailed investigation of EMF-induced effects on basic protein biophysics. Here, we used all-atom non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to understand and quantify the response mechanisms of the amyloidogenic apoC-II(60-70) peptides to non-ionising radiation by modelling their behaviour under external electromagnetic and electric fields of different strengths. Our simulations show high strength fields (>0.04 V/nm) cause structural changes in apoC-II(60-70) due to the peptide dipole alignment along the applied field direction, which disrupts the inherent β-hairpin conformation known to be the intermediate state for fibril formation. The intermediate field-strength range (0.04-0.004 V/nm) causes a significant acceleration in peptide dynamics, which leads to the increased population of structures with fibril-inhibiting characteristics, such as the separated N- and C-termini and colocation of the aromatic residues at the same peptide face. In contrast, lower field strengths (<0.004 V/nm) promote the formation of the amyloid-prone hairpin structures relative to the ambient conditions. These findings suggest that intermediate-strength electromagnetic fields could be considered for designing alternative treatments of amyloid diseases, while the very high and low field strengths could be employed for engineering well-ordered fibrillar aggregates for non-medicinal applications.

Lipid concentration effects on the amyloidogenic apoC-II60-70 peptide: A computational study

Molecular dynamics simulations were implemented to investigate the effects of phospholipid concentration on the conformation and dynamics of the amyloidogenic peptide apoC-II(60-70). The results showed a progressive reduction in the solvent accessible surface area of apoC-II(60-70) with increasing lipid concentration, accompanied by increased lipid-peptide interactions. Favorable peptide interaction sites with lipids were found to be the aromatic residues, Tyr63 and Phe67. The high stability of lipid-peptide contacts resulted in reduced conformational flexibility of the peptide. A significant change in the secondary structure of apoC-II(60-70) peptide was observed with increasing lipid concentration. At lower concentrations (1-3 lipids per peptide), the peptide adopted extended beta-strand conformations, caused by contacts with the lipids, which reduced the intramolecular interactions within the peptide. In contrast, a higher lipid concentration (4-6 lipids per peptide) had a restraining effect on the peptides flexibility by trapping it in a particular conformation. Such behavior can be suggested as inhibiting fibril formation, because of the lipid-induced inability of the peptide to adopt fibril competent conformations. This finding complements our recent ThT fluorescence results, which revealed that the 4:1 lipid to peptide ratio is sufficient to cause fibril inhibition in apoC-II(60-70).

Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange and Molecular Dynamics Analysis of Amyloid Fibrils Formed by a D69K Charge-Pair Mutant of Human Apolipoprotein C-II.

Plasma apolipoproteins form amphipathic α helices in lipid environments but in the lipid-free state show a high propensity to form β structure and self-associate into amyloid fibrils. The widespread occurrence of apolipoproteins in amyloid plaques suggests disease-related roles, specifically in atherosclerosis. To reconcile the dual abilities of apolipoproteins to form either α helices or cross-β sheet structures, we examined fibrils formed by human apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II). A structural model for apoC-II fibrils shows a cross-β core with parallel β strands, including a buried K30-D69 charge pair. We investigated the effect of abolishing this charge pair in mutant D69K apoC-II. Fluorescence studies indicated more rapid fibril formation and less solvent accessibility of tryptophan (W26) in D69K apoC-II fibrils than in wild-type (WT) fibrils. X-ray diffraction data of aligned D69K apoC-II fibrils yielded a typical cross-β structure with increased β sheet spacing compared to that of WT fibrils. Hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange patterns were similar for D69K apoC-II fibrils compared to WT fibrils, albeit with an overall reduction in the level of slow H/D exchange, particularly around residues 29-32. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated reduced β strand content for a model D69K apoC-II tetramer compared to the WT tetramer and confirmed an expansion of the cross-β spacing that contributed to the formation of a stable charge pair between K69 and E27. The results highlight the importance of charge-pair interactions within the apoC-II fibril core, which together with numerous salt bridges in the flexible connecting loop play a major role in the ability of lipid-free apoC-II to form stable cross-β fibrils.

Solution Conditions Affect the Ability of the K30D Mutation To Prevent Amyloid Fibril Formation by Apolipoprotein C-II: Insights from Experiments and Theoretical Simulations

Apolipoproteins form amphipathic helical structures that bind lipid surfaces. Paradoxically, lipid-free apolipoproteins display a strong propensity to form cross-β structure and self-associate into disease-related amyloid fibrils. Studies of apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II) amyloid fibrils suggest that a K30-D69 ion pair accounts for the dual abilities to form helix and cross-β structure. Consistent with this is the observation that a K30D mutation prevents fibril formation under standard fibril forming conditions. However, we found that fibril formation by K30D apoC-II proceeded readily at low pH and a higher salt or protein concentration. Structural analysis demonstrated that K30D apoC-II fibrils at pH 7 have a structure similar to that of the wild-type fibrils but are less stable. Molecular dynamics simulations of the wild-type apoC-II fibril model at pH 7 and 3 showed that the loss of charge on D69 at pH 3 leads to greater separation between residues K30 and D69 within the fibril with a corresponding reduction in β-strand content around residue 30. In contrast, in simulations of the K30D mutant model at pH 7 and 3, residues D30 and D69 moved closer at pH 3, accompanied by an increase in β-strand content around residue 30. The simulations also demonstrated a strong dominance of inter- over intramolecular contacts between ionic residues of apoC-II and suggested a cooperative mechanism for forming favorable interactions between the individual strands under different conditions. These observations demonstrate the important role of the buried K30-D69 ion pair in the stability and solution properties of apoC-II amyloid fibrils.

Effects of forcefield and sampling method in all-atom simulations of inherently disordered proteins: Application to conformational preferences of human amylin

Although several computational modelling studies have investigated the conformational behaviour of inherently disordered protein (IDP) amylin, discrepancies in identifying its preferred solution conformations still exist between various forcefields and sampling methods used. Human islet amyloid polypeptide has long been a subject of research, both experimentally and theoretically, as the aggregation of this protein is believed to be the lead cause of type-II diabetes. In this work, we present a systematic forcefield assessment using one of the most advanced non-biased sampling techniques, Replica Exchange with Solute Tempering (REST2), by comparing the secondary structure preferences of monomeric amylin in solution. This study also aims to determine the ability of common forcefields to sample a transition of the protein from a helical membrane bound conformation into the disordered solution state of amylin. Our results demonstrated that the CHARMM22* forcefield showed the best ability to sample multiple conformational states inherent for amylin. It is revealed that REST2 yielded results qualitatively consistent with experiments and in quantitative agreement with other sampling methods, however far more computationally efficiently and without any bias. Therefore, combining an unbiased sampling technique such as REST2 with a vigorous forcefield testing could be suggested as an important step in developing an efficient and robust strategy for simulating IDPs.