Packing energetics determine the folding routes of the RNase-H proteins. 2017

Shilpa Yadahalli, and Shachi Gosavi
National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bellary Road, Bangalore-560065, India. shachi@ncbs.res.in and Manipal University, Madhav Nagar, Manipal-576104, India.

Comparative studies of proteins from a family have been used to understand the factors that determine the folding routes of proteins. It has been conjectured that the folding mechanism of ribonuclease-H (RNase-H) proteins is determined by the topology of their fold. To test this hypothesis, we computationally studied the folding of four proteins from the RNase-H family, which have the overall RNase-H fold, but whose topologies differ in the region termed CORE in E. coli RNase-H. We simulated the folding of these proteins using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a coarse-grained structure-based model (SBM) which captures the effects of topology and found that the four proteins had similar folding routes. However, these simulated folding routes do not agree with the folding routes of those RNase-H proteins that have been experimentally characterized. We next simulated the proteins using an SBM which specifically accounts for packing energetics and found that these routes not only vary substantially across the simulated RNase-H proteins but also agree with experiments. Thus, the packing energetics determine the folding mechanism of the RNase-H proteins. By comparing the differing folding routes calculated from the two models, we isolated packing interactions that promote these differences. We find that the balance of packing energetics between CORE and the rest of the protein is different across the different RNase-Hs. This balance determines the folding route. Our studies suggest that proteins from the RNase-H family should be used for experimentally detecting structurally distinct folding routes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008958 Models, Molecular Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures. Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D011487 Protein Conformation The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain). Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D004926 Escherichia coli A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc. Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D001426 Bacterial Proteins Proteins found in any species of bacterium. Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D016914 Ribonuclease H A ribonuclease that specifically cleaves the RNA moiety of RNA:DNA hybrids. It has been isolated from a wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms as well as RETROVIRUSES. Endoribonuclease H,RNase H,Ribonuclease H, Calf Thymus,RNAase H
D017510 Protein Folding Processes involved in the formation of TERTIARY PROTEIN STRUCTURE. Protein Folding, Globular,Folding, Globular Protein,Folding, Protein,Foldings, Globular Protein,Foldings, Protein,Globular Protein Folding,Globular Protein Foldings,Protein Foldings,Protein Foldings, Globular
D056004 Molecular Dynamics Simulation A computer simulation developed to study the motion of molecules over a period of time. Molecular Dynamics Simulations,Molecular Dynamics,Dynamic, Molecular,Dynamics Simulation, Molecular,Dynamics Simulations, Molecular,Dynamics, Molecular,Molecular Dynamic,Simulation, Molecular Dynamics,Simulations, Molecular Dynamics

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