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Article
Lipid Insertion Domain Unfolding Regulates Protein Orientational Transition Behavior in a Lipid Bilayer
Biophysical Chemistry
  • Kwan H Cheng, Trinity University
  • Liming Qiu
  • Sara Y Cheng
  • Mark W Vaughn
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2015
Abstract

We have used coarse-grained (CG) and united atom (UA) molecular dynamics simulations to explore the mechanisms of protein orientational transition of a model peptide (Aβ42) in a phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (PC/CHO) lipid bilayer. We started with an inserted state of Aβ42 containing a folded (I) or unfolded (II) K28-A42 lipid insertion domain (LID), which was stabilized by the K28-snorkeling and A42-anchoring to the PC polar groups in the lipid bilayer. After a UA-to-CG transformation and a 1000 ns-CG simulation for enhancing the sampling of protein orientations, we discovered two transitions: I-to-“deep inserted” state with disrupted K28-snorkeling and II-to-“deep surface” state with disrupted A42-anchoring. The new states remained stable after a CG-to-UA transformation and a 200 ns-UA simulation relaxation. Significant changes in the cholesterol-binding domain of Aβ42 and protein-induced membrane disruptions were evident after the transitions. We propose that the conformation of the LID regulates protein orientational transitions in the lipid membrane.

Identifier
10.1016/j.bpc.2015.06.011
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Citation Information
Cheng, K.H., Qiu, L., Cheng, S.Y., & Vaughn, M.W. (2015). Lipid insertion domain unfolding regulates protein orientational transition behavior in a lipid bilayer. Biophysical Chemistry, 206, 22-39. doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2015.06.011