Cryo-EM and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal Hidden Conformational Dynamics Controlling Ammonia Transport in Human Asparagine Synthetase

If you need an accessible version of this item, please submit a remediation request.
Date
2023-05-16
Language
American English
Embargo Lift Date
Committee Members
Degree
Degree Year
Department
Grantor
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Found At
bioRxiv
Abstract

How dynamical motions in enzymes might be linked to catalytic function is of significant general interest, although almost all relevant experimental data, to date, has been obtained for enzymes with a single active site. Recent advances in X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy offer the promise of elucidating dynamical motions for proteins that are not amenable to study using solution-phase NMR methods. Here we use 3D variability analysis (3DVA) of an EM structure for human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) in combination with atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to detail how dynamic motions of a single side chain mediates interconversion of the open and closed forms of a catalytically relevant intramolecular tunnel, thereby regulating catalytic function. Our 3DVA results are consistent with those obtained independently from MD simulations, which further suggest that formation of a key reaction intermediate acts to stabilize the open form of the tunnel in ASNS to permit ammonia translocation and asparagine formation. This conformational selection mechanism for regulating ammonia transfer in human ASNS contrasts sharply with those employed in other glutamine-dependent amidotransferases that possess a homologous glutaminase domain. Our work illustrates the power of cryo-EM to identify localized conformational changes and hence dissect the conformational landscape of large proteins. When combined with MD simulations, 3DVA is a powerful approach to understanding how conformational dynamics regulate function in metabolic enzymes with multiple active sites.

Description
item.page.description.tableofcontents
item.page.relation.haspart
Cite As
Coricello A, Zhu W, Lupia A, et al. Cryo-EM and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal Hidden Conformational Dynamics Controlling Ammonia Transport in Human Asparagine Synthetase. Preprint. bioRxiv. 2023;2023.05.16.541009. Published 2023 May 16. doi:10.1101/2023.05.16.541009
ISSN
Publisher
Series/Report
Sponsorship
Major
Extent
Identifier
Relation
Journal
Source
PMC
Alternative Title
Type
Article
Number
Volume
Conference Dates
Conference Host
Conference Location
Conference Name
Conference Panel
Conference Secretariat Location
Version
Pre-Print
Full Text Available at
This item is under embargo {{howLong}}