Predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for non-canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA.

With the advancement of genetic code expansion, the field is progressing towards incorporating multiple non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). The specificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) towards ncAAs is a critical factor, as engineered aaRSs frequently show polyspecificity, complicating the p...

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Main Authors: Dongheon Lee, Jong-Il Choi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316907
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author Dongheon Lee
Jong-Il Choi
author_facet Dongheon Lee
Jong-Il Choi
author_sort Dongheon Lee
collection DOAJ
description With the advancement of genetic code expansion, the field is progressing towards incorporating multiple non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). The specificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) towards ncAAs is a critical factor, as engineered aaRSs frequently show polyspecificity, complicating the precise incorporation of multiple ncAAs. To address this challenge, predicting binding affinity can be beneficial. In this study, we expressed sfGFP using an orthogonal aaRS/tRNA pair with 4-Azido-L-phenylalanine (AzF) and another four different ncAAs. The experimental results showed specificity with O-Methyl-L-tyrosine as well as AzF, and these results were compared with computational predictions. We constructed a mutant aaRS structure specific for AzF through homology modelling and conducted docking studies with tyrosine and five ncAAs, followed by molecular dynamics simulations. The binding affinity was calculated using the molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area, focusing on nonpolar solvation terms. While the analysis is based on the incorporation of limited number of ncAAs, the cavity and dispersion term method showed consistency with experimental data, highlighting its potential utility compared to the surface area term method. These findings enhance understanding of the ncAA specificity of aaRS in relation to computer simulations and energy calculations, which can be utilized to rationally design or predict the specificity of aaRS.
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spelling doaj-art-ba7ec7fb68fa4ec39e779df14d3e4afd2025-01-17T05:31:21ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031690710.1371/journal.pone.0316907Predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for non-canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA.Dongheon LeeJong-Il ChoiWith the advancement of genetic code expansion, the field is progressing towards incorporating multiple non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). The specificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) towards ncAAs is a critical factor, as engineered aaRSs frequently show polyspecificity, complicating the precise incorporation of multiple ncAAs. To address this challenge, predicting binding affinity can be beneficial. In this study, we expressed sfGFP using an orthogonal aaRS/tRNA pair with 4-Azido-L-phenylalanine (AzF) and another four different ncAAs. The experimental results showed specificity with O-Methyl-L-tyrosine as well as AzF, and these results were compared with computational predictions. We constructed a mutant aaRS structure specific for AzF through homology modelling and conducted docking studies with tyrosine and five ncAAs, followed by molecular dynamics simulations. The binding affinity was calculated using the molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area, focusing on nonpolar solvation terms. While the analysis is based on the incorporation of limited number of ncAAs, the cavity and dispersion term method showed consistency with experimental data, highlighting its potential utility compared to the surface area term method. These findings enhance understanding of the ncAA specificity of aaRS in relation to computer simulations and energy calculations, which can be utilized to rationally design or predict the specificity of aaRS.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316907
spellingShingle Dongheon Lee
Jong-Il Choi
Predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for non-canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA.
PLoS ONE
title Predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for non-canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA.
title_full Predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for non-canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA.
title_fullStr Predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for non-canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA.
title_full_unstemmed Predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for non-canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA.
title_short Predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for non-canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA.
title_sort predicting the polyspecificity of aminoacyl trna synthetase for non canonical amino acids using molecular dynamics simulation and mm pbsa
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316907
work_keys_str_mv AT dongheonlee predictingthepolyspecificityofaminoacyltrnasynthetasefornoncanonicalaminoacidsusingmoleculardynamicssimulationandmmpbsa
AT jongilchoi predictingthepolyspecificityofaminoacyltrnasynthetasefornoncanonicalaminoacidsusingmoleculardynamicssimulationandmmpbsa