QM/MM simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins.

Photoproteins are responsible for light emission in a variety of marine ctenophores and coelenterates. The mechanism of light emission in both families occurs via the same reaction. However, the arrangement of amino acid residues surrounding the chromophore, and the catalytic mechanism of light emis...

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Main Authors: Maryam Molakarimi, Ammar Mohseni, Majid Taghdir, Zaiddodine Pashandi, Michael A Gorman, Michael W Parker, Hossein Naderi-Manesh, Reza H Sajedi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0182317&type=printable
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author Maryam Molakarimi
Ammar Mohseni
Majid Taghdir
Zaiddodine Pashandi
Michael A Gorman
Michael W Parker
Hossein Naderi-Manesh
Reza H Sajedi
author_facet Maryam Molakarimi
Ammar Mohseni
Majid Taghdir
Zaiddodine Pashandi
Michael A Gorman
Michael W Parker
Hossein Naderi-Manesh
Reza H Sajedi
author_sort Maryam Molakarimi
collection DOAJ
description Photoproteins are responsible for light emission in a variety of marine ctenophores and coelenterates. The mechanism of light emission in both families occurs via the same reaction. However, the arrangement of amino acid residues surrounding the chromophore, and the catalytic mechanism of light emission is unknown for the ctenophore photoproteins. In this study, we used quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and site-directed mutagenesis studies to investigate the details of the catalytic mechanism in berovin, a member of the ctenophore family. In the absence of a crystal structure of the berovin-substrate complex, molecular docking was used to determine the binding mode of the protonated (2-hydroperoxy) and deprotonated (2-peroxy anion) forms of the substrate to berovin. A total of 13 mutants predicted to surround the binding site were targeted by site-directed mutagenesis which revealed their relative importance in substrate binding and catalysis. Molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA (Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann/surface area) calculations showed that electrostatic and polar solvation energy are +115.65 and -100.42 kcal/mol in the deprotonated form, respectively. QM/MM calculations and pKa analysis revealed the deprotonated form of substrate is unstable due to the generation of a dioxetane intermediate caused by nucleophilic attack of the substrate peroxy anion at its C3 position. This work also revealed that a hydrogen bonding network formed by a D158- R41-Y204 triad could be responsible for shuttling the proton from the 2- hydroperoxy group of the substrate to bulk solvent.
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spelling doaj-art-e9f7c3a83f1646cca8af2fcfb1ac9c1d2025-08-20T02:46:01ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01128e018231710.1371/journal.pone.0182317QM/MM simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins.Maryam MolakarimiAmmar MohseniMajid TaghdirZaiddodine PashandiMichael A GormanMichael W ParkerHossein Naderi-ManeshReza H SajediPhotoproteins are responsible for light emission in a variety of marine ctenophores and coelenterates. The mechanism of light emission in both families occurs via the same reaction. However, the arrangement of amino acid residues surrounding the chromophore, and the catalytic mechanism of light emission is unknown for the ctenophore photoproteins. In this study, we used quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and site-directed mutagenesis studies to investigate the details of the catalytic mechanism in berovin, a member of the ctenophore family. In the absence of a crystal structure of the berovin-substrate complex, molecular docking was used to determine the binding mode of the protonated (2-hydroperoxy) and deprotonated (2-peroxy anion) forms of the substrate to berovin. A total of 13 mutants predicted to surround the binding site were targeted by site-directed mutagenesis which revealed their relative importance in substrate binding and catalysis. Molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA (Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann/surface area) calculations showed that electrostatic and polar solvation energy are +115.65 and -100.42 kcal/mol in the deprotonated form, respectively. QM/MM calculations and pKa analysis revealed the deprotonated form of substrate is unstable due to the generation of a dioxetane intermediate caused by nucleophilic attack of the substrate peroxy anion at its C3 position. This work also revealed that a hydrogen bonding network formed by a D158- R41-Y204 triad could be responsible for shuttling the proton from the 2- hydroperoxy group of the substrate to bulk solvent.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0182317&type=printable
spellingShingle Maryam Molakarimi
Ammar Mohseni
Majid Taghdir
Zaiddodine Pashandi
Michael A Gorman
Michael W Parker
Hossein Naderi-Manesh
Reza H Sajedi
QM/MM simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins.
PLoS ONE
title QM/MM simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins.
title_full QM/MM simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins.
title_fullStr QM/MM simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins.
title_full_unstemmed QM/MM simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins.
title_short QM/MM simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins.
title_sort qm mm simulations provide insight into the mechanism of bioluminescence triggering in ctenophore photoproteins
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0182317&type=printable
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