Intrinsic conformational flexibility of acetylcholinesterase

Chem Biol Interact. 2008 Sep 25;175(1-3):303-4. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2008.03.002. Epub 2008 Mar 21.

Abstract

Proteins have been metaphorically described--due to the introduction and extraordinary advances in biomolecular dynamics and computational biophysics over the past decades--as "kicking and screaming" molecules [G. Weber, Adv. Protein Chem. 29 (1975) 1-83]. In fact, dynamic fluctuations in protein structural conformation have been known to play an important role in protein function. However, fundamental mechanisms by which protein fluctuations couple with catalytic function of particular enzymes remain poorly understood. To understand the dynamical properties of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in rapid termination of cationic neurotransmitter, acetylcholine at neurosynaptic junctions, multiple molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories of AChE in the presence and absence of its inhibitors [J.M. Bui, J.A. McCammon, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103 (2006) 15451-15456; J.M. Bui, Z. Radic, P. Taylor, J.A. McCammon, Biophys. J. 90 (2006) 3280-3287; J.M. Bui, K. Tai, J.A. McCammon, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126 (2004) 7198-7205; J.M. Bui, R.H. Henchman, J.A. McCammon, Biophys. J. 85 (2003) 2267-2272] have been conducted and correlated with its inhibitory mechanisms. The intrinsic flexibilities of AChE, particularly of the long omega loop, are important in facilitating the ligand's inhibition of the enzyme.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / chemistry*
  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Biocatalysis
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Acetylcholinesterase