Molecular dynamics simulation study for LRH-1: interaction with fragments of SHP and function of phospholipid ligand

The liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) is an important transcriptional factor in the process of cholesterol and bile acids metabolism. In this article, molecular dynamics simulation for six systems with total 60 ns is employed to study LRH-1. LRH-1/phospholipid and LRH-1/SHP (fragments) interactions are analyzed by counting atomic contact number, identifying hydrogen bonds, and estimating binding free energies (by MM-PB/SA and N-mode analysis). Through integrating our modeling result with previous experimental data, deeper understandings to LRH-1/SHP interaction are obtained, and functions of the phospholipid ligand in LRH-1 are proposed.