Water in hydrated orthorhombic lysozyme crystal: Insight from atomistic simulations

Biologically important water in orthorhombic lysozyme crystal is investigated using atomistic simulations. A distinct hydration shell surrounding lysozyme molecules is found from the number distribution of water molecules. While the number of water molecules in the hydration shell increases, the percentage decreases as the hydration level rises. Adsorption of water in the lysozyme crystal shows type-IV behavior. At low hydration levels, water molecules primarily intercalate the minor pores and cavity in the crystal due to the strong affinity between protein and water. At high hydration levels, the major pores are filled with liquidlike water as capillary condensation occurs. A type-H4 hysteresis loop is observed in the adsorption and desorption isotherms. The locations of the water molecules identified from simulation match fairly well with the experimentally determined crystallographic hydration sites. As observed in experiment, water exhibits anomalous subdiffusion because of the geometric restrictions and interactions of protein. With increasing hydration level, this anomaly is reduced and the diffusion of water tends to progressively approach normal Brownian diffusion. The flexibility of protein framework slightly enhances water mobility, but this enhancement decreases with increasing hydration level.