Modelling proteins: conformational sampling and reconstruction of folding kinetics
Konstantin Klenin1, Birgit Strodel, David J Wales
1Steinbuch Centre for Computing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|September 21, 2010
Summary
Advanced biomolecular simulation techniques improve sampling of complex molecular processes. New methods decouple energy landscape sampling from kinetics, enabling better modeling of large conformational changes.
Area of Science:
- Computational Biology
- Biophysics
- Molecular Dynamics
Background:
- Biomolecular simulation has advanced significantly, aiding in silico elucidation of biological processes.
- Current molecular dynamics techniques and computational power face limitations in adequately sampling long time scales and large molecular rearrangements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent efforts in improving biomolecular simulation by decoupling energy landscape sampling from kinetic descriptions.
- To discuss advanced sampling techniques for efficient characterization of molecular conformations.
- To highlight methods for reconstructing kinetics using conformational ensembles.
Main Methods:
- Review of advanced sampling techniques that separate thermodynamic sampling from kinetic details.
- Discussion of methods for reconstructing kinetic information from generated conformational ensembles.
- Focus on techniques enabling efficient modeling of large-scale conformational changes.
Main Results:
- Emergence of advanced sampling techniques for efficient characterization of molecular conformations.
- Development of complementary methods to reconstruct process kinetics from thermodynamic data.
- Progress in enabling accurate modeling of large-scale biomolecular conformational changes.
Conclusions:
- Decoupling energy landscape sampling from kinetics offers a fundamental improvement for biomolecular simulations.
- Combining advanced sampling with kinetic reconstruction techniques enhances the modeling of complex biomolecular dynamics.
- Future perspectives focus on efficient and accurate modeling of large-scale conformational dynamics in biomolecules.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Folding
Proteins are chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. Upon synthesis, a protein folds into a three-dimensional conformation, critical to its biological function. Interactions between its constituent amino acids guide protein folding, and hence the protein structure is primarily dependent on its amino acid sequence.
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...
Protein Folding
Overview
Protein Folding
Overview
Molecular Chaperones and Protein Folding
The native conformation of a protein is formed by interactions between the side chains of its constituent amino acids. When the amino acids cannot form these interactions, the protein cannot fold by itself and needs chaperones. Notably, chaperones do not relay any additional information required for the folding of polypeptides; the native conformation of a protein is determined solely by its amino acid sequence. Chaperones catalyze protein folding without being a part of the folded protein.
The...
The...
Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins
Protein domains are small structurally independent units that are part of a single amino acid chain. Although these domains are often structurally independent, they may rely on synergistic effects to perform their functions as part of a larger protein. Protein domains may be conserved within the same organism, as well as across different organisms.
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to form...
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to form...
Protein Dynamics in Living Cells
Different fluorescence-based techniques are used to study the protein dynamics in living cells. These techniques include FRAP, FRET, and PET.
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...


