Molecular basis of Bcl-X(L)-p53 interaction: insights from molecular dynamics simulations

Bcl-X(L), an antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, plays a central role in the regulation of the apoptotic pathway. Heterodimerization of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins with the proapoptotic family members such as Bad, Bak, Bim and Bid is a crucial step in the apoptotic regulation. In addition to these conventional binding partners, recent evidences reveal that the Bcl-2 family proteins also interact with noncanonical binding partners such as p53. Our previous NMR studies showed that Bcl-X(L): BH3 peptide and Bcl-X(L): SN15 peptide (a peptide derived from residues S15-N29 of p53) complex structures share similar modes of bindings. To further elucidate the molecular basis of the interactions, here we have employed molecular dynamics simulations coupled with MM/PBSA approach. Bcl-X(L) and other Bcl-2 family proteins have 4 hydrophobic pockets (p1-p4), which are occupied by four systematically spaced hydrophobic residues (h1-h4) of the proapoptotic Bad and Bak BH3 peptides. We observed that three conserved hydrophobic residues (F19, W23 and L26) of p53 (SN15) peptide anchor into three hydrophobic pockets (p2-p4) of Bcl-X(L) in a similar manner as BH3 peptide. Our results provide insights into the novel molecular recognition by Bcl-X(L) with p53.