title: Molecular dynamics simulation of Leishmania major surface metalloprotease GP63 (leishmanolysin).
abstract: One of the molecular factors contributing to Leishmania sp. virulence and pathogenesis is the major surface metalloprotease GP63, alternatively called leishmanolysin, MSP, and PSP (EC 3.4.24.36). Here, the molecular dynamics simulation of Leishmania major GP63 in water at pH 7 is reported. Upon solvation, GP63 undergoes a sharp structural relaxation with respect to the crystal structure. The fluctuation pattern occurs essentially in solvent-exposed nonstructured regions. By contrast, the active site turns out to be rigid. Essential dynamics and dynamic-domain analyses, both carried out on the equilibrated portion of GP63, show that the fingerprint fluctuations of GP63 are practically characterized by the motion of a large part of the N-terminal domain. These results appear to be in line with substrate recognition and (pro)enzyme activation played by the N-terminal domain of GP63. A systematic analysis among a series of 10 homologs of GP63 also shows that the residues involved in the interdomain bending result highly conserved. This finding also suggests possible relationship between the maintainance of proteolytic activity and the similarity of the dynamical properties of the related enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Ingegneria Chimica e Materiali, Universitá L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bocedi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ascenzi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gavuzzo
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aschi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000378:metabolism*; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry*; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D045726:Metalloproteases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C055146:glycoprotein gp63, Leishmania; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8