High-resolution protein complexes from integrating genomic information with molecular simulation.
Bacteria use two-component signal transduction systems (TCS) extensively to sense and react to external stimuli. In these, a membrane-bound sensor histidine kinase (SK) autophosphorylates in response to an environmental stimulus and transfers the phosphoryl group to a transcription factor/response regulator (RR) that mediates the cellular response. The complex between these two proteins is ruled by transient interactions, which provides a challenge to experimental structure determination techniques. The functional and structural homolog of an SK/RR pair Spo0B/Spo0F, however, has been structurally resolved. Here, we describe a method capable of generating structural models of such transient protein complexes. By using existing structures of the individual proteins, our method combines bioinformatically derived contact residue information with molecular dynamics simulations. We find crystal resolution accuracy with existing crystallographic data when reconstituting the known system Spo0B/Spo0F. Using this approach, we introduce a complex structure of TM0853/TM0468 as an exemplary SK/RR TCS, consistent with all experimentally available data.
Schug
Alexander
A
Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Weigt
Martin
M
Onuchic
José N
JN
Hwa
Terence
T
Szurmant
Hendrik
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D023281:Genomics; D000071677:Histidine Kinase; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013816:Thermodynamics; D020124:Thermotoga maritima / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; C080951:Spo0F protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus; D011494:Protein Kinases; D000071677:Histidine Kinase