LpxA: a natural nanotube.
UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 3-O-acyltransferase is a protein with a left-handed parallel beta-helix, which is a natural nanotube. They are associated with unusual high stability. To identify the reason behind the structural stability of beta-helical nanotubular structure, we have performed a total of 4 mus molecular dynamics simulations of the protein in implicit solvent at four different temperatures and monitored the unfolding pathway. The correlation in movement between different regions of the nanotubular structure has been identified from the dynamical cross-correlation map and contribution of some specific residues towards unfolding transition has been identified by principal component analysis. Difference in stability of the three loop regions has also been characterized. Construction of the unfolding conformational energy landscape identifies the probable intermediates that can appear in the unfolding pathway of the protein.
Das
Atanu
A
Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700 009, India.
Mukhopadhyay
Chaitali
C
D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D017510:Protein Folding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013997:Time Factors
D000217:Acyltransferases; C050304:acyl-(acyl-carrier-protein)-UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acyltransferase