Site-selective dynamics of ligand-free and ligand-bound azidolysozyme

Abstract

Azido-modified alanine residues (AlaN3) are environment-sensitive, minimally invasive infrared probes for the site-specific investigation of protein structure and dynamics. Here, the capability of the label is investigated to query whether or not a ligand is bound to the active site of lysozyme and how the spectroscopy and dynamics change upon ligand binding. The results demonstrate specific differences for center frequencies of the asymmetric azide stretch vibration, the longtime decay, and the static offset of the frequency fluctuation correlation function (FFCF)—all of which are experimental observables—between the ligand-free and the ligand-bound N3-labeled protein. The center-frequency shifts range from 1 to 8 cm−1, which is detectable from state-of-the art experiments. Similarly, the nonvanishing static component Δ0 of the FFCF between ligand-free and ligand-bound protein can differ by up to a factor of 2.5. This makes the azide label a versatile and structurally sensitive probe to report on the dynamics of proteins in a variety of environments and for a range of different applications. Ligand-induced differences in the dynamics are also mapped onto changes in the local and through-space coupling between residues by virtue of dynamical cross correlation maps. This demonstrates that the position where the label is placed also influences the local and global protein motions.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Mar 09, 2022
Source ID
10.1063/5.0077361

Entities

People

  • Markus Meuwly
  • Seyedeh Maryam Salehi

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • University of Basel

Tags

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Space