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Dynamics of Bcl-xL in water and membrane: molecular simulations.

ABSTRACT: The Bcl2 family of proteins is capable of switching the apoptotic machinery by directly controlling the release of apoptotic factors from the mitochondrial outer membrane. They have 'pro' and 'anti'-apoptotic subgroups of proteins which antagonize each other's function; however a detailed atomistic understanding of their mechanisms based on the dynamical events, particularly in the membrane, is lacking. Using molecular dynamics simulations totaling 1.6µs we outline the major differences between the conformational dynamics in water and in membrane. Using implicit models of solvent and membrane, the simulated results reveal a picture that is in agreement with the 'hit-and run' concept which states that BH3-only peptides displace the tail (which acts as a pseudo substrate of the protein itself) from its binding pocket; this helps the membrane association of the protein after which the BH3 peptide becomes free. From simulations, Bcl-xL appears to be auto-inhibited by its C-terminal tail that embeds into and covers the hydrophobic binding pocket. However the tail is unable to energetically compete with BH3-peptides in water. In contrast, in the membrane, neither the tail nor the BH3-peptides are stable in the binding pocket and appear to be easily dissociated off as the pocket expands in response to the hydrophobic environment. This renders the binding pocket large and open, thus receptive to interactions with other protein partners. Principal components of the motions are dramatically different in the aqueous and in the membrane environments and provide clues regarding the conformational transitions that Bcl-xL undergoes in the membrane, in agreement with the biochemical data.

SUBMITTER: Maity A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3792877 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Dynamics of Bcl-xL in water and membrane: molecular simulations.

Maity Atanu A Yadav Seema S Verma Chandra S CS Ghosh Dastidar Shubhra S

PloS one 20131008 10

The Bcl2 family of proteins is capable of switching the apoptotic machinery by directly controlling the release of apoptotic factors from the mitochondrial outer membrane. They have 'pro' and 'anti'-apoptotic subgroups of proteins which antagonize each other's function; however a detailed atomistic understanding of their mechanisms based on the dynamical events, particularly in the membrane, is lacking. Using molecular dynamics simulations totaling 1.6µs we outline the major differences between ...[more]

PMID: 24116174

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Project description:ABT-737 is a pharmacological inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic activity of B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) protein; it promotes apoptosis of cancer cells by occupying the BH3-binding pocket. We have shown previously that ABT-737 lowers cell metabolic efficiency by inhibiting ATP synthase activity. However, we also found that ABT-737 protects rodent brain from ischemic injury in vivo by inhibiting formation of the pro-apoptotic, cleaved form of Bcl-xL, ?N-Bcl-xL. We now report that a high concentration of ABT-737 (1??M), or a more selective Bcl-xL inhibitor WEHI-539 (5??M) enhances glutamate-induced neurotoxicity while a low concentration of ABT-737 (10?nM) or WEHI-539 (10?nM) is neuroprotective. High ABT-737 markedly increased ?N-Bcl-xL formation, aggravated glutamate-induced death and resulted in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and decline in ATP production. Although the usual cause of death by ABT-737 is thought to be related to activation of Bax at the outer mitochondrial membrane due to sequestration of Bcl-xL, we now find that low ABT-737 not only prevents Bax activation, but it also inhibits the decline in mitochondrial potential produced by glutamate toxicity or by direct application of ?N-Bcl-xL to mitochondria. Loss of mitochondrial inner membrane potential is also prevented by cyclosporine A, implicating the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in death aggravated by ?N-Bcl-xL. In keeping with this, we find that glutamate/?N-Bcl-xL-induced neuronal death is attenuated by depletion of the ATP synthase c-subunit. C-subunit depletion prevented depolarization of mitochondrial membranes in ?N-Bcl-xL expressing cells and substantially prevented the morphological change in neurites associated with glutamate/?N-Bcl-xL insult. Our findings suggest that low ABT-737 or WEHI-539 promotes survival during glutamate toxicity by preventing the effect of ?N-Bcl-xL on mitochondrial inner membrane depolarization, highlighting ?N-Bcl-xL as an important therapeutic target in injured brain.

Dataset Information

Dynamics of Bcl-xL in water and membrane: molecular simulations.

Publications

Dynamics of Bcl-xL in water and membrane: molecular simulations.

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