Multiple oxygen entry pathways in globin proteins revealed by intrinsic pathway identification method

Masayoshi Takayanagi, Ikuo Kurisaki, Masataka Nagaoka

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Each subunit of human hemoglobin (HbA) stores an oxygen molecule (O2) in the binding site (BS) cavity near the heme group. The BS is buried in the interior of the subunit so that there is a debate over the O2 entry pathways from solvent to the BS; histidine gate or multiple pathways. To elucidate the O2 entry pathways, we executed ensemble molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of T-state tetramer HbA in high concentration O2 solvent to simulate spontaneous O2 entry from solvent into the BS. By analyzing 128 independent 8 ns MD trajectories by intrinsic pathway identification by clustering (IPIC) method, we found 141 and 425 O2 entry events into the BS of the α and β subunits, respectively. In both subunits, we found that multiple O2 entry pathways through inside cavities play a significant role for O2 entry process of HbA. The rate constants of O2 entry estimated from the MD trajectories correspond to the experimentally observed values. In addition, by analyzing monomer myoglobin, we verified that the high O2 concentration condition can reproduce the ratios of each multiple pathway in the one-tenth lower O2 concentration condition. These indicate the validity of the multiple pathways obtained in our MD simulations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering 2015, ICCMSE 2015
EditorsZacharoula Kalogiratou, Theodore E. Simos, Theodore Monovasilis, Theodore E. Simos, Theodore E. Simos
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9780735413498
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Dec 31
Externally publishedYes
EventInternational Conference of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering 2015, ICCMSE 2015 - Athens, Greece
Duration: 2015 Mar 202015 Mar 23

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1702
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Other

OtherInternational Conference of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering 2015, ICCMSE 2015
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityAthens
Period15/3/2015/3/23

Keywords

  • Clustering
  • Hemoglobin
  • Ligand Dynamics
  • Molecular Dynamics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Multiple oxygen entry pathways in globin proteins revealed by intrinsic pathway identification method'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this