The conformational and thermodynamic properties of disordered proteins are commonly described in terms of structural ensembles and free energy landscapes. To provide information on the transition rates between the different states populated by these proteins, it would be desirable to generalize this description to kinetic ensembles. Approaches based on the theory of stochastic processes can be particularly suitable for this purpose. Here, we develop a Markov state model and apply it to determine a kinetic ensemble of Aβ42, a disordered peptide associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Through the Google Compute Engine, we generated 315-µs all-atom molecular dynamics trajectories. Using a probabilistic-based definition of conformational states in a neural network approach, we found that Aβ42 is characterized by inter-state transitions on the microsecond timescale, exhibiting only fully unfolded or short-lived, partially folded states. Our results illustrate how kinetic ensembles provide effective information about the structure, thermodynamics and kinetics of disordered proteins.

A kinetic ensemble of the Alzheimer’s Aβ peptide / T. Löhr, K. Kohlhoff, G.T. Heller, C. Camilloni, M. Vendruscolo. - In: NATURE COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. - ISSN 2662-8457. - 1:1(2021), pp. 71-78. [10.1038/s43588-020-00003-w]

A kinetic ensemble of the Alzheimer’s Aβ peptide

C. Camilloni;
2021

Abstract

The conformational and thermodynamic properties of disordered proteins are commonly described in terms of structural ensembles and free energy landscapes. To provide information on the transition rates between the different states populated by these proteins, it would be desirable to generalize this description to kinetic ensembles. Approaches based on the theory of stochastic processes can be particularly suitable for this purpose. Here, we develop a Markov state model and apply it to determine a kinetic ensemble of Aβ42, a disordered peptide associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Through the Google Compute Engine, we generated 315-µs all-atom molecular dynamics trajectories. Using a probabilistic-based definition of conformational states in a neural network approach, we found that Aβ42 is characterized by inter-state transitions on the microsecond timescale, exhibiting only fully unfolded or short-lived, partially folded states. Our results illustrate how kinetic ensembles provide effective information about the structure, thermodynamics and kinetics of disordered proteins.
Settore FIS/07 - Fisica Applicata(Beni Culturali, Ambientali, Biol.e Medicin)
2021
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/809286
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