Residue-specific side-chain packing determines the backbone dynamics of transmembrane model helices

Stefan Quint, Simon Widmaier, David Minde, Daniel Hornburg, Dieter Langosch, Christina Scharnagl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The transmembrane domains (TMDs) of membrane-fusogenic proteins contain an overabundance of b-branched residues. In a previous effort to systematically study the relation among valine content, fusogenicity, and helix dynamics, we developed model TMDs that we termed LV-peptides. The content and position of valine in LV-peptides determine their fusogenicity and backbone dynamics, as shown experimentally. Here, we analyze their conformational dynamics and the underlying molecular forces using molecular-dynamics simulations. Our study reveals that backbone dynamics is correlated with the efficiency of side-chain to side-chain van der Waals packing between consecutive turns of the helix. Leu side chains rapidly interconvert between two rotameric states, thus favoring contacts to its i ± 3 and i ± 4 neighbors. Stereochemical restraints acting on valine side chains in the α-helix force both β-substituents into an orientation where i,i ± 3 interactions are less favorable than i,i ± 4 interactions, thus inducing a local packing deficiency at VV3 motifs. We provide a quantitative molecular model to explain the relationship among chain connectivity, side-chain mobility, and backbone flexibility. We expect that this mechanism also defines the backbone flexibility of natural TMDs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2541-2549
Number of pages9
JournalBiophysical Journal
Volume99
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Oct 2010

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